FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TopSpeed wins 2008 Redline Time Attack Unlimited AWD Championship
Atlanta, GA – October 6, 2008 – TopSpeed and driver Luke Russell clinched the 2008 Redline Time Attack Unlimited-class all-wheel drive championship this past weekend at Virginia International Raceway in Alton, Virgina.
Russell drove the TopSpeed Subaru Brighton to a winning lap time of 1:58.5 beating the Crawford Subaru STI driven by Japanese time attack star Tarzan Yamada by a half-second.
The win extended TopSpeed's season-dominating event Grand Champion total to four and was the third consecutive – an impressive task considering international and factory-backed competition participating in the series. The Grand Champion's trophy is given to the team with the fastest lap time of all competitors at each event.
Russell and TopSpeed also clinched Grand Champion honors at St. Louis, Nashville and Summit Point, West Virginia.
After early season performance driver Russell was unsure of their chances for a championship, but he was proud of how the team pulled together to bring home the title.
"The crew at TopSpeed came back with a vengeance," he said. "This is all due to their hard work. All I did was turn the wheel and push some pedals."
Russell may be shy about his accomplishment, but car-owner Doug Wilks isn't as modest about his driver.
"Luke has never let me down," he said. "He has always held up his end of the deal when push comes to shove."
Wilks is also quick to point out that it wouldn't be possible to do without teamwork, including sponsor JRZ Suspension.
"Without Bryan from JRZ our car would not be nearly as quick as it was today," Wilks said.
The TopSpeed team also had some help from their competitor at the event – Crawford Performance, who got them an air-oil separator.
"They made sure we had the right part," Wilks said, "and it performed flawlessly."
Despite the tough competition, teams often help each other when it comes down to it.
"Everyone is there to win, but at the end of the day we can all sit around a table and still drink a beer with friends," Wilks said.
The TopSpeed team is looking to repeat their championship in 2009, but that may be tough without sponsorship.
"I know our car has a lot left in it," Wilks said, "and I won't really be happy until it's done."
TopSpeed is an Atlanta tuner specializing in tuning, turn key builds, chassis setup and parts sales.
Supporting sponsors of the TopSpeed Time Attack car are Brian Crower, GSC PowerDivision, Cobb Tuning, Whiteline, Urban8designs, Carbonetics, Traqmate and Nasioc.
Picture from VIR event:
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