With the first Ford Racing Mustang Challenge event in the 80-plus-degree weather of southern Florida using the Homestead Roval lay out. Only Grand Am regulars Andy Lally and James Hunt had any experience on the part-road course, part -oval track. It didn’t take the wild horse gang long to catch on.
About a month before the first event Chris Kaufmann, Roger and Andrew Caddell discussed the fact they had three key ingredients for a race team. An outstanding driver (Andrew), a great race car (the Hot Rod FR500s Mustang) and a desire to honor Larry H. Miller by continuing the series he was so proud of.
A lot of work was required and with the help of some faithful sponsors along with some new faces to the Kaufmann Racing effort made it all possible. Kaufmann contacted Leo Capaldi whom he had grown to respect in last year’s season. Leo agreed to help the team with support and transportation, which Kaufmann advised they lived up to in a very impressive way.
Team Kaufmann, team Capaldi and the Caddell family met up in Homestead, Florida and began testing. They ran every test session and every lap they could to test the car, learn the track and hone the combination to the front of the pack. By the time the qualification session came along Andrew managed to land back in the familiar territory of the front row. The rest of the story was vintage Andrew “Ace” Caddell as he pulled a holeshot on the start and never looked back. Leading every lap of the event and winning the first race of the new season.
Team Principal Chris Kaufmann advised it was strange to be racing without his friend and last year’s driver Hot Rod Magazine editor Rob Kinnan at the track. Rob was with us in spirit and we are looking forward to having him back on the track soon. “I can’t say enough about Andrew Caddell. I knew when I raced against him last year that he was the real deal. I think everyone is seeing it now. We feel extremely fortunate to have him and his family on our team. Both Roger and Ruth are excellent support for the effort. They also are even willing to help the competition as well. They are truly a race family that is a tribute to the sport.”
Andrew and Chris have dedicated the 2009 season to Larry H. Miller the founding father of the Mustang Challenge series whose untimely death last Month took everyone by surprise. Larry was a great family man, a businessman, a racer, an enthusiast as well as a person with big vision who was not afraid to put his money where his thoughts were. We can all be grateful for pioneers such as Larry Miller, continued Kaufmann.
Kaufmann Racing is grateful for the solid assistance of its quality sponsors: Raybestos brake pads, Aaron Hoekstra of Hoek’d Up Performance, Red Line Synthetic Lubricants, Scott Drake Performance Products, AIM data acquisition, Hot Rod Magazine, Motul 660 brake fluid, BFG Tires, Cool Shirts, Sparco Safety equipment and Seats, Nifty Chip Computer Repair Centers, Capaldi Racing, Canby Graphics, Sachs shocks, RocketSports Racing, Ford Racing, PCI Radios, ARGO-PACE Race Jacks, Titan Car Lifts, Longacre professional pit gear, Optima batteries, l-KaufmannBorla Long Tube Headers.