SRT Motorsports/Dodge - Global Rallycross Race Advance - Round 8 - Charlotte

September 17, 2013 , Auburn Hills, Mich. - 

DID YOU KNOW?
• Travis Pastrana finished ninth in last year’s inaugural event at Charlotte after being involved in an incident with Tanner Foust. Marcus Gronholm was the race winner.
• This year’s event has been moved from Charlotte Motor Speedway to The Dirt Track at Charlotte.

DODGE GLOBAL RALLYCROSS NEWS
• Dodge and SRT Motorsports have teamed up with action sports legend Travis Pastrana for a second year of Global Rallycross (GRC) competition.
• Pastrana Racing will field two Dodge Darts this weekend at The Dirt Track at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Two-time Rally gold medalist Travis Pastrana will pilot the No. 199 Red Bull / Discount Tire Dodge Dart while off-road truck specialists and 2012 Trophy Truck - SCORE - Baja 500 champion Bryce Menzies will drive the No. 99 Red Bull / Discount Tire Dodge Dart entry.
• The 2013 Global Rallycross Series Dodge Dart is custom built for GRC competition.
• The engine: purpose-built, 2.0-liter, 4-cylinder, 16-valve, turbo-charged, 600-horsepower.

GRC POINT STANDINGS
1. Toomas Heikkinen  139
2. Tanner Foust  96
3. Brian Deegan  84
4. Ken Block  80
5. Patrik Sandell  75
6. Sverre Isachsen  65
7. Scott Speed  63
8. Liam Doran  59
9. Steve Arpin  58
10. Bucky Lasek  35
12. Travis Pastrana  32
16. Bryce Menzies  21


Dodge Pre-Race Quotes - GRC Round 8 - Charlotte

Gary Johnson – SRT Motorsports Racing Manager
“The team has been working on the cars quite a bit looking to make some further improvements. The drivers are really anxious to get behind the wheel again and give the fans a good show.

“We’ve had a number of different drivers in the cars this season but I think the team has done a good job providing them with good equipment. It’s been mostly bad luck that’s kept us from posting better finishes. We would like to see both drivers on the podium before the end of the season and this is one of the last shots that we’ll have.”

“I think it’s been interesting to see all the different types of courses that GRC has come up with this year and think Charlotte will be another example of that diversity.”

Travis Pastrana (No. 199 Red Bull/Discount Tire Dodge Dart)
“Can't wait to get back in my Dodge Dart! The team has been working hard and I think we are ready to get back on top of the podium.”

Bryce Menzies (No. 99 Red Bull/Discount Tire Dodge Dart)
“I’m really looking forward to getting back in the car. It’s been a while since X Games in Los Angeles. I was a little disappointed there as we were really close to making it to the main. I feel we have some momentum going into Charlotte. The team has been working hard to make the cars better. They took them up to Dodge headquarters (Auburn Hills, Mich.) recently and worked with the engineers looking for ways to improve performance. They came up with several changes – cut out some weight, made the car a little more aerodynamic and stuff like that. Travis and I are really looking forward to getting back in the car and checking out the improvements.”

THE COURSE AT CHARLOTTE WILL USE THE DIRT TRACK ADJACENT TO THE SUPERSPEEDWAY WHICH WILL BE A MORE TRADITIONAL RALLYCROSS COURSE. “I think more dirt is where they’re heading with the track layout and where all the drivers kind of want to see it go. I’ve raced there in my off road truck, so we know what the dirt is going to be like. Hopefully it is favorable for our Dodge Darts. Our Darts should work well on that type of service.

“Travis’ goal is always to win. My goal is to make it into the main, have a solid race and put on a good show for the fans.”

CAN YOU TELL THE DIFFERENCE IN DIRT FROM ONE PART OF THE COUNTRY TO THE NEXT? “I’ve raced across the whole country and the dirt changes everywhere we go. The track at Charlotte seems to have a lot of clay and is a lot thicker. Out west, the dirt is powdery and has a lot of silt in it. I think the dirt at Charlotte is going to be really good for these cars.”

YOU’VE GOT A COUPLE MORE RACES IN THE GLOBAL RALLYCROSS THIS SEASON. WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO ACCOMPLISH? “The team is trying and I’m trying. The team is trying to make the car better. I’m trying to do a better job driving the car. Making it to the main and getting some good results these last two races is key for this Dodge Dart team. I know that’s what Pastrana wants, that’s what I want and that’s what the whole team wants. We’re never going to give up. We’re going to try as hard as we can these last two rounds and make the best of it.”

WHAT ARE SOME THINGS THAT YOU’VE LEARNED COMPETING IN THE GLOBAL RALLYCROSS THIS SEASON? “I race two-wheel drive in off road and this Dodge Dart is all-wheel drive. I’ve learned a lot of driving techniques from the guys at Dirt Fish. Also Pastrana, my boss and teammate, is really good at pointing out things and trying to find ways to make the cars faster. I’ve learned the driving techniques that it takes to be competitive in these cars. I feel like I’ve progressed in the car and we’re getting better and better every week. Hopefully these last two rounds will show the progress we’re making.”