The fifth and sixth rounds of the 2011 Dodge Viper Cup Series are set to take place this weekend (July 9th-10th) at the historic Virginia International Raceway. What is setting these rounds apart from the others? It's the 19 drivers that have entered to participate, a record number for the series!
The weekend will already be thrilling with two races happening and
so many participants but adding to that excitement is a
championship battle among race winners Ben Keating, Jeff Courtney
and 21-year-old A.J. Morgan, a two-time winner in four races this
season. The champion drivers will be joined by three first-time
drivers, Brad Gorrondona, Bernie Katz and Marc Montour as well as
Larry Carter, Eric Galerne and Ted Hughes who are returning to the
series this weekend after missing the second round at New
Jersey.
The Dodge Viper Cup Series is all about helping out a good cause as
well, having invited celebrity drivers to compete in the races for
a charity. Guaranteed payouts to celebrity drivers following all 10
series races are donated to their charities of choice, with the
highest finishing celebrity earning $2,000 and the next highest
finishing celebrity receiving $1,000 for donation. Almost $50,000
was donated by Dodge Motorsports to different charities during last
year's series.
Celebrity drivers competing this weekend at VIR are Chris Burandt,
a professional snowmobiler and backcountry adventure guide, Brian
Makse, an auto writer for major Canadian publications, and our very
own Ralph Gilles, President and CEO, Street and Racing Technology
and Motorsports for Chrysler Group LLC.
“At the midpoint of our second season, we're seeing some
great competition in the Dodge Viper Cup series in 2011, said Ralph
Gilles, “With our largest field ever this weekend at VIR,
it's certainly setting up to be an exciting and close race to crown
the series champion later this year at Daytona.”
With only four races left after this weekend, the 2011 Dodge Viper
Cup Series ends October 23rd at Daytona International Speedway in
Daytona Beach, Florida.
Image: The Dodge Viper ACR-X
