Tom Kendall to Race in Brumos Daytona Continental Historics Event
17 September 1997
Kendall to Compete During Daytona's HSR Weekend
Trans Am Series Recordholder to Race Rolex 24-winning Mustang
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Arguably the hottest driver in the motorsports
world is road racing ace Tom Kendall. Kendall is rewriting the SCCA
Trans-Am record book, having won an unprecedented 11 consecutive SCCA
Trans-Am Series races while driving Roush Racing Ford Mustangs.
Kendall, a two-time GTS-1 class-winning Rolex 24 At Daytona champion,
will return to the "World Center of Racing," the site of some of his
greatest racing accomplishments, when he competes in the inaugural
Brumos Daytona Continental Historics October 3-5.
Kendall is scheduled to drive a Roush Racing Ford Mustang, the same
car he co-drove with NASCAR Winston Cup Series regulars Wally
Dallenbach and Robby Gordon and Indy Racing League competitor Robbie
Buhl to win the GTS-1 class in the 1993 Rolex 24 At Daytona.
"We finished second overall to the Toyota GTP and almost won overall
(1993 Rolex 24 At Daytona), but we won our class, so it was a
memorable race," said Kendall, the 1997 SCCA Trans-Am champion. "I
understand they'll be quite a few Porsche 962s in the race in October,
so it will be a familiar story, they'll be a bit faster, but the Roush
cars have a reputation for always plugging away."
Kendall, 31, has enjoyed an illustrious sports car racing career
despite his young age. In addition to his two Rolex 24 victories, his
racing resume includes nine drivers' championships [four SCCA Trans-Am
titles (1990, 1995-97), three consecutive SportsCar GTS titles
(1986-88), a SportsCar GTU title (1986) and a SportsCar Firehawk title
(1986)], 51 career road racing victories, 67 career pole positions and
a five-time IROC competitor.
"Everyone who is at an HSR event is purely there for the enjoyment of
the sport. I think the fans appreciate the cars as much as the
drivers, these cars have the ability to evoke a lot of memories, they
truly are the stars.
"When you go to a professional sports car race today, the cars are
really only expensive tools, but with the cars that compete in the
vintage races, each car has its own personality with a history behind
it, each has done something significant.
"On the surface you might not think the racing is as intense, but
these drivers take it very seriously and the racing is always
competitive. My racing history only goes back to 1981, it doesn't go
back to the '40s, '50s or '60s, but I'm a fan. And whenever I see a
car I remember from the 24 hours 15 years ago, I get excited. For
example right now, everybody talks about Mark Donahue's records
(Kendall broke Donohue's 1968 record of eight consecutive SCCA
Trans-Am victories) and people still talk the No. 6 Sunoco car he
drove, they love seeing it race at vintage weekends. Whether or not
people will feel that way about my race car in the future remains to
be seen, but maybe they will some day.
"Vintage racing is becoming so big nowadays, whenever I see a date
coming up, I always try to clear my schedule so I can make it.
Especially since we now have a weekend at Daytona, I can't wait to
come down and be a part of it. I guess I'm just an incurable fan,
when I'm not doing it, then I'm out watching it."
Super Tickets are available in advance for $35, offering three full
days of racing at considerable savings over daily admissions. The
ticket provides unlimited access to the infield, paddock and garage
areas in addition to free car/van parking.
For additional ticket information, contact the Speedway Ticket Office
at (904) 253-7223. For more information about the HSR Vintage
Weekend, DAYTONA USA or any other events held at the Speedway, visit
http://www.daytonausa.com.
