The GRAND-AM community was buzzing with excitement with Wednesday’s announcement that GRAND-AM would be racing at Belle Isle in the Chevrolet Detroit Sports Car Challenge on Saturday, June 2.

Joe Nonnamaker has experience racing in Detroit, but that was on the original Renaissance Center circuit.

“I first raced at Detroit back in 1984 at the original downtown Grand Prix circuit,” Nonnamaker said. “I was competing in the Champion Spark Plug Challenge Racing Sedan Series.  That was very exciting as the series was supporting the Formula 1 race.  And actually my racing history in the area dates even further back to when I went to my first driver’s school at the Waterford Road Course, just outside of Detroit, in 1974. 

“Now to be coming back 28 years later to race at the Belle Isle circuit is very special,” Nonnamaker added. “From what I have seen, the setting for the event is very open and accessible for the fans, just like Montreal is.  Hopefully, all three Team Sahlen Mazda RX-8s can put on a good show for the Mazdafanatics in the ROLEX GT class.”