Keen, Gue Building More Than Just Momentum

By Michael Harker


DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Drivers of the No. 41 Global Diving & Salvage Mazda RX-8 in the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series GT class, Leh Keen and James Gue know what it is like to have built successful careers and relationships, especially during the past few seasons in GRAND-AM Road Racing competition.

Keen is coming off a 2009 season that saw him co-win four races and take the Rolex Series GT title along with co-driver Dirk Werner. Meanwhile, Gue finished second in the 2008 and 2009 Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge Grand Sport (GS) points standings with Bret Seafuse, driving for JBS Motorsports. So it comes as no surprise that the pair is currently fourth in the GT championship, fighting for podium finishes weekly and at times even a victory. They have three podiums and eight top 10s - all consecutively - in nine races this season.

"James and I are two pretty laidback guys," Keen said. "I would say we are pretty different from each other but we get along great. He knows the importance of keeping the car in great shape and makes sure he does that each race."

Added Gue: "Driving with Leh has been good this year and I think we complement each other well. We get along off the track, and we push each other on the track. The biggest difficulty we have is fitting us both comfortably in the car as there is about eight inches difference in height between us."

So it's safe to say they continue to build the Dempsey Racing program - which last season consisted of one Mazda RX-8, the No. 40 for team co-owners Joe Foster and Patrick Dempsey. In the process of building their friendship, Keen and Gue are in the process of building even more outside the racing community.

The pair's efforts have been supported by Team Seattle, which raises funds for and awareness of the Seattle (Wash.) Children's Hospital. Team Seattle has, in the past, regularly raised money with a car competing in the Rolex 24 At Daytona. This season, Team Seattle stepped up its efforts for an entire season. While that gives Keen and Gue a chance at winning a championship, it also raises more money for Team Seattle; in fact, all the team's prize money is donated to the Seattle Children's Hospital. Through their efforts on the track, the race team is also helping to build a hybrid operating room, which will improve the way cardiac operations will function.

"I was fortunate enough to visit the hospital earlier in the year and see first-hand the impact the racing program has on the hospital," Gue said. "We have had a tremendous amount of support from everyone at Team Seattle."

Two of the team's biggest supporters have been Seattle natives John and Jeri Graham, owners of Global Diving and longtime supporters of the Seattle Children's Hospital. That led them to the Team Seattle program, and after attending their first race just last year, they backed a full season for the No. 41 for the entire 2010 campaign.

So far, the relationship has proven worthwhile in several ways. Gue and the Grahams visited the Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, prior to the race at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, where Gue signed autographs and visited with children. Several team members also expect to visit The Montreal Children's Hospital in August during the penultimate round of the 12-race season at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.

Seattle Children's Hospital, Nationwide Children's Hospital and The Montreal Children's Hospital are all participating hospitals in The Children's Circle of Care, which advances philanthropy that supports patient care, teaching, research and advocacy through educating and recognizing leading benefactors.

"We've always supported the children's hospital on a smaller scale, and now we're gradually advancing that," John Graham said. "We think we have something to contribute that will be beneficial to the hospital. I think we've got an extremely good group of folks here that we weren't responsible for putting together, but the chemistry is good and we've got good drivers.

"We think that our investment is probably going to get a three- or four-time return on money for the hospital. We're not in it for us. We're in it for the hospital. That's why we're here."

In addition to the Grahams, other members of Team Seattle have worked with the Dempsey Racing stable in 2010. Some even shuttled drivers and team members between pit lane and campers during the Rolex 24.

Heading into the final quarter of the season, all involved with the No. 41 camp, including Gue and Keen, expect to meet one final goal - winning a race. They finished a season-best second at Lime Rock Park, and gave Dempsey Racing it's first-ever podium at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

"We were on fire at the Sahlen's Six Hours of The Glen (third place)," Keen said, "and the short course is one I really enjoy. We had a great setup for that race and I know we will be fast right out of the box for the sprint race."

Added Gue: "The Dempsey Racing/Team Seattle crew has given us a great car at every race this year. We hope to finish out the season on a high note."