Fittipaldi, Barbosa ready to roll into Road America

The IMSA TUDOR United SportsCar Championship takes on Road America this weekend in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin and Action Express Racing leads the way with a two-point advantage in the highly competitive championship. The team is fresh off of a big performance at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway two weeks ago and with just three races remaining in 2014, high points-paying results are key as the organization pursues its first championship title.

The team enters the Continental Tire Road Race Showcase at Road America confident of another positive performance at the classic Wisconsin road course. While it’s the first TUDOR Championship event at the track, Action Express Racing competed at the venue in both 2012 and 2013 while racing on the GRAND-AM Rolex Series race circuit.

The North Carolina-based squad took home a fourth (David Donohue, Terry Borcheller) and sixth (Joao Barbosa, Darren Law) place result in 2012 and followed that effort up with a double podium finish last year. Fittipaldi and Barbosa combined for second place in the No. 5 Corvette Daytona Prototype with brothers Burt and Brian Frisselle close behind to finish third in the team’s No. 9 Corvette Daytona Prototype.

'Expect to Win'

The team’s motto ‘Expect To Win’ sees the group aiming to go one better this year with a run to Road America victory lane.

It’s been a banner year for Action Express Racing so far this season. The team is the only one to have completed every race lap in 2014 and has remained a championship contender in each and every race. And with just three more events yet to go, the organization looks to continue this momentum through the rest of the year.

“Road America has the longest distance per lap than any other track we race, so precise fuel management will be critical,” said Team Manager Gary Nelson. “Add the very long, uphill pit road and it can turn what is usually a small thing like running out of fuel on pit lane into a huge setback. Fortunately, we are in a position to hopefully use what is the same for everyone to our advantage.

"Each year I look forward to racing at Road America. Throughout my career, I’ve known of the rich history here but was only able to feel it for the first time about 7 or 8 years ago. The fans and everyone involved at this track are great. Action Express did not get much of a chance to celebrate the Indy win as we went right to work to get as prepared as possible for this weekend. Our plan is to keep doing exactly what we’ve been doing.”

Fittipaldi family legacy

While the historic 4-mile Wisconsin road course is a driver favorite, it’s particularly special for Fittipaldi whose family legacy extends years at the track. Not only did he claim his very first Champ Car (IndyCar) victory there in 1999 but he also has two podiums, and four top-five finishes in eight open wheel starts at the track. His uncle Emerson Fittipaldi took three wins at Road America (’86, ’88, ’92) and stood on the podium five times.

Fittipaldi, Barbosa, and the entire Action Express Racing team look to extend that legacy this weekend.

Action Express