[racin09]

racin09
Administrator   posted 12-20-2001 07:04 PM                
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12/20/2001 - After staying away from the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona for a year, Bill Riley will return to the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona with factory support for the Jim Matthews Racing Elon powered Riley and Scott.
Matthews was the first driver announced. Matthews will be returning to prototypes after spending a year in the Trans Am Series driving alongside Brian Simo. Matthews will be paired with Guy Smith.
"We are putting together a factory team after taking a year off. Guy did very well for us at the test in Road Atlanta, and we think he'll be an asset to the team," Riley said. "We hope to announce the remaining two drivers for the car in the coming week."

http://www.theracesite.com/index.cfm?paget...rm_article=2670

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racin09
Administrator   posted 12-28-2001 08:39 PM                
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Sharp Joins Factory Riley & Scott Team

12/28/2001 - Riley & Scott Racing and Jim Matthews Racing announced that 1996 Rolex 24 At Daytona and IRL champion Scott Sharp will partner with Brit Guy Smith and team owner Jim Matthews in the 2002 Rolex 24 At Daytona, Feb. 2-3. The 2001 Indy 500 polesitter will copilot a Riley & Scott Mark III-C powered by an Elon Power Products 6.0L V8 engine.
“We’re thrilled to continue our long and successful association with Scott," Riley & Scott Vice President Bill Riley said. “This will be our fourth 24 hour race together. With Scott, Guy Smith and Jim, we’re prepared for a very competitive race”.

Riley also noted that negations were ongoing for a fourth driver in the factory-backed car.

Sharp, 33, first won a professional championship in a Riley & Scott race car in 1991, in the SCCA Trans-Am Series. Sharp teamed with R&S in the company’s first factory racing effort in 1996. With Wayne Taylor and Jim Pace, Scott won the 1996 Rolex 24 At Daytona in an R&S Mk III Oldsmobile. Sharp also drove for the team in a Mk III in 1997, and drove a R&S-crewed Chevrolet Corvette C5-R at Daytona in 1999.

Better known as a front-runner in the IRL, Sharp was the 1996 IRL champion. He is the second leading race winner in IRL history with six victories in 51 starts. Sharp also has five IRL poles, including the 2001 Indy 500, a total of seven starts in the Memorial Day classic, and was recently selected to be one of the competitors in the IROC series for 2002.

“I’m very excited to get a chance to win at Daytona again,” Sharp noted. “Returning with Riley & Scott and Jim Matthews Racing is a fantastic opportunity to repeat one of the highlights of my own or any driver’s career, an overall win in the Rolex 24 at Daytona.”

Car owner/driver Matthews is pleased with the addition. “Every element of this project is about having the best chance to win. Scott will be an important part of the team. We’ve got a lot of testing planned between now and February 2nd. We had a great first test with Guy at Road Atlanta, and we’re just going to keep working”.

http://www.theracesite.com/index.cfm?paget...rm_article=2713

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racin09
Administrator   posted 01-01-2002 09:00 AM                
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NASCAR's Robby Gordon Rounds Out Riley & Scott Lineup for Rolex 24

12/28/2001 - Riley & Scott Racing and Jim Mathews Racing announced today that NASCAR Winston Cup Series regular and endurance racing veteran Robby Gordon has agreed to partner with Guy Smith, Scott Sharp and team owner Jim Matthews for the 2002 Rolex 24 At Daytona.
Riley & Scott Vice President Bill Riley announced the addition to the driver lineup for the Riley & Scott Mark III-C powered by an Elan Power Products 6.0L V8. "Robby Gordon is at the height of a wonderful, if not historic career, and we're thrilled to have him," Riley said. "This completes our driver lineup. With Guy Smith, Robby, Scott, and Jim, we're prepared for a very competitive race."

Gordon, 32, has first-rate credentials for the ride. He won the GTO/GTS class in the Rolex 24 At Daytona with Roush Racing from 1990 to 1993. Gordon's road racing credentials also include seven years in the CART PPG Indy Car Series. Recently he has been a force in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series, including winning his first race in his tenth start for Richard Childress Racing, where he will drive the #31 Cingular Wireless Chevy Monte Carlo full time in 2002.

Gordon also has seven starts in the Indy 500, including 2001 when he started on the outside of the front row. His Rolex 24 teammate Scott Sharp was on the pole. Additionally, Robby has a fine off-road racing record, including numerous SCORE/HDRA championships and a solo win in the Baja 1000 that came in 1989.

"I've been on the top step of the podium of every Rolex 24 At Daytona I've competed in," Gordon noted. "Returning with Riley & Scott and Jim Matthews Racing is a fantastic opportunity to continue that streak. Competing for the overall win makes it that much more special."

Car owner/driver Jim Matthews is pleased with the addition. "I met Robby at the Indy 500 this year; when we were planning this project. I'm very pleased that things fell into place to allow Robby to be a part of the team."

http://www.theracesite.com/index.cfm?paget...rm_article=2715

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