News

TRG CONTINUES WIN STREAK AT LIME ROCK

Wednesday, 19 January 2011 00:22 |

Lakeville, CT —

Continuing a streak that has run since May, TRG took their fourth win in five starts in professional sportscar racing at this weekend’s Northeastern Grand Prix, the fifth round of the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patron. This marked the third victory for TRG in the ALMS, the first since returning to the series in 2010, and the first for freshman driver Henri Richard.

Starting in the second position in the no. 63 Freescale Semiconductor/Future Electronics/Green Hills Software/LifeStudio by Hitachi Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car, drivers Henri Richard and Andy Lally came in to the weekend as one of the favorites for victory in the GTC category. Having finished on the podium in the last two races, the team was ready for it’s first ALMS victory, and many felt the tight confines of the historic Lime Rock Park would fit in to TRG’s well known ability with great pit strategy and of course a fantastic driver lineup.

Following a completely wet first day of practice and qualifying, Henri Richard started the race having only had 10 minutes of dry practice on a track he’d never been too. Using restraint as the better part of valor, Richard drove a cautious yet very competitive opening stint, with careful attention to tire preservation. Taking advantage of an early series of yellows, the team took an unconventional strategy, pitting Richard for fuel and tires with the anticipation that on the next stop, they would do a driver change but leave the same set of tires on the car to minimize time in the pits. For Richard, this meant he had to be extremely careful with his tires in order to hand over a perfect car to veteran Andy Lally. Richard was flawless, and managed to not only hand a perfect car over, but take the lead in the process.

“The guys called me in to top up and change tires, and I instantly knew that the tires I had were going to be Andy’s tires as well,” stated the Frenchman. “I have never driven this track before so I just wanted to drive well within my limits and hand over a perfect car to Andy. This team was absolutely flawless this weekend. Perfect car preparation, perfect pit stops, perfect strategy, and the whole event happened in front of over 100 guests on-hand from our partners at Freescale, Future Electronics, Green Hills Software, and Hitachi. To lead my first laps, as well as win my first ALMS race like this is something I’ll enjoy for a long, long time.”

With the reigns now in Andy Lally’s hands, the theme moved to gaining positions both on the track and in the pits. Making good use of passing opportunities and hard driving, Lally carved through the field quickly, and before halfway in the race had actually taken the lead thanks to opportune pit strategy. Dueling hard with the no. 54 Black Swan Racing entry of Jeroen Bleekemolen, Lally and Bleekemolen would push each other hard throughout the next hour, even making contact and spinning at one point as they battled the endless rounds of traffic passing through.

Finally, with 70 minutes to go, Bleekemolen slowed with a fading set of tires, followed by a broken splitter which essentially sealed the race for Lally. The victory was the first for Richard, as well as the first since the team’s return to ALMS competition, and equally important means that Richard and Lally have assumed the GTC series points lead.

For Lally, who won the race on tires that lasted nearly 120 laps, Saturday’s race was a perfect combination of fast but patient driving, combined with a perfect team effort.
“With all the traffic out there, chasing Jeroen and preserving the tires at the same time made for a really challenging race,” stated Lally. “These guys called a perfect race today, and Henri was absolutely fantastic out there. For his first season in the series he’s driving like an absolute professional, and I’m very proud to be part of his first professional victory.”

For Team Owner Kevin Buckler, present in spirit for the race weekend, winning at Lime Rock was a long awaited victory.

“We’ve been so close to winning in the ALMS all year, I’m so proud of the guys for getting it done,” stated Buckler. “Henri was flawless and really delivered exactly when he needed to, and of course Andy did what he needed to in order to deliver the victory. Perfect strategy and perfect pit stops are a big part of these wins, and the guys all delivered. It’s been a long and brutal schedule for a lot of our guys, so I’m happy they could end their travels with a big win like this.”

The next round of the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patron will be in two weeks at the famous Mid Ohio Sports Car Course, and will air on Sunday, August 15th on CBS.

Silicon Tech Racing LLC was created by Henri Richard to address the need of high-tech corporations for an opportunity to leverage exciting road racing events with a dedicated marketing platform focused on technology executives interested in an informal and intimate insight into the sport. Silicon Tech Racing brings together selected, C-level executives at each racing event and provides a high value, targeted business to business networking opportunity to our partners. The team’s partners are carefully selected based on ecosystem synergies and common business values. As a not for profit race team, the aim is to provide a unique, cost effective value proposition to our partners and a memorable experience to our guests.

TRG was founded in 1993 and has been competing at the top level of motor racing ever since. The team has two wins and 15 podiums in the ALMS, as well as the most wins of any team in the Grand-Am Rolex Series with 30, including the 2005 and 2006 Rolex Series GT championship trophy to go along with wins at the Rolex 24 at Daytona and the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
TRG is a manufacturer and distributor of high-performance racing parts. The group specializes in engine and chassis tuning as well as full service professional race car preparation. The company also provides electrical and mechanical engineering services, driver development and arrive-and-drive opportunities.

TRG is based in Petaluma, California, near its home track of Infineon Raceway in Sonoma. The company’s NASCAR operation is based in Mooresville, North Carolina and competes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in the No. 71 TRG Motorsports Chevrolet Impala SS. TRG is also developing a new state-of-the-art motorsports complex at the New Jersey Motorsports Park that should be finished in early 2011.

More information and a complete press kit can be found at www.theracersgroup.com. Please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 707-935-3999 for additional information.

TRG HEADS TO LIME ROCK IN PURSUIT OF FIRST VICTORY

Wednesday, 19 January 2011 00:21 |

Petaluma, CA —

Following two consecutive podiums in the GTC category of the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patron, TRG heads in to this weekend's Northeast Grand Prix as the "active" points leaders in the championship.

Driving the no. 63 Freescale Semiconductor/Future Electronics/LifeStudio by Hitachi/Green Hills Software Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car, drivers Henri Richard and Andy Lally head to this weekend's race in pursuit of their first win.

New to the tight confines of the historic Lime Rock Park in Lakeville, Connecticut, Frenchman Henri Richard looks forward to his circuit debut.

"Lime Rock Park is said to be a really tricky course because it is so narrow and fast," stated Richard. "I've spent time on the simulator in anticipation, and I'll just head in to the circuit with eyes ahead and behind. Andy is incredibly fast here and with our points position I know a clean race is critical.Growing up just a few hours away in nearby Long Island, Lime Rock has always served as a bit of a home race for Andy Lally.

"Driving in the GTC category at Lime Rock will be wild, as the prototypes will be coming up with a huge rate of speed," stated Lally. "We'll have to be very heads up out there this weekend, but if we can stay clean I'm confident the guys can give us a car capable of moving to the front."

For TRG Team Owner Kevin Buckler, the key to the race will be survival.

"Lime Rock is the road racing version of a short track race," stated Buckler. "If we can just stay clean and play the pit stops right, this could definitely be our day to finally get a win. The guys have been on the road non-stop between our various sportscar programs, and they really deserve a top result this weekend."

The ALMS' Northeast Grand Prix will be broadcast Live on SPEEDtv this Saturday, July 24 at 2PM EST.

TRG was founded in 1993 and has been competing at the top level of motor racing ever since. The team has two wins and 15 podiums in the ALMS, as well as the most wins of any team in the Grand-Am Rolex Series with 30, including the 2005 and 2006 Rolex Series GT championship trophy to go along with wins at the Rolex 24 at Daytona and the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

TRG is a manufacturer and distributor of high-performance racing parts. The group specializes in engine and chassis tuning as well as full service professional race car preparation. The company also provides electrical and mechanical engineering services, driver development and arrive-and-drive opportunities. TRG is based in Petaluma, California, near its home track of Infineon Raceway in Sonoma. The company's NASCAR operation is based in Mooresville, North Carolina and competes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in the No. 71 TRG Motorsports Chevrolet Impala SS. TRG is also developing a new state-of-the-art motorsports complex at the New Jersey Motorsports Park that should be finished in early 2011.

TRG Finishes Ninth in Rolex GT at New Jersey

Wednesday, 19 January 2011 00:20 |

Millville, NJ —

TRG's RJ Valentine and Andy Lally drove to a ninth place finish in today's running of the Grand-Am Rolex Series presented by Crown Royal Reserve Cask No.16 New Jersey Motorsports Park 250. Teammates Steve Bertheau and Spencer Pumpelly endured to a 15th place finish.
Under sunny skies and temperatures exceeding 95-degrees, with near 100% humidity, RJ Valentine took the green in the No. 66 Advanced Aerosol Acquisitions/CRG/TRG/Porsche for the 1:00 p.m. start. Valentine raced through slippery track conditions to turn the car over to Lally on lap 29. Lally took the wheel and began his run to the front. With strategy falling into place, and Lally running fast times, the 66 was able to make up almost two laps. The team needed one more mid-race yellow to get back in sync with the rest of the field and be a factor at the end. The yellow never came.

"It was inordinately hot today," Valentine said. "The car felt squirrely to me. I had a good start and pedaled the thing hard. We just didn't get that break we needed. Andy did a great job. He drove the wheels off of it and on any other day that would have been a podium run. Some days you're the mosquito and some days you are the windshield, today we were the mosquito."

"We could have used a yellow two laps earlier than when it came," Lally said. "We were able to make-up a lap-and-a-half. That is a testament to the TRG crew and their car preparation. I abused the tires and blistered them at the end, but we were able to drive through. We were still coming when I got held up by a DP car and then the yellow came out and that set us back. I then had an angry little Dutch dude try to run me off the road twice and he finally finished me off the third time. Then I had to pay it back a little bit."

Steve Bertheau had the controls of the No. 67 Sargent & Lundy/TRG/Porsche for the steamy start. Bertheau took the green and was immediately embroiled in a battle with a Mazda. Some car contact ensued and set the 67 back. Pumpelly took over and proceeded to set fast lap times passing cars on his way up the timing screen. Again, cautions at the wrong time and a possible fuel pick-up problem thwarted the run to the front. Bertheau got back in for the last hour, bringing the 67 home in 15th place.

"It was pretty hot out there today," Bertheau said. "I had a tough start. I got tangled with one of the Mazda cars and that put us back a little. Spencer did a great job to move us up and then I got back in for the finish. It was my first time running with the Prototypes in race conditions. When I went back out I was doing good laps and I am smiling. Although we didn't get the finish we wanted, it was a fun weekend."

"We had a really good car today," Pumpelly said. "We got a little behind early and the yellows didn't go our way to help us get back up the order. Steve did a great job to come back at the end and got some good seat time. I am happy with the car and the way the TRG guys had the Porsche running all weekend. We just didn't have the opportunity to show our stuff today."

Team owner, Kevin Buckler, had his TRG East fan base in full effect for today's race. With a packed hospitality area, the team made a good showing.

"I am proud of Steve and RJ," Buckler said. "The conditions out there were tough today. I think about a dozen guys went to medical. For Steve it was his first time on the track with Daytona Prototype traffic, he did a good job and turned some solid laps. RJ is a warrior. He is in excellent shape and that helps his focus on days like today. Andy got in and began to rage to the front, but we just needed that little break that never came. Spencer the same, he was awesome! We just needed a little help with a caution and we would have been right back in it. Also, a big call out to the entire team, it was a very challenging week and everyone really put their heads down and did their jobs well. We are looking forward to going to Watkins Glen to try and get our second win is many months at that great track."

The Rolex Series will travel to Watkins Glen International Raceway for the Crown Royal 200 on August 7.

TRG was founded in 1993 and has been competing at the top level of motor racing ever since. The team has the most wins of any team in the Grand-Am Rolex Series with 29, including the 2005 and 2006 Rolex Series GT championship trophy to go along with wins at the Rolex 24 at Daytona and the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

TRG is a manufacturer and distributor of high-performance racing parts. The group specializes in engine and chassis tuning as well as full service professional race car preparation. The company also provides electrical and mechanical engineering services, driver development and arrive-and-drive opportunities. TRG is based in Petaluma, California, near its home track of Infineon Raceway in Sonoma. The company's NASCAR operation is based in Mooresville, North Carolina and competes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in the No. 71 TRG Motorsports Chevrolet Impala SS. TRG is also developing a new state-of-the-art motorsports complex at the New Jersey Motorsports Park that should be finished in early 2011.

For more information please contact Kyle Chura at (248) 821-0468 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Detailed team info can be viewed at www.trgmotorsports.com or www.theracersgroup.com.

TRG Heads to Rolex Race at New Jersey on a Win Streak

Wednesday, 19 January 2011 00:20 |

Petaluma, CA —

TRG is heading to New Jersey Motorsports Park on the wave of a three race win streak. The team will run two Porsche GT3 Cup cars at this weekend's Grand-Am Rolex Series presented by Crown Royal Reserve Cask No.16 race at the Jersey track.

With the recent installment of TRG East, a New Jersey Motrosports Park based team affiliate, this is very much a home event. The team is hoping to take the momentum from wins at Virginia International Raceway, Watkins Glen International Raceway, Daytona International Speedway and make it four on Sunday. RJ Valentine is teamed with Andy Lally in the No. 66 Advanced Aerosol Acquisitions/CRG/TRG/Porsche. Lally is currently second in driver's points, just nine out of the lead in GT. In the No. 67 Sargent & Lundy/TRG/Porsche Steve Bertheau will run with Spencer Pumpelly.

Valentine, an ownership partner in the New Jersey Motorsports Park facility, will be looking for his second win in as many races with Lally. The duo had a convincing victory at Daytona just two weeks ago. Lally has bigger goals - the GT championship.

"I have become an owner at New Jersey Motorsports Park," Valentine said. "I like the track, although I love Watkins Glen, and of course Daytona. I love the ambience of the New Jersey track and the surrounding country side. I am a huge bike rider and I enjoy riding for up to 50 miles around the great roads in and around the track. I am also a fan of the best tomatoes in the world, Jim Dooleys and the fabulous NJ Corn. I have a few track secrets, but I don't share them. To win this weekend it will take staying on key and keeping fast consistent laps, then delivering the car in one piece to Andy who I consider the best road racer in the world - smart, calculating, and, precise."

"The competition is really stiff in the Rolex Series and we will have to be on our game," Lally said. "The drivers, pit stops and strategy have to be right on. The teams we are going up against are tough and we are getting to the end of the season and everyone is pulling out their best stuff for the run to the championship. We need to do the same and see if we can take the points lead. New Jersey is RJ's home track and he has done well there in the past. This will be the first time that we will race together at his track. I am looking forward to it this weekend."
Bertheau and Pumpelly are looking to carry the momentum from their Grand-Am Continental Tire Series win from Mid-Ohio over to New Jersey this weekend.

"Our win at Mid-Ohio will really give our team a boost moving into New Jersey," Bertheau said. "It'll be my first time on that track, but the fact that Spencer and I are running in both GT and GS classes should get us enough seat time to put on a show. It is always tough to predict outcomes, but the hard work and long hours of preparation by the TRG crews should put us in a sound position."

"The last time I raced at New Jersey was last year in a TRG Motorsports ARCA car," Pumpelly said. The key to being successful in New Jersey is a good handling car, it's more of a grip track than HP track. There are fast corners that make-up most of a lap. I have a lot of good memories of New Jersey in the short time that the track has been around - like winning the GS race last year and being on the podium in ARCA and GT."

Kevin Buckler, team owner, is revving up TRG East and wants to do it with a win.

"We have become very active with our programs at New Jersey Motorsports Park," Buckler said. "Operating out of our new temporary facility, we had a great driver development day last month. We also have a strong history of performance at New Jersey. We won there in GS last year and were on the podium in GT. We also had Spencer on the podium in ARCA. We have a lot of forward motion to our season right now, winning the last three races we have entered along with the Continental win at Mid-Ohio. Andy is in the hunt for the championship and Spencer and Steve have wins this season as well with Steve really starting to shine. RJ has a new spring in his step coming off of the win at Daytona, so nothing but positive vibes heading to Jersey this weekend."

The Rolex Series event from New Jersey Motorsports Park will be televised live on the SPEED Channel starting at 1:00 p.m. ET, Sunday, July 18.

TRG was founded in 1993 and has been competing at the top level of motor racing ever since. The team has the most wins of any team in the Grand-Am Rolex Series with 29, including the 2005 and 2006 Rolex Series GT championship trophy to go along with wins at the Rolex 24 at Daytona and the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

TRG is a manufacturer and distributor of high-performance racing parts. The group specializes in engine and chassis tuning as well as full service professional race car preparation. The company also provides electrical and mechanical engineering services, driver development and arrive-and-drive opportunities. TRG is based in Petaluma, California, near its home track of Infineon Raceway in Sonoma. The company's NASCAR operation is based in Mooresville, North Carolina and competes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in the No. 71 TRG Motorsports Chevrolet Impala SS. TRG is also developing a new state-of-the-art motorsports complex at the New Jersey Motorsports Park that should be finished in early 2011.

For more information please contact Kyle Chura at (248) 821-0468 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Detailed team info can be viewed at www.trgmotorsports.com or www.theracersgroup.com.

TRG Ready for Continental Tire Race at New Jersey

Wednesday, 19 January 2011 00:19 |

Petaluma, CA —

TRG is headed to New Jersey Motorsports Park looking for their second win in a row at this weekend's running of the Grand-Am Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge Series race will take the green flag, Saturday, July 17.

At the last event at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Spencer Pumpelly and Steve Bertheau took advantage of a late race wreck and drove to a win in their No. 41 Sargent & Lundy/TRG/Porsche 997. The duo will be looking for a repeat performance on Saturday. In the No. 63 Dietz and Watson Quality Meats/TRG/Porsche 997 Peter Ludwig and Andy Lally will also be looking for some New Jersey glory.

Partnering in both the Continental Tire Series race and the Rolex race, Pumpelly and Bertheau hope to parlay maximum track time into another win.

"It was great to get the win at Mid-Ohio," Bertheau said. "Although it will be my first time racing on the New Jersey track, the track time in both series along with Spencer will help me get up to speed quickly. As we found out at Mid-Ohio, until the last lap, it is always tough to predict outcomes, but the hard work and the data that TRG has on the track will put us in a position to be successful."

"With TRG East we do a lot of track days at New Jersey," Pumpelly said. "I have to believe that we have more data logged on the track than any other team. That includes running the ARCA and Sprint Cup Series cars here as well. I would like to post another win in GS this year and carry that over to the GT race as well on Sunday."

Ludwig makes his return to TRG and will run with Lally who will be pulling double duty in the ST and GS races.

"New Jersey takes a good handling car that gets off the corners well," Ludwig said. "I think the Porsche has a great chance to podium this event. I raced at New Jersey last year and finished third, even after an unexpected third pit stop due to unavoidable contact which took off a valve stem. My success in Porsches in past years has been pretty good. My goal for this event is pretty straight forward, to win this race. I think the 911, in its current trim, is ultra competitive. I'll stay focused and do my job for the first stint and work to hand Andy our car in a good position to take it home."

"Peter is as solid as it gets in a Porsche," Lally said. "New Jersey is a good track for TRG. We have logged a lot of laps there doing driver development and marketing events. That should give us a small advantage, especially with initial set-up on the cars. The nimble TRG Porsche together with our data should be a potent combination for Saturday. I will be starting in the Kia in ST and transition to the GS car - it will be a long day."

Team owner, Kevin Buckler, has his teams on a roll in Grand-Am.

"We have had an incredible past couple of months with everything we've raced with TRG on it," Buckler said. "We have won three races in the GT series, won Mid-Ohio in Continental GS and scored a top ten at Daytona with our Sprint Cup Series car. The GS series is very competitive. Everything has to be right on to get a win. We have great cars, an excellent crew and the drivers to get it done. Peter and Steve are both super quick and have a lot of laps in our Porsches and Andy and Spencer know how to close the deal - a great combination."

The Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge race will take the green flag at 2:45 p.m. ET, Saturday, July 17 and will be televised, tape delayed, July 25 at 1:00 p.m. ET.

TRG was founded in 1993 and has been competing at the top level of motor racing ever since. The team has the most wins of any team in the Grand-Am Rolex Series with 29, including the 2005 and 2006 Rolex Series GT championship trophy to go along with wins at the Rolex 24 at Daytona and the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

TRG is a manufacturer and distributor of high-performance racing parts. The group specializes in engine and chassis tuning as well as full service professional race car preparation. The company also provides electrical and mechanical engineering services, driver development and arrive-and-drive opportunities. TRG is based in Petaluma, California, near its home track of Infineon Raceway in Sonoma. The company's NASCAR operation is based in Mooresville, North Carolina and competes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in the No. 71 TRG Motorsports Chevrolet Impala SS. TRG is also developing a new state-of-the-art motorsports complex at the New Jersey Motorsports Park that should be finished in early 2011.

For more information please contact Kyle Chura at (248) 821-0468 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Detailed team info can be viewed at www.trgmotorsports.com or www.theracersgroup.com.