July 27, 2010
Racers Edge Motorsports Review: Garden State 250
Even though the results did not show it, Racers Edge Motorsports’ drivers demonstrated an impressive ability to adapt during the Garden State 250 at the New Jersey Motorsports Park. Manuel Gutierrez and Jade Buford squeezed every ounce of performance out of the Gume Transport Ford Mustang Boss 302R in the two and a half hour event.
During qualifications, Manuel Gutierrez was hindered by a lack of practice time and placed the yellow No. 29 in the 22nd position. Mechanical gremlins had kept the car off the track for much of the weekend’s practice sessions. When the race started, Gutierrez put his head down and began picking up positions one by one. Gutierrez’s driving coupled with great pit strategy moved the Gume Transport machine up to 12th place.
When the time came to change drivers, the entire pit crew delivered an excellent stop that gained four spots on pit road. During his stint Buford confirmed that the car was still experiencing brake problems, but fought through them and delivered an impressive drive until finally being forced to make an unscheduled pit stop to repair the brakes when they failed completely. The car finished in 19th place but the drivers both gained valuable driving experience during the weekend. The team expects that experience to pay dividends at the next round in Trois-Rivières (Three Rivers), Québec.
July 9, 2010
Racers Edge Motorsports Preview: New Jersey Motorsports Park
After a break that was nearly a month long, the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge Series will visit New Jersey Motorsports Park for the 8th round of the 2010 season. Drivers Jade Buford and Manuel Gutierrez will drive the No. 29 Gume Transport/Idemitsu Ford Mustang BOSS 302R at NJMP’s 2.25 mile track.
Although both drivers are anxious to get back to the track, Jade Buford is coming off a great weekend at Mid-Ohio where he was called up to drive Racers Edge’s Mazda RX-8 in the GT class of the Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16. While co-driving with Jordan Taylor, Buford earned his first podium finish of 2010, a third place. Team Owner and Driver Coach, Jon Mirachi was really impressed with Jade’s performance at Mid Ohio. “We needed a fast, reliable co-driver for Jordan at Mid Ohio and the pairing of Jade with Jordan resulted in great chemistry and great success”, Mirachi enthused.” I was really pleased and we’ll see the two of them driving together again real soon!”
This will be Buford’s second visit to the Millville, New Jersey track. He finished 25th in the ST class during the race in 2009. Although Manuel Gutierrez has never visited the track, it is a safe bet that he will be up to speed quickly. Throughout 2010, he has shown an innate ability to learn race tracks quickly. Don’t be surprised if the Racers Edge Motorsports Mustang posts its first top ten finish of the year at New Jersey Motorsports Park.
Tape delayed television coverage of the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge race at NJMP begins Sunday, July 25th at 1:00PM on SPEED Channel. Live timing and scoring can be found grandam.com, and don’t forget to check out GRAND-AM’s Twitter page.
 Become a Racers Edge Motorsports Team fan! Visit the team’s Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/pages/Racers-Edge-Motorsports/307829913763?ref=mf
June 24, 2010
Racers Edge Motorsports Review: EMCO Gears Classic
A road trip that was nearly a month long ended with a race that was far too short for the Racers Edge Motorsports team. The team had reason to be optimistic about their chances in the race when Jade Buford qualified the Gume Transport Ford Mustang Boss 302R in 21st, several spots better than the car had been in any of the practice sessions.
Unfortunately, the yellow No. 29 was forced to pit because of an overheating problem that developed when a fan failed. After a long green flag stop to fix the problem, the car returned to the track several laps down. On lap 19 a car spun just in front of Jade Buford, who did not have time to avoid the accident. The car sustained heavy damage to the left front and was unable to continue. Manuel Gutierrez did not have a chance to drive.;
Although its finish was disappointing, look for the Racers Edge Motorsports team and the Gume Transport machine to rebound in the next race at New Jersey Motorsports Park.
June 3, 2010
Racers Edge Motorsports Preview: Continental Tire 150
Racers Edge Motorsports will continue its tour of the Northeastern US on Saturday, June 5th when the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge visits Watkins Glen International Raceway in upstate New York. Jade Buford and Manuel Gutierrez will pilot the No. 29 Gume Transport/Idemitsu Ford Mustang BOSS 302R around the 3.4 mile, 11 turn course.
Although the drivers have only one combined start at “The Glen” when Buford finished 20th in the ST class in 2009, it is a safe bet that the yellow Mustang will be competitive. “The kids,” as team owner and driver coach, Jon Mirachi, refers to them, learn quickly and their lap times fall rapidly as they gain experience on a track.
In the previous race at Lime Rock Park, Manuel Gutierrez was fast from the start and passed five cars in the first 5 laps. Unfortunately the Gume Transport machine sustained significant damage after heavy contact with another car and had to pit for repairs. By the time Gutierrez returned to the track the team was two laps behind the leaders. Gutierrez battled back and was solid during the remaining hour in his stint, especially considering the amount of damage to the car. Jade Buford delivered an impressive drive in the No. 29 and was turning lap times within one second of the leader despite the damaged race car. The yellow Mustang made it all the way back to 15th place when the checkered flag fell.
One challenge that CTSCC teams will face is a quick turnaround between races. The Continental Tire 150 takes place only a week after the previous race at Lime Rock Park in Connecticut, meaning that most teams will be unable to return to their race shops between races. Racers Edge’s mechanics had time to prepare the car for Watkins Glen after the end of the GS class race at Lime Rock. Expect Racers Edge to have the BOSS 302R ready for the Continental Tire 150, and expect the No. 29 to compete for a top 5 finish at “the Glen!” 
The Continental Sports Car Challenge GS class race starts at 10:15AM on Saturday, June 5th. Live timing and scoring is available at grand-am.com. Tape delayed television coverage starts at 1:00PM on Sunday, June 13thon SPEED Channel. And don’t forget to check out GRAND-AM’s Twitter page.
VOTE for the Racers Edge Motorsports Team as your favorite Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge team by simply texting GS29 to 20123.
May 21,2010
Racers Edge Motorsports Preview: Lime Rock Park
Racers Edge Motorsports is looking to continue to gain experience in its first Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge season when the series travels to Lakeville, Connecticut for Round 5 of the 2010 season. Drivers Jade Buford and Manuel Gutierrez will race the Gume Transport Ford Mustang Boss 302R around the short 1.53 mile, 7 turn track at Lime Rock Park.
A look at the practice speeds reveals that the team learned a lot during Round 4 at Virginia International Raceway. The Mustang was over one second quicker in the second practice session than it was in the first practice, and Jade Buford beat the second session’s best time by over one second again during qualifications to earn an 18th place starting spot. In the race Buford worked the yellow No. 29 into the top ten before pitting to turn the car over to teammate Manuel Gutierrez. Unfortunately, Gutierrez was hindered by a damaged clutch and had to nurse the car around the track for the majority of his stint. The clutch eventually failed completely and the car was forced to retire to a 23rd place finish in class just before the end of the race.
Expect the drivers’ lap times at Lime Rock to fall the same way they did at VIR.The talented pair combined has only one start at the track, when Jade Buford finished 14th in the 2009 Koni Sports Car Challenge race. This will be Gutierrez’s first trip to Lime Rock. Both drivers will also gain experience with passing: 32 cars are entered in the GS class alone. The high number of cars, combined with the short length of the track, means that the GS and ST classes will have to run separate races. If Racers Edge Motorsports shows the same speed increases that it did at VIR, a top 5 finish is a definite possibility at Lime Rock!
The Continental Sports Car Challenge GS class race starts at 3:00PM on Saturday, May 29. Live timing and scoring is available at grand-am.com. and don’t forget to check out GRAND-AM’s Twitter page
VOTE for the Racers Edge Motorsports Team by simply texting GS29 to 20123.
April 24, 2010
Racers Edge Motorsports Event Review: Bosch Engineering 200 at Virginia International Raceway
The young drivers on the Racers Edge Motorsports team gained significant experience during the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge’s weekend at the Bosch Engineering VIR 200. Drivers Jade Buford and Manuel Gutierrez were over one second quicker in the second practice session than they were in the first practice. Buford beat the second session’s best time by over one second again during qualifications, earning a starting spot of 18th for the No. 29 Gume Transport/Idemitsu Ford Mustang BOSS 302R.
During the race Buford worked his way into the top ten before pitting to turn the Gume Transport machine over to Gutierrez. Almost immediately after leaving the pits the clutch began to act up causing difficulty shifting gears. After nursing the car for many laps, the clutch finally failed completely eventually causing the No. 29 to retire just before the end of the race, scored 23rd in class.
Racers Edge will have over a month to get ready for the next round at Lime Rock Park in Lakeville, Connecticut. Look for the yellow Mustang to show the same increase in speed that it did at VIR!
April 20, 2010
Racers Edge Motorsports Preview: Bosch Engineering VIR 200
Coming into the Bosch Engineering VIR 200, the Racers Edge Motorsports Team is looking to build on its evident momentum in the GRAND-AM Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge Series. In the previous two rounds, drivers Jade Buford and Manuel Gutierrez showed great speed and are now clearly poised for a top 5 finish. That’s an amazing feat for the GUME Transport/Idemitsu supported Mustang Boss 302R with such young drivers in the ultra competitive GS class of the series.
With these two young drivers, their progress has been astonishing. “I expected these kids would be competitive about mid-season” commented Team Owner and Driver Coach Jon Mirachi. “But I never thought we would be running solidly with the front pack in only our second race. It is certainly testament to the talent these kids possess and what makes it so much fun to work with them. Our whole team can’t wait for VIR to see these kids in action again!”
While the team is a veteran of the GRAND AM Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16, 2010 marks the first season the Racers Edge Motorsports Team has fielded a car in the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge Series. The team chose the Ford Mustang Boss 302R with which to compete and is extremely pleased with the choice. “We put a lot of consideration into which car would give us the best chance to win” continued Mirachi, “and I couldn’t be happier with our decision – the car is fast, reliable and the Ford people are great to work with; they’re real racers. I can’t thank them enough for all their assistance with our new program”.
The combination of exciting young drivers, a great car and an experienced team will make the yellow #29 one of the cars to watch in the upcoming event at Virginia International Raceway.
Television coverage of the Bosch Engineering VIR 200 begins Saturday, May 1st at 1:00PM on SPEED Channel. Be sure not to miss it.
Become a Racers Edge Motorsports fan! Visit the team’s Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/pages/Racers-Edge-Motorsports/307829913763?ref=mf
April 11, 2010
Racers Edge Motorsports Event Review: Barber 200 at Barber Motorsports Park
The Racers Edge Motorsports’ Ford Mustang Boss 302R had a solid race at Barber Motorsports Park. Drivers Jade Buford and Manuel Gutierrez both drove excellent races and had the yellow machine running in 7th place with only 20 minutes remaining. Up to this point both young drivers had driven excellent races, running with and challenging more experienced paid professional drivers. Both held their own and the team was poised for a great finish when one of the pros ahead lost control and spun causing Manuel to take evasive action off the track. After an exciting trip down the hill through the grass, Manuel rejoined the race in a distant 17th place. He made up a lot of ground on the cars ahead, but the race finished under the yellow flag so his forward progress was limited to a 17th place finish.
It will be exciting to watch the two young drivers in action at the next race at Virginia International Raceway, where they can continue to climb their steep learning curve and develop their professional careers.
April 07, 2010
Racers Edge Motorsports Preview: Barber Motorsports Park
The Racers Edge Motorsports Team and sponsor Gume Transport will be looking to build on the team’s strong run in the Homestead 200 last month. Drivers Jade Buford and Manuel Gutierrez will pilot the No. 29 Ford Mustang Boss 302R around Barber Motorsports Park’s 2.3 mile 17 turn road course.
The two young drivers had a solid top 5 run going at Homestead until a late stop for a splash of fuel dropped them to 13th at the checker. “We know we have a strong car and great driver line-up with these two young men – and Homestead proved it” enthused Team Owner Jon Mirachi. “To keep the momentum going and in preparation for the Barber race, both drivers participated in a team test at the Barber track last week and they did great. Both were fast and even got a little experience on the track in the rain. So, heading into the next Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge event, we’re ready.”
This is the first season competing in the Continental Sports Car Challenge’s top rung, GS class for Jade, who competed in the series last year in the ST class. Manuel is a rookie to the series and looking to make his mark and win rookie of the year honors. The Racers Edge Motorsports Team are well known veterans of the GRAND-AM Rolex Series, but this is the team’s first season in the Continental Sports Car Challenge.
For more information on the Racers Edge Motorsports Team, visit their website at: http://racersedgemotorsports.com/CONTINENTAL/home.html and vote for them as your favorite team! To vote for Racers Edge, simply text GS29 to 20123.
Tape delayed television coverage of the Barber Motorsports Park event begins Saturday, April 17th at 3:00PM on SPEED Channel.
NASHVILLE DAILY PAPER DOES FEATURE ARTICLE ON JADE BUFORD
The Nashville City newspaper has written a feature article about Racers Edge Motorsports team driver Jade Buford – click on the link below and check it out!
http://nashvillecitypaper.com/content/sports/guys-fast-track
RACERS EDGE ANNOUNCES NEW DRIVER PAIRING AND NEW SPONSOR
DeLand, Florida, February 25, 2010 – GRAND-AM competitors, Racers Edge Motorsports, announced today that the upcoming Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge Series race at Homestead-Miami Speedway on March 6th will mark the debut of the team’s new driver pairing and new team sponsor. Jade Buford and Manuel Gutierrez will drive together in the team’s 2010 Ford Mustang Boss 302R dressed in the yellow and blue colors of new sponsor Gume Transport.
Jade Buford, who is just 22 years old, has been one of Racers Edge Motorsport’s team drivers since last July. Team owner Jon Mirachi was impressed by Jade on his first test with the team and immediately signed him for the 2010 season. “He is a brilliant young talent with a long career ahead of him”, Mirachi commented. “Although he’s only 22, he drives with a skill and maturity that belies his age. I’m excited to provide him with the opportunity to showcase his talent and trust him to help us challenge for the GS class championship in our new Mustang.”
Manuel Gutierrez is only 19 and just joined the team in January of this year. He impressed Mirachi with his speed and his ability to very quickly adapt to the Mustang, which he had never driven before his first outing at Daytona International Speedway last month. Mirachi remarked; “Manuel has a calm, easy going approach which will fit well with both Jade and the team. But underneath the calm exterior I found a highly motivated competitor, who I’m confident, will do a great job for us. I’m really looking forward to working with him.”
Gume Transport is an American based division of the Gume Group, a large, extremely diverse and successful international trucking, logistics and storage company, whose home base is in Tampico, TAMPS, Mexico. More information can be learned about the Gume Group at the company website: www.GrupoGume.com.
Racers Edge Motorsports has a 20 year history preparing race cars that win races and championships. In addition to the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge Series effort with the Mustang, the team also fields a Mazda RX-8 in the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16, driven by Jordan Taylor and Todd Lamb.
TV coverage of the Homestead 200 airs on Saturday, March 13th at 1:00PM on SPEED Channel.
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