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| June 01, 2012 |
| F2000 Championship: Coello Returns to Podium at Lime Rock Park |
 | Niki Coello piloted his Afterburner Autosport supported RFR chassis to a another F2000 Championship Series podium finish in race one of Lime Rock doubleheader
(Photo: F2000 Championship Series - Valet) |
MINNEAPOLIS, MIN. (May 31, 2012) – Junior formula car star Niki Coello continued his early season run of form over Memorial Day weekend (May 25-26), with another visit to the F2000 Championship Series podium at Lime Rock Park. The Afterburner Autosport-backed driver from Wisconsin finished second in Round Five in Connecticut, ensuring he enters the brief summer break second in the title fight.
As a four-time SCCA Formula Continental National Champion, Coello knows what it takes to make it to victory lane. That being said, he is focused on more than just capturing wins in his first full pro racing campaign, striving to end the season with a championship title. With that goal in mind, Coello entered Rounds Five and Six at Lime Rock seeking to build on his recent back to-back top-five results in Georgia.
Coello, as expected, used the two practice runs on Friday prior to the lone qualifying session to not only get reacquainted to the high-speed 1.53-mile road course, but also fine tune his RFR racing steed for the track that has similarities to an oval. While not focused on an overall fast lap, the talented racer still managed to crack the top-seven in both sessions.
The No. 81 RFR Cars/William’s Race Engineering/Carbotech/Elite Engines/Speed Seat Factory/Pouredfoundations.com/Hoosier Tires/afterburner Autosport/Coello Racing driver upped the pace come qualifying at the end of the opening day. Able to overcome traffic on the short track, Coello's best flying lap placed the Afterburner Autosport supported racer fourth on the scoring charts, securing a row two starting position for race one of the doubleheader.
Returning to the cockpit one day later, Coello wasted little time making his presence felt in the first of two races on the day. Coello, benefiting from the continued development of his RFR chassis, almost immediately joined the fight for the lead when the green flag waved. Displaying both the speed and racecraft that led him to a record setting four SCCA Formula Continental National titles, he was in contention for the win right until the checkered flag waved in an incident shortened affair. Coello in the end captured his second podium finish of the season, crossing the stripe in second.
Given the performance in Round Five, confidence was high in the Coello Racing camp entering race two at Lime Rock, mere hours later. Coello, as race fans have come to expect, enjoyed a solid launch when the green flag waved, dueling two other drivers for the lead. The dice for positions within the top-three continued for the former karting star lap after lap until the closing stages of the 29-lap race. That all changed on a lap 23 restart, when Coello and another of the front-runners collided on the front straight. While the subsequent damage was not significant, it was enough to end Coello's race prematurely in 20th.
Coello, despite the Round Six setback, still remains a title contender in his first full season of pro racing competition, sitting second in the championship standings after six rounds.
"Race one was good with a second place finish in a caution shortened race," commented Coello. "The second race was disappointing, obviously, with the late race incident and DNF. That being said, the crew once again did an awesome job, giving me a car capable of fighting for wins. We are continually improving, and with a break now before the next races at New Jersey we can get some valuable testing in. Once again I have to thank all my sponsors for their support, particularly Afterburner who did a great job getting me the parts I needed for the weekend."
Coello resumes his chase for the F2000 Championship Series title on June 30-July 1, with the Afterburner Autosport supported driver taking to the New Jersey Motorsports Park road course for Rounds Seven and Eight.
Afterburner Autosport races with associate sponsorship from http://www.AuroraBearing.com
Additional information on Afterburner Autosport is available from the team’s website @ http://www.afterburnerautosport.com For direct contact, please email afterburnerautosport@gmail.com or call 630-251-1709.
For additional Information on Niki Coello, please email directly at nick@pouredfoundations.com
Keep up to date via Twitter @ ABautosport1 and Facebook page @ Afterburner-Autosport
Afterburner Autosport was formed in 2010 with the sole purpose of leading the way in the USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda competition. Under the guidance of two-time SCCA Formula Continental National Champion Brian Tomasi and fellow F2000 racer and engineer Tim Walsh, the team has over 20 years of experience in open-wheel competition. The Minnesota, Min.-based squad, having captured two podium finishes in its inaugural pro racing season last year, will make its USF2000 Championship debut in 2012, fielding multiple cars in the top Championship class. |
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