Rum Bum Enters Race on a High Note

© David Nickerson

This afternoon at the Homestead Miami Speeway, the Rumbum Racing Team hit the track for some preliminary runs before tomorrow’s big GRAND-AM Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge – the Homestead 200.  After two practice sessions and one qualifying run, the team of Gian Bacardi and Matt Plumb ran the second fastest lap of the bunch and even beat their personal best.  Better yet, they hit those times running their new restricted engine.

The first practice session let Bacardi and Plumb warm up to the speedway’s course, with their best lap at 1:29.668 at a cool 92.340 mph.  After coming in 29^th during the first practice session, the second proved the highlight of the day.  With a best lap time of 1:26.737 at 95.460 mph, the duo placed 2^nd in their class, 1^st of their fellow Bimmers, and Bacardi set a personal record by almost seven tenths of a second.

At the end of the day, Bacardi came out of the Qualifying Round placed 23^rd (best lap: 1:28.651 at 93.399 mph), thus predicting tomorrow’s starting position.  This current dream team of the GRAND-AM series isn’t concerned with the seemingly distant placement.  Plumb is quick to remind that Bacardi started 18^th at Daytona and still managed to hand it off in 2^nd place.

“We need to keep [today’s runs] in perspective,” Plumb said. “Even though [Bacardi] qualified 23^rd, today he still ran quicker than he ever has.  As long as he’s improving his driving, we’re making the car faster, and he can give [the car] to me at a reasonable spot in the race – that’s a success.”  Based on those criteria, the team is looking better than good heading into tomorrow’s race.

Until then, the team’s agenda is to stay focused, get an early dinner, a full night’s rest, and in Plumb’s words: “Think fast thoughts.”

Stay tuned to Rumbum.com for the outcome of the Homestead 200. Go Team!