From a press release issued by Proforma:
TWO PODIUMS FOR LEE ACREE AT DAYTONA
Lee Acree raced to two more podium positions yesterday in the Formula USA National Championship finale at Daytona International Speedway. Acree finished third in both the 18-lap Sportbike final and the 9-lap Superbike final, each time drafting by on the last lap to take the final podium position. Following qualifying for both classes on Sunday morning, Lee started fifth for the Sportbike final and from pole position for the Superbike race.
With a good start in the Sportbike final, Lee was able to run with race leader Scott Greenwood and second place Jeff Wood for a couple of laps, but Greenwood checked out, leaving Acree, Wood and Chris Peris to fight back and forth over second. With a handful of laps to go, Lee formulated a strategy for the end of the race. “I started working on my plan,” said Acree. “With a couple of laps to go, Jeff and Chris put a lapper between them and me, then Jeff put a lapper between him and Chris. I backed off to let Chris lead out of the chicane, then I drafted past him right where it flattens out after NASCAR four.”
In the shorter Superbike final, Lee rode the same trusty Sportbike-spec Yamaha R6 on DOT Pirellis, and got a good start from his pole position. Lee tried to stay with Matt Wait and Scott Greenwood, but their bikes were too fast, and they pulled away from what became another battle for third place with Scott Harwell, Chris Peris and Jeff Wood. “When Matt got around Scotty, they were just gone,” said Acree. “I just started to size up the guys I was with. I kept trying different scenarios, and I knew I had to be behind Harwell coming out of the chicane on the last lap, his bike was the fastest. I got in behind him going into turn one starting the last lap, backed off a little going in the chicane, then I followed and passed him just as we got into the tri-oval and was around him completely by start/finish.”
Lee will finish his 2003 race season by competing in the WERA Grand National Finals at Road Atlanta, October 29-November 2.
More, from a press release issued by Big Show Racing:
MV Agusta back on the podium.
Big Show Racing, last year’s Formula USA Team Challenge GTU National Champions, returned to Daytona last week with a GTO-class MV Agusta F4S. The team finished second overall and second in the GTO class with Larry Denning and Aaron Risinger piloting the MV in the Formula USA 200-mile race.
“MV Agusta has a long history of racing,” said team owner Jon Wuytack. “I purchased the bike over the summer and after riding it on the street for a day, I decided it belongs on the track. The bike is basically bone stock. We put on an Arrow exhaust system and a oversized tank. We had some real suspension issues to work out, I can’t think of anyone racing these bikes here in the U.S. There isn’t any R&D available for suspension set-up. Mike Fitzgerald spent the day working with us at the Team Hammer practice on Wednesday getting the bike dialed in. I’m very pleased we were able to put this wonderful bike on the podium again.”
The team made one pit stop with fuel and tire change in under 20 seconds. “The Pirellis held up great” said Larry Denning. “We used a green rear and it hooked up great after 30 laps.”
Big Show Racing is looking into racing the MV next season.