NISSAN TEAMS LOOK TO END CTSCC SEASON ON A HIGH NOTE AT ROAD ATLANTA

September 30, 2014 by Nissan

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Doran Racing has been a strong contender throughout the 2014 IMSA Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge (CTSCC) season, a series of 12 races that began in late January and will come to a close Friday at Road Atlanta's 2.54-mile, 12-turn road course.

Doran Racing's Brad Jaeger is fifth in the Grand Sport driver's championship standings heading into Friday's 2.5-hour race that starts at 1:15 p.m. ET. Doran Racing is also in fifth among manufacturers, just two points out of fourth place, with an outside chance at third in a highly competitive series.

The Doran #14 370Z NISMO has two podium finishes (a third at Sebring and a second at Watkins Glen) and two additional top-five finishes (Laguna Seca and IMS), and the team would like nothing better than to get an outright victory at Road Atlanta.

'This season has been up and down,' said Zacharias. 'We have had a competitive package at every event and four solid top-five finishes. I really would like to end the season with a positive finish/result.'

Tim Bell Racing has also seen highs and lows in 2014, barely missing the podium at Laguna Seca and setting top three times in many practice sessions, only to have small things derail their efforts in the end. The most recent race at Circuit of The Americas was a perfect example, as Bell and his co-driver Dane Cameron had run fast all weekend and qualified 10th. At the start of the race, Bell passed two cars and was looking for more, only to have his antilock brakes fail on the fastest part of the track, hurling his 370Z into a catch fence at 136 mph.

'I am grateful it happened at probably the safest track in the country, and all of our safety systems worked as they should,' said the 25-year old team owner. 'We are trying to get both cars ready for this weekend, but we'll have to see if the wrecked car is ready. I want to finish the season strong.'

The Salt Lake City-based Skullcandy Nissan Team has fielded two Altima 3.5s in the Street Tuner category all season. Vesko Kozarov is coming off his second top five result at COTA in the #33 car, while GT Academy Champions Bryan Heitkotter and Steve Doherty look to top their season best sixth place earned at Kansas Speedway.

The Road Atlanta schedule has ST qualifying beginning Thursday at 4:35 p.m. Eastern and GS qualifying at 5:05 p.m. The 150-minute season finale starts at 1:15 p.m. Eastern on Friday. At press time there were 18 GS entries and 32 Street Tuner entries for a field of 50. The CTSCC race is part of the Petit Le Mans weekend.

Live video and timing and scoring coverage will stream at imsa.com. The Road Atlanta race will be broadcast at noon Eastern on Sunday, Oct. 12 on Fox Sports 1.

Photo credit: Nissan
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