Orlando, Fla. (24 January 2019) – The 2019 IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge season will kick off this Friday at Daytona International Speedway, with Stoner Car Care-sponsored Automatic Racing ready with a strong three-car campaign at the Daytona International Speedway.
With one of the shortest shop-to-track commutes in the paddock, Automatic Racing is a mere hour from the team’s Orlando headquarters as it prepares for the four-hour season opener on Friday, part of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship’s Rolex 24 at Daytona event weekend.
Automatic Racing brings three Stoner Car Care and Invisible Glass-liveried Aston Martin Vantage GT4 cars ready to do battle on the on the 3.56-mile road course at Daytona International Speedway, set to be piloted by a combination of veterans and newcomers to the team.
Sharing the No. 97 Invisible Glass Aston Martin will be Rob Ecklin, Jr. (Lancaster, PA), Brandon Kidd (Syracuse, NY) and Ramin Abdolvahabi (Palm Beach Gardens, FL).
2019 marks Ecklin’s ninth consecutive appearance at the Daytona weekend, having earned a best finish of fourth in 2016. He teamed up with Kidd in last year’s race, which was Kidd’s debut at Daytona, as he builds on an already-successful ARCA, dirt/asphalt late model and karting career. Abdolvahabi makes his sixth consecutive Daytona start, with a best finish of sixth in 2014.
The No. 99 Stoner Car Care Aston Martin will see Gary Ferrera (Littleton, CO) and Kris Wilson (Golden, CA) team up for the four hour race as 2019 marks the Daytona debut for Ferrera. He and his fellow Colorado native teamed up in the final two races of 2018 garnering a sixth-place finish at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. Ferrera competed in the Porsche Trophy West USA series the past two seasons, finishing second in the Platinum class last year. Wilson, making his eighth start at Daytona, has an extensive racing resume dating back to 1993.
The No. 09 Invisible Glass Aston Martin will be co-driven by Dale Katechis (Longmont, CO) and Mikel Miller (Pebble Beach, CA). Katechis comes to the series after finishing third in the Ferrari Challenge North America last season as he teams with Miller, who has three career Daytona appearances.
ABOUT US
About Stoner Car Care
Stoner Car Care produces high-performance car washes, waxes, polishes, and dressings for auto enthusiasts and car care professionals. The Stoner Car Care line-up includes Invisible Glass, America's #1 Automotive Glass Cleaner, along with many other appearance products. Whether driving, washing or waxing, Performance Matters! Stoner car care proudly formulates all of our product since 1942. www.stonercarcare.com
About Invisible Glass
Automatic Racing sees their way to victory with Invisible Glass, the top-selling automotive glass cleaner in the United States. The Invisible Glass product line includes aerosol and spray bottle cleaner, Invisible Glass with rain repellent for windshields and wiper blades. Find more online at https://www.invisibleglass.com/
About Automatic Racing
Based in Orlando, Automatic Racing is one of the longest-running teams in the paddock, forming in 2001 and competing in all but one of the 11 MICHELIN Pilot Challenge races at Daytona. The team has been developing, preparing and racing the prestigious Aston Martin Vantage GT4 since 2012. Automatic Racing won the 2017 MICHELIN Pilot Challenge title. https://automaticracing.com
