Wayne Nonnamaker enters the ROLEX Season Finale at Lime Rock Park with a solid opportunity to secure the Jim Trueman Sportsman Award.  The Award is for those drivers in the Daytona Prototype Class that are Gentlemen Drivers, whom do not make their living from racing. 

At the season opener, Wayne Nonnamaker secured the lead in the Sportsman Award standings.  Then throughout the season, Wayne has traded the lead in the standings with Alex Popow.  With 2013 being Wayne’s 1^st season in Daytona Prototype racing, it has been a season of playing catch up in learning how to drive a downforce race car.  All of Wayne’s past racing experience has been in GT and Sedan racing.  Within that span, Wayne has enjoyed many successful runs, including being the Continental Tire Series Championships in ST (1999 & 2002) and GS (2003).  As well, Wayne has had success in the GT arena, having won in the class a total of 3 times.  In fact, 2 of Wayne’s 3 victories came as a solo driver.  The last of which came at Daytona’s 4^th of July race, in which Wayne was the last driver ever in Grand American ROLEX competition to win without a co-driver.

If in fact Wayne is able to secure the Jim Trueman Award, he will be the 1^st and last driver in Grand American ROLEX history to secure the Sportsman title in both the Daytona Prototype and Grand Touring class ranks.  Wayne accomplished winning the GT class Bob Akin Award in 2011.  By winning the Jim Trueman Award for Daytona Prototype Drivers, Wayne would have one up on his brother Will.  Will secured the 1^st ever Bob Akin Sportsman Award in 2005.  But the tables could turn quickly as Will currently sits in 3^rd place in the standings, with an outside chance of jumping to the top if unfortunate luck would befall both Wayne and Alex Popow.

“The first and foremost goal of the event at Lime Rock Park is to secure as fine a finishing position for Team Sahlen in the final Grand American ROLEX race ever.  If in the end, I am fortunate to then also secure the Jim Trueman award, that would be fantastic.  It has been a big jump from GTs to DPs this season.  But having such a great bunch of guys and gals at Team Sahlen giving me a fine BMW Prototype to drive each weekend has made this even remotely possible.” – shared Wayne Nonnamaker

Co-driving with Wayne in the #42 BMW Powered Prototype this weekend will be his season long teammate Dane Cameron.  Dane is coming of a strong showing at Mazda Raceway – Laguna Seca.  At this event, Dane qualified in 3^rd place and was in the process of going to the lead, when he was inadvertently scooted off the track. 

Returning the driver’s seat this weekend will be Joe Sahlen.  He will be joining up with the father/son duo of Joe & Will Nonnamaker.  This will be Joe’s 1^st foray back behind the driver’s seat since the Sahlen’s Six Hours

“I am excited to be back behind the wheel.  My 1^st ROLEX race was at Lime Rock Park in 2006.  Its kind poignant that my last ROLEX event will be here as well.  Back then though, I was driving a Porsche GT3 Cup and we didn’t drive the chicane on the back straight.  Instead you would come over the hill and have to lift off the throttle as the car would launch in the air.” – shared Joe Sahlen

The Grand-Am Championship Weekend presented by BMW Winners ROLEX event will be on September 28^th at 1:35 pm.  The race will be televised on FoxSports2 live on Saturday and replayed at 12 noon on September 29^th on FoxSports1.

GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series is supported by:

BMW Motorsports, Dinan Engineering, Design Engineering Inc, Penske Shocks, EMCO Gears, Racing Print Media, Mothers Polish, TheRaceSite.com, PFC Brakes, Classic Motorsports Magazine, Grassroots Motorsports Magazine, BBS Wheels, and Hella Lights