Ups and Downs at VIR: Joey Atterbury

By: Mitchum_Motorsports

On: 4/30/2010 7:44 PM

Posted To: Continental Tire Challenge

Virginia International Raceway is still the most fun racetrack in America through my eyes. VIR is one of the fastest and most challenging tracks we visit driving in the GRAND-AM Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge. Round 4 certainly had its ups and downs for the Mitchum Motorsports camp, campaigning the #62 Riley Tech. Camaro GS.R.


The promoter test day was first up on the schedule for the weekend and I was eager to get back in the Camaro after a successful weekend at Barber Motorsports Park. We had just earned our first Top10 of the season and had a good vibe going to Round 4. The test day was littered with wrecks and was very difficult to get a clean lap where we could properly address the setup we had on the car.


Due to several black flag conditions and limited track time with getting co-driver Devin Cates up to speed, I had to rely on data to prepare for the first official practice of the weekend on Friday morning. By studying data and a few more car setup changes made by the crew, I was able to put the car P7 in Practice 1 with the fastest time we turned all weekend.


The first session went well and we made some great data traces to study for qualifying and the race. We used this to our advantage and presented it for Devin to study and get ready for qualifying which was just shortly after lunch. Qualifying is only 15 minutes and Devin managed to set his fastest lap of the weekend and placed the car 19th for the start of the VIR 200.


Race day was upon us and we were at the track early in the morning to meet and greet the fans. At every GRAND-AM event we have a fan-walk, which is a great way for us to show our new 2010 Riley Tech Camaro to the public and let the fans get up close and personal with the car, crew and drivers. After the fan walk it was time for the race!


Devin got off to a great start and picked up several positions through the first few laps of the race. Unfortunately some contact with a BMW sent us off track and hard into the tires, heavily damaging the right side of the car. Devin carried on and we were able to time our driver change with the first full course caution. The car was driving relatively straight given the amount of damage to the right side and was stable enough to keep racing to get some points for the event. We were able to climb up to P9 before we experienced some mechanical issues. Unfortunately about 15 minutes into my stint the transmission failed causing us to push the car back behind the wall and call it a weekend.


It was a disappointing finish to what was shaping up to be a great weekend for the Mitchum Motorsports team. The crew and drivers have their work cut out for them in the next few weeks to be prepared for Round 5 at Lime Rock Park, but we will be there ready to race. I’m looking forward to getting back in the car and proving what we can do!

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