Press Contact: Dennis Punch (704) 530-4754
DAYTONA BEACH, FL, JUNE 30, 2005 — Rob Dyson and Harrison Brix had high hopes entering the Brumos Porsche 250 at the Daytona International Speedway on Thursday, June 30th. After their 13th-place finish in their first race in the #06 Thetford / Norcold Pontiac Crawford at Watkins Glen International on June 12th, the duo looked to Daytona to post their first top-ten finish for Howard-Boss Motorsports.
However, an accident on lap 39 left the #06 Pontiac Crawford in the tire barrier in turn three and resulted in a 36th-place overall finish. The Brumos Porsche 250 is the second of five races this season for Dyson and Brix in the #06 Thetford / Norcold Pontiac Crawford for Howard-Boss Motorsports.
After turning some very competitive speeds in the practice sessions prior to qualifying, Harrison Brix was selected to qualify the #06 entry for the 70-lap, 250-mile race. Brix responded with a fast lap of 1:49.055 / 86.419 mph to earn the 14th starting position in the 52-car grid.
The Brumos Porsche 250 started with mixed track conditions after a late-afternoon rainstorm fell on the Daytona International Speedway. With portions of the infield road course very damp from the rain, drivers had to negotiate each and every turn of the infield course very carefully during the early stages of the race. Brix was able to maintain his position in the top fifteen as the team began to work on strategy for the race. With several teams deciding to pit during the early stages, it would be evident that different pit strategy would be utilized in order to gain track position.
With the talented Brix driving a competitive, yet calculating race, the #06 Thetford / Norcold Team had positioned themselves for a potential top-ten finish at the midway point of the race. Then, on a restart after the third caution of the race on lap 39, the entire race took a significant turn.
In the infield road course section of the track, Brix got off course and made contact with the tire barrier at turn three. The accident resulted in the fourth caution of the race and enabled the #06 Pontiac Crawford to get back to the pits for evaluation. Veteran Rob Dyson took over the driving chores and, after spending several laps in the pits for repairs, the Howard-Boss Motorsports Team reentered the race.
Dyson was able to finish the event and bring the Thetford / Norcold Pontiac Crawford home in the 36th position, eight laps behind the winner – Howard-Boss Motorsports teammates Butch Leitzinger and Elliott Forbes-Robinson.
“It is really a shame for our team,” Dyson commented. “I felt like we had a strong top-ten, maybe top-five car tonight. It is unfortunate that Harrison (Brix) had an incident after he had driven a great race up to that point. We just did not have enough time to make up the lost laps after the accident. The Howard-Boss Motorsports Team worked really hard to prepare a very competitive car, and we were on our way to a strong finish.”
The next race for Dyson and Brix in the #06 Thetford / Norcold Pontiac Crawford with be the Comp USA 200 at Watkins Glen International on Friday, August 12th. The 200-mile, 82-lap race is set for a 6 p.m. ET start with Speed Channel providing tape delayed coverage of the event beginning at 8 p.m. on the 12th.