Rum Bum Racers Go for Another Win
More than a month after their Daytona win, the Rum Bum racers are set to hit home turf – the Homestead Miami Speedway, for the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge's Homestead 200.
After shocking their competitors by taking the win in their inaugural race, the team – pro-racing newbie, Gian Bacardi, veteran racer and driving coach, Matt Plumb, and seasoned Pit Coach, Joe Varde – is out to prove that the victory was not just beginner’s luck. And the pressure is on.
“I know I’ve been given this opportunity and it’s a big one. The last thing I want to do is screw it up,” says Bacardi, the 20-year-old racetrack wonder – a title he does not take lightly. “That’s a tremendous amount of pressure, but it forces me to focus.”
The team isn’t counting on momentum to carry them through to another win. They’ve continued to train to give them the extra push in spite of a new restriction on the engine of their BMW E92. Since GRAND-AM mandated all teams running an E92 curbed some of the vehicle’s power, the team must tighten their driving game even further.
But the preparation for this weekend also included some fun and games. Wednesday at Monty’s on South Beach, several race teams including the current Rum Bum victors made an appearance to warm up local fans for this weekend’s speedway festivities. The tricked-out RumBum racecar was also on display for admiring passers-by to check out the intricate framework of seatbelts, radio knobs (for communication with the pit, not your listening pleasure), info displays, handy toggles, and the coolest-sounding button ever – ignition.
The Homestead Miami Speedway hosted the event and encouraged fans to come out for not only the Homestead 200, but to also enjoy a meet and greet with the drivers (driver and celeb Patrick Dempsey is making an appearance), and also an Antique Car Show featuring a couple hundred cars from several private collections.
Whether you’re out rooting for Rumbum or just looking for a relaxing activity for your weekend, keep the Homestead Miami Speedway on your agenda. We’ll keep you posted on the success of the Rum Bum Race Team as the news flows in. As always, Go Team!
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