Press Release 9/19/2004

Summit Point (September 19th). After a run of bad luck the past couple of rounds that kept the team out of the win column, the Flatoutracing/Guident Technologies/HRPWWorld.com team, finally broke into the win column this past weekend at Summit Point Raceway and regained the Championship lead after losing it at Mid Ohio in August.

Ian Carpenter in the #80 Integra of Team Hankook set pole time on Saturday breaking the H4 track record by nearly a full second, with JE Import Performance's Lyonel Kent in second, followed by Jon Kofod and the other Team Hankook car of Andrew Zimmermann. Kent and Carpenter battled the first five laps inches apart while Kofod hung back. On Lap 6 Kent and Carpenter got together in turn 5 with Carpenter ending up in the infield grass unable to continue.

Kofod and Kent then battled for the top spot for about four more laps. Repeated attempts by Kofod to get by Kent were met with close racing and Kent stayed in the lead by inches. On lap ten a Porsche dropped oil in turn 10 and Kent was able to get through relatively easy but Kofod slid wide at the exit of 10 and lost ground. Kent cruised home for the victory with Kofod in second and Zimmermann in third. Shortly thereafter officials ruled Kent's move on Carpenter to be a rules violation and Kofod was elevated to 1st place.

Sunday's race was a repeat of Beaverun with Carpenter and Kofod trading leads and fastest laps the entire race. Carpenter sat on pole again with Kofod second and Corey Jacobs third in the Team Cobalt Friction Honda.

At the start the three cars went three wide into turn one with Jacobs in the grass. Kofod came out in the lead with Carpenter and Jacobs fighting it out for second. On lap four, Kofod broke the H4 track record by nearly half a second, set by Carpenter on Saturday, with a 1:28.3. Carpenter and Kofod battled side by side for the next few laps until Carpenter passed Kofod in turn three on lap 8. One lap later Carpenter set another blazing lap bettering Kofod's time by two tenths of a second retaking the track record with a 1:28.1.

Although Kofod attempted several passes on Carpenter, the number 80 Team Hankook driver prevailed for a close fought victory as both cars crossed the finish line nearly side by side.

"I am glad we got the Championship lead back and I thoroughly enjoyed racing with Carpenter all weekend. Ian had the speed where it counted and the few places where I was faster than him, I couldn't pull the pass off. It feels good to finally get a win, though we would have preferred to earn it under different circumstances."

The team will be competing in an out of region race next weekend in the South East Region at Roebling Road.