CAMARO Z/28.R AT DAYTONA: A Double Podium in 2015 Opener
Stevenson Motorsports second, third in Grand Sport; Mantella posts top-10 in Camaro debut
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Jan. 23, 2014) – The Chevrolet Camaro Z/28.R started the 2015 Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge season in strong fashion Friday with a pair of podium finishes in the Grand Sport (GS) class at Daytona International Raceway. Stevenson Motorsports finished second and third with its pair of Camaro Z/28.Rs a year after the Chevrolets made their race debuts.
Robin Liddell and Andrew Davis placed second in their No. 6 Camaro Z/28.R – one spot better than where the Camaro began the race. The No. 9 Stevenson Motorsports Camaro Z/28.R of Matt Bell and Lawson Aschenbach finished third Friday after starting fifth. It is the first time Stevenson Motorsports has captured two podium finishes at Daytona.
Mantella Autosport made its debut driving the Camaro Z/28.R with a ninth-place finish for the No. 8 Camaro of Mark Wilkins and Anthony Mantella. The No. 80 Camaro of Martin Barkey and Kyle Marcelli finished 12th.
“What a difference a year makes,” said Lisa Talarico, Chevrolet’s Program Manager for the Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge. “Second and third today is a great result for the Chevrolet Camaro Z.28.R. Everyone at Stevenson Motorsports deserves credit for terrific teamwork and strategy between the two Camaros. A top-10 finish for Mantella Autosport in its first race with the Camaro Z/28.R caps a great opening weekend.”
The Chevrolet Camaro Z/28.R won five times in the 2014 season and allowed Chevrolet to finish second in the GS Manufacturer championship despite teething problems during last year’s Daytona race. Given the layout of the Daytona circuit – which uses a substantial part of the track’s oval circuit – Friday’s results are even more encouraging for the 10-race season.
The next round of the Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge is set for Friday, March 20 at Sebring International Raceway in Sebring, Fla.
ROBIN LIDDELL, NO. 6 STEVENSON CHEVROLET CAMARO Z/28.R
WHAT A DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES.
“Absolutely, I’m very happy to be on the podium today. We obviously had a tough start last year. We still had our challenges in the race today. I know throughout the weekend we changed and put a lot of new parts on the car over the course of the practice days and ultimately the car performed flawlessly. Both team cars did, so, very happy with the result for the team and for Chevy.”
ANDREW DAVIS, NO. 6 STEVENSON MOTORSPORTS CHEVROLET CAMARO Z/28.R
IT LOOKED VERY TOUGH DURING YOUR STINT.
“Our Chevrolet Camaro Z/28.R ran really well. I think we about maximized the performance. The Stevenson Motorsports guys worked really hard, and we have a great car. But when we get on the banking, our competitors are considerably faster than us. You have to play that game, and the game is not to get frustrated. The good thing is that we can pull up to them in the draft, but when I pull out to pass they would pull out another car length. It just takes a little bit of defensive driving and I can’t get by. Overall, it was fun. Our Camaro Z/28.R was very strong.”
LAWSON ASCHENBACH, NO. 9 STEVENSON MOTORSPORTS CHEVROLET CAMARO Z/28.R
WHAT A WAY TO START YOUR FIRST SEASON WITH STEVENSON MOTORSPORTS.
“Matt (Bell) did a great job in the beginning of the race. To think that we would get out of here the first weekend of the year in Daytona, probably our worst track with a second and third place is pretty awesome. It was great racing there with Robin (Liddell) at the end. It’s been awesome getting to know everybody on the team. Our Stevenson Motorsports Camaro Z/28.R was honestly fast all weekend. I couldn’t be more honored and more proud to join this team this year. I’m looking forward to hopefully a lot more success this year.
MATT BELL, NO. 9 STEVENSON MOTORSPORTS CAMARO Z/28.R
YOUR STINT APPEARED VERY STRONG.
“My Chevrolet Camaro Z/28.R was as good as it’s been all weekend. We didn’t really start wrenching on this car until qualifying. We were kind of behind in the game due to some mechanical problems and seeing which way to go with it. We got it right for qualifying, and to have it handle like this for this long is awesome. Andrew and I hooked up early, and we tried to stay together. It all worked out well.”
MIKE JOHNSON, TEAM MANAGER, STEVENSON MOTORSPORTS
“This has always been a tough race for us, and even that one wasn’t easy. We fought trouble in both cars the whole time, but they both held together. That is just a testament to the work the guys did over the winter. We were really worried when we came into this race because we didn’t do the Roar that we might not be prepared and we might have just taken it too easy. Then we just had a bunch of problems all weekend. We were like ‘oh man we might not be ready for this thing.’ But once the green flag came out the guys over-the-wall, the pit stops were awesome we made positions up especially on that last stop. The drivers did super. It’s great to finally start the season with a double podium, so we’re very happy.”
MARTIN BARKEY, NO. 8 MANTELLA AUTOSPORT CAMARO Z/28.R
TALK ABOUT YOUR FIRST STINT WITH THE CAMARO Z/28.R.
“I’m really, really happy with our Chevrolet Camaro Z/28.R. We started 19th – not where we wanted to start – but were eighth at one point midway through that stint. The first couple of laps I wanted to keep it clean. I was fortunate that some openings came up, and I wanted to take advantage.”