Added Weight is a Drag for Rum Bum Racing in New Jersey

Millville, N.J. (12 May 2012) – Showing that the team is made of more than just strong equipment, Rum Bum Racing made the mid-season move to an all-new car look like a seamless transition, winning Rounds 2 and 3 of the GRAND-AM Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge championship after changing from a BMW to a Porsche 911.

But beyond trophies and champagne, that strong work ethic and professional preparation–not to mention great pit work and top-level driving–was rewarded with a 75-pound weight penalty from GRAND-AM ahead of Round 4 at New Jersey Motorsports Park. The Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge boasts one of the most varied fields in all of motorsports and GRAND-AM works to even the playing field among a grid that features everything from V8-powered cars to turbocharged all wheel drive machines to small-displacement entries like the Porsche 911.

The added weight for the championship-leading team was on clear display on Saturday as the team, which set the fastest time in qualifying at team owner Luis Bacardi’s home track of Homestead-Miami Speedway, was only able to secure sixth on the grid for Saturday’s B+ HEROES 200 presented by BCKSTGR after driver Nick Longhi posted a fast lap time of 1:29.500 seconds on the 2.25 mile circuit in south Jersey.

“The team did a great job trying to get the car going, but that’s what happens when you get 75 pounds added all at once,” said Longhi. “The car is okay it’s just a small capacity engine and when you put that kind of weight on there, that’s what happens. We’re going to be okay for the race but they certainly knocked the edge off of the car, there’s no doubt about it. It also makes it much more difficult handling wise. The team is great, everything is good, but 75 pounds moves you back, end of story.”

Longhi will open the 2.5-hour race before turning over the car to co-driver Matt Plumb.

Live timing and scoring can be followed at www.grand-am.com. SPEED will broadcast the event on May 26 at 2:00 PM (ET).