During the Grand American ROLEX series 1^st visit in 2011 to Watkins Glen International, Team Sahlen entered and competed in the Sahlen’s 6 hours.  The result was a very respectable 7^th place finish, after having led early in the race.  After that event, Team Sahlen has went on a tear, qualifying 1^st, 2^nd and 1^st in the next three events on the schedule.  Then toping that off with two 2^nd place finishes, that were both combined only a second out of 1^st place. 

 Last year we came to the 2^nd Watkins Glen event, and were in the top 3 until the very end of the race, when a loose wheel nut put us back to 8^th place.  We have learned a lot in the course of 12 months.  I am very excited about this weekend.  It’s a great opportunity to have success in front of all of the Sahlen Hot Dog Fans.  Additionally, Mazda is in a heated battle to defend their 2010 ROLEX GT Manufacturer’s crown.  We hope to be of assistance in this quest to repeat for Mazda.” – shared Wayne Nonnamaker, who will be sharing the #42 Mazda RX-8 with John Edwards

John Edwards added his input “After a string of front row qualifying sessions and two 2nd place finishes in the past three races, I think everyone at Team Sahlen is ready to get on the top step of the podium! However, we have been in contention every weekend, so we will continue to work just the way we have been working, and push hard for the win during the race. Team Sahlen has been doing an excellent job every weekend to put the car at the front, so hopefully we can deliver our first win at Sahlen's home track in Watkins Glen!”

Not  only will Wayne Nonnamaker be starting the #42 Mazda, but he will be finishing the #49 RX-8, that will be started by his father, Joe Nonnamaker

Also entered will be New Yorker Joe Sahlen in the #43 Mazda with his long time co-driver Will Nonnamaker

“I am excited to be back in action at the Glen.  Not only is this my home track, it is my favourite track on the circuit.  The short course offers for some very fast laps.   You would think that it would almost be the same track as at the Sahlen’s 6 Hours, but cutting off the boot really changes the complexion of not only how you drive the track, but how the race car is set up.” Explained Joe Sahlen

“Returning to the Glen and running on the short course we are bringing many changes and lessons since running here for the Sahlen’s Six Hour. Our new base setup should give us a more competitive car to start and hopefully with a few tweaks we can make it back on the front row!” – shared Team Sahlen Engineer Catherine Crawford Wallace

Currently, entering the Watkins Glen 200 weekend, Wayne Nonnamaker leads the Bob Akin Sportsman Award by 300 points over 2x Award winner Emil Assentato.  If Wayne is able to pull off this Award in 2011, he will be the exact same age as his brother Will Nonnamaker was when he won the award in 2005.

The Watkins Glen 200 will start at 6 pm ET on August 13^th, and will be televised live on SPEEDTV.

The 2011 Team Sahlen GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16 is supported by Mazda, Mazdaspeed, HRPWorld.com, Cool Shirt, Racetech Seats, BBS, Racing Print Media, Alcon, Mothers Polish, EMCO, NGK Spark Plugs, TheRaceSite.com, Western New York Flash, Grassroots Motorsports, Castrol Oil, Holliday Canopies, ASC Industries, Iannetti  Design Ideas, CM Racing