Summit Point, WV – D&N Motorsports was back in the USTCC, and they brought their Saturn SW2 rocketship. The team took the 2005 season off to spend time and money on developing a more competitive car, and they didn’t disappoint.
On Friday evening, they backed off their transporter, a car which appeared to have received quite an overhaul. The most noticeable change was the addition of a front splitter and side skirts. You also couldn’t help but notice the new sponsorship with Hazardous Sports, a motorsports apparel brand, displayed on the car’s sides.
The car looked great, and it performed as great as it looked. The team spent practice sessions collecting data and making adjustments to get the car dialed in for qualifying. Practice times were solidly in the top 5 in each session.
In qualifying, the team’s efforts and dedication shone through. The fruits of their labor over the past year were evident as Dennis Short brilliantly placed the Saturn on the outside of the front row, a testament to the team’s hard work and the car’s true potential.
The grid was a sight to behold, with Volkswagens, Nissans, and Audis all lining up behind the front two. The tension was palpable as the standing starts, always a nerve-wracking moment approached. But all cars got away smoothly as they charged down the front straight, setting the stage for an exhilarating race.
Short and Mishtawy in the Cobalt arrived at turn one side by side. On the dirty part of the track, Short couldn’t get as good of an exit and fell in behind the Cobalt, with Barley in the VW GTI close behind in third.
Over the next few laps, the front two, Mishtawy and Short, slowly opened a gap on the rest of the field. Another few laps later, Barley, in third, started to gain some time back on the front runners, but unfortunately developed an issue with his car and fell back again.
The race featured two classes on track simultaneously. The Porsche 944 Spec class started behind the USTCC cars, and about midway through the race, the USTCC cars started lapping the 944 cars. Mishtawy navigated the traffic slightly better and opened a slight gap over Short as they made their way through the 944 field.
Short, unable to bid for the lead, still made a strong statement of intent for the season. The D&N Motorsports team celebrated a well-deserved 2nd place finish at Summit Point Raceway.
DENNIS SHORT, TEAM OWNER/DRIVER, NO. 24 SATURN SW2: “I can’t tell you how proud I am of this team. A lot of effort went into making this car lighter and faster. If it wasn’t required for safety or for the car to run on track, it was removed, and if it was needed, we found a way to make it lighter. A lighter car paired with a more powerful engine, man, it was fun to drive! We’re also happy to be partnered with Hazardous Sports this year. They really like to party, so it’s a great partnership.”
