The Florida-based team looks to finish the season with a Bronze Cup podium in next weekend’s IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge finale
ORLANDO, Fla. (20 September 2022) – The Stoner Car Care Racing fielded by Automatic Racing team heads for Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta next weekend aiming for that elusive Bronze Cup victory in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge season finale, the Fox Factory 120 (Friday, September 30 at 1:10 p.m. Eastern, Peacock TV).
A new name will be on the side of the No. 09 Stoner Car Care Aston Martin Vantage GT4, as Braselton’s Casey Carden is set to race once again at the track he knows better than any other in the country, as he teams with Ramin Abdolvahabi.
Carden was only six weeks old when his parents first took him to Road Atlanta. Growing up just one mile from the track, he began his racing career in the karting ranks, earning race wins and championship titles that propelled him into formula car and SCCA racing. In 2014, he added sports cars to his repertoire, contesting races over the next several years in Lamborghini Super Trofeo, Michelin Pilot Challenge and ARCA Menards Series.
The University of Georgia graduate (with a degree in consumer economics) has balanced racing with coaching and consulting, owning and managing his own race team based at Road Atlanta. Carden also spent eight years with the Skip Barber Racing School – first as a regional chief instructor and later as the school’s Director of Competition. It was at Skip Barber that he first met Automatic Racing team manager David Russell, who was also instructing at the school. According to Russell, the pair tried put this race together “half a dozen times” and this year, the stars aligned.
“I’ve always looked up to David, since he made the transition from Skip Barber instructor to running a successful race team,” said Carden. “I have followed that same basic trajectory. I’d built a lot of relationships in motorsports when I left Skip Barber and having a race team gave me the opportunity to bring everything under one roof, so that I could help people continue their racing endeavors. We’ve done a lot in the World Racing League, and I’ve also worked with young drivers who competed at Skip Barber as a mentor and coach, helping them make the transition to whatever is next for them.”
Carden is confident going into the weekend despite a lack of seat time in the Aston Martin, estimating that he has raced “tens of thousands of miles” at Road Atlanta.
“I definitely have local knowledge, especially when it comes to getting around the track safely and efficiently,” said Carden. “Taking care of the car is paramount, as is the ability to fit in quickly with the team, to be able to come out of the box and work with everyone immediately. I need to bring my best performance, and it’s a great motivation to work with a group like this.
“There’s a lot of pressure on me, since they’ve always been fast here (the team scored the pole for this race in 2019),but I also have to be smart. It’s a matter of survival so you have to stay out of the bad situations. The key is to have a bit of luck, but also make sure you have good track position, that you’re not racing the wrong people. It’s hard to pass here, especially from the start to turn five, so you have to watch for the drivers who get too impatient.”
The team also aims for that elusive Bronze Cup victory this season (new to the series in 2022, the Bronze Cup presents individual race podium and season-end recognition to the top FIA Bronze-rated drivers in the Grand Sport [GS] class).
“I’ve known Casey since our days at Skip Barber,” said Russell. “Good guy, good driver – and he knows the track like the back of his hand. My goal is to win the Bronze Cup and I think we have the driver pairing to do it. The Aston Martin is a very straightforward car to drive so I know he’ll get up to speed quickly.”
The Stoner Car Care team continues to support End Alzheimer’s Racing, carrying decals on the car to help their efforts to raise funds and awareness.
Part of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship’s Motul Petit Le Mans weekend, the Fox Factory 120 takes the green flag Friday at 1:10 p.m. The race will be live streamed in the U.S. on Peacock TV, while international viewers can watch via IMSA.com/TVLive. IMSA Radio will also be available at IMSA.com.
About Stoner Car Care
Stoner Car Care produces high-performance car washes, waxes, polishes, and dressings for auto enthusiasts and car care professionals. The Stoner Car Care line-up includes Invisible Glass, America’s #1 Automotive Glass Cleaner, along with many other appearance products. Whether driving, washing or waxing, Performance Matters! Stoner car care proudly formulates all of our product since 1942.
www.stonercarcare.com
About Invisible Glass
Automatic Racing sees their way to victory with Invisible Glass, the top-selling automotive glass cleaner in the United States. The Invisible Glass product line includes aerosol and spray bottle cleaner, Invisible Glass with rain repellent for windshields and wiper blades. Find more online at https://www.invisibleglass.com/
About Automatic Racing
Based in Orlando, Automatic Racing is one of the longest-running teams in the paddock, forming in 2001 and competing in all but one of the 11 MICHELIN Pilot Challenge races at Daytona. The team has been developing, preparing and racing the prestigious Aston Martin Vantage GT4 since 2012. Automatic Racing won the 2017 MICHELIN Pilot Challenge title.
https://automaticracing.com
About End Alzheimer’s Racing
End Alzheimer’s Racing began in 2019, as father and son duo Bill and Alex Slupski – both experienced kart racers who also work in sports car racing – chose racing as the “vehicle” for their program to promote awareness and raise funds for the Alzheimer’s Association. Through End Alzheimer’s Racing, they want to be an integral part of the support network for families dealing with Alzheimer’s and other dementias and be part of the cure that ends Alzheimer’s disease.
http://act.alz.org/goto/endalzheimersracing
Media Contact: Diane Swintal – diane@sundaymanagement.com