{"id":9316,"date":"2024-07-20T15:36:10","date_gmt":"2024-07-20T15:36:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/teamsahlen.com\/?p=9316"},"modified":"2024-07-20T15:38:21","modified_gmt":"2024-07-20T15:38:21","slug":"team-returns-to-nelson-ledges-on-40-year-anniversary-achieves-double-victory","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/teamsahlen.com\/index.php\/2024\/07\/20\/team-returns-to-nelson-ledges-on-40-year-anniversary-achieves-double-victory\/","title":{"rendered":"Team returns to Nelson Ledges on 40 year anniversary & achieves Double Victory"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Team Sahlen, presented by honeybeeBase.com, started racing\nin Endurance Sports Car 40 years ago. \nThe 1st<\/sup> event for the team was at Nelson Ledges for the\n\u201cLongest Day 24 Hours\u201d.  Through the\nyears the team has raced at many different venues, including Daytona, Indy, the\nGlen to name a few.  But the team has\nalso felt a kindred spirit to the track that is the birthplace of production\nshowroom stock endurance racing \u2013 Nelson Ledges Road Course. So on the team\u2019s\n40th<\/sup> Anniversary season, Team Sahlen circled the Nelson event on the\nTire Rack \u2013 ChampCar Endurance Series schedule as a \u201cMust Do\u201d event.  For the event, Team Sahlen would be entering\ntheir #942 \u201cKetchup\u201d & #943 \u201cMustard\u201d Porsche Boxsters.  It was in this #942 that Team Sahlen won the\n2019 Nelson 24 Hours.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Thursday was move in day, with all 3 Team Sahlen rigs\nrolling into the track and setting up in a prime paddock location.  Friday dawned with continued blue skies and a\nfull day of testing.  Both the #942\n\u201cKetchup\u201d & #943 \u201cMustard\u201d Porsche Boxsters were able to go on track and\nset very competitive times in the morning. \nThen both racers were prepped in the afternoon for Saturday\u2019s 7 hour\nenduro.  The #941 \u201cChili\u201d Porsche Boxster\ncontinued to be utilized throughout the afternoon as a practice car to get all\n4 drivers track time in advance of the weekend\u2019s racing activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Saturday was a clear and sunny day with a very warm humid\nOhio temperature pressing down on all competitors.  The random draw for the grid saw Team Sahlen\nstart mid pack in the race.  Team Sahlen\ntoo their time at the start working through traffic, and at the 1 hour mark in\nthe race, the team was comfortably in the Top 3.  The team took advantage of a very early Code\n35 Caution period at the 90 minute mark to get their 1st<\/sup> Pit Stop\ncompleted.  This strategic decision was\nkey, as many other front runners choose to stay out, thus placing those racers\nin pitting under full green conditions. \nThis transformed the race, and place Team Sahlen in 1st<\/sup> and 2nd<\/sup>\nOverall.  As the race transitioned\nforward, the #942 \u201cKetchup\u201d unfortunately suffered from a Transmission issue\nthat place it back in the paddock for a replacement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The #942 \u201cMustard\u201d continued forward in leading the\nfield.  The very humid summer heat took\nits toll on all competitors.  Team Sahlen\nsettled into a very comfortable pace to ensure that the Porsche Boxster would\nmake it to the end of the 7 hour enduro. \nTo add a little spice to the event, there was a flash shower with about\n1 hour to go in the race, which put finishing driver Wayne Nonnamaker with a\nchallenge to keep up the pace while still staying on the pavement.  In the end, Team Sahlen crossed the line in 1st<\/sup>\nPlace.  After the race, the team\ncollected in victory circle to celebrate winning at Nelson 40 years after the\nteam\u2019s 1st<\/sup> race and 1st<\/sup> victory back in 1984 at the\nLongest Day 24 Hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Wayne Nonnamaker shared his thoughts after the race – \u201cWhat\na hot day on track.  It was great to be\nable to persevere through this 7 hour race to cross the finish line 1st<\/sup>.  We really wanted to have a good weekend at\nNelson Ledges Road Course, as this was the track our team 1st<\/sup> race.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Sunday dawned with a 4th<\/sup> consecutive day of\nbeautiful blue skies.  Team Sahlen had\nboth Boxsters on track again.  Soon  the team found both racers in the Top 5\nOverall.  Unfortunately for #942\n\u201cKetchup\u201d, this was DeJa\u2019Vu all over again, as the newly installed transmission\nhad problems just like the prior day\u2019s occurrence.   This left the honor of Team Sahlen to the\n#943 \u201cMustard\u201d to lead the charge on track. \nAnd just like Saturday, this 7 hour Enduro was tough on all\ncompetitors.  Team Sahlen wisely took the\nheat and humidity into consideration by watching the car temps and being\ncautious on tire wear.  When the\ncheckered flag then did fly at 4 pm, Team Sahlen was able to sweep the weekend\nwith another fantastic victory.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Joe Nonnamaker shared his excitement after the weekend \u2013 \u201cNot only was this our team\u2019s 40th<\/sup> Anniversary in Endurance Sports Car, but this was my 50th<\/sup> Anniversary of racing at Nelson Ledges Road Course.  My 1st<\/sup> race here was in a Ford Pinto. What a change to now be racing in this amazing Porsche Boxster.  As well, Nelson Ledges has evolved over the years.  This track is just amazing now.  The track is in great condition, and the new facilities in the paddock make for a very great experience. I look forward to racing at this track in the future years to come.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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