–5-Hour Energy Pilot Carries Banner for Nationwide Series Drivers in Final Practice–
ELKHART LAKE, WI (June 24, 2011)-Among the top-five in today’s final practice for Saturday’s Bucyrus 200 at Road America were two Formula One veterans, a champion of the 24 Hours of LeMans, a Rolex Series winner and Rusty Wallace Racing’s Steve Wallace (No. 66 5-Hour Energy Toyota Camry).
Wallace’s best lap of 135.117 seconds (107.853 MPH) around the 4.048-mile circuit placed him the fastest of the Nationwide Series regulars in final practice and fifth-fastest overall.
While his performance may surprise some, Wallace has quietly developed into one of the preeminent road racers among Nationwide Series regulars. The driver of the 5-Hour Energy Toyota enters Road America with two top-ten finishes in the last three NNS road course events. Only a hit from Ron Fellows last year at Montreal kept Wallace from three straight top-tens in last year’s road course races. Heading into tomorrow’s 202.4-mile affair, Wallace has the highest driver rating at Road America of all NNS regulars.
Noted Wallace, “I’m looking forward to the race; I feel like we have a strong 5-Hour Energy Toyota for tomorrow. This is a track that can really test every part of the team, the car and the driver, though, so it’ll take more than a strong car to finish up front. Hopefully, we can have good pit stops, good strategy and the driver can keep the car on course all day.
“If we can do that, you never know what will happen in these road course races. Growing up, I never thought that my first Nationwide win would come on a road course, but who knows, much stranger things have happened.”
Tomorrow afternoon’s Bucyrus 200 is set for a 5:30 PM ET start from historic Road America in Elkhart Lake, WI. The event features live television coverage by ESPN, beginning at 5:00 PM ET with NASCAR Countdown, featuring RWR’s own Rusty Wallace.
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About Rusty Wallace Racing, LLC
North Carolina-based Rusty Wallace Racing (RWR) is a professional auto racing team steeped in the legendary racing history of its founder, Rusty Wallace. The team currently campaigns the No. 66 and No. 62 Toyota Camrys-driven by Steve Wallace and Michael Annett, respectively-in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. RWR will also campaign the No. 64 Camry in select 2011 events. RWR entries have finished among the top-ten in the Nationwide Series driver or owner standings in each of the last three seasons. For more on Rusty Wallace Racing, please visit the award-winning rustywallace.com.
About Living Essentials, LLC
Farmington Hills, MI-based Living Essentials, LLC, is the maker of 5-Hour Energy, the category leader in two-ounce liquid energy shots. 5-Hour Energy is available nationwide at major retailers in the Grocery, Drug Store, Mass.
