Posted (10/07/2013) -
With the conclusion of the 2014 Grand American ROLEX season, the record books are now officially closed on the series. In those record books it will show that all three members of the racing Nonnamaker family, Joe, Will and Wayne all surpassed the 100 starts in the ROLEX series. The 1st season for the Nonnamakers to enter ROLEX competition was 2003. The family entered their Porsche GT3 Cups in the GT class in several events that season.
Leading the top is the youngest member of the family, Wayne Nonnamaker. Wayne tallied 106 starts. In that period of starts, Wayne accumulated 3 victories and 3 pole positions. Uniquely, Wayne holds the distinction of being the last driver to win a race driving solo in competition at the Daytona 4th of July event. As well, Wayne is the only individual to win the coveted Sportsman Award in both the GT (Bob Akin Award) and DP (Jim Trueman) classes.
Next up is older brother Will, who competed in 105 ROLEX races. Will is the winner of the inaugural Bob Akin Sportsman Award handed out in 2005. Will also reached the Century mark in the Continental Tire Series, with 113 events. This mark of 218 total Grand American sanctioned events places Will in the Top 5 overall of all starts by a driver.
Family patriarch “Papa” Joe Nonnamaker is next at 104. Although Joe never secured a Sportsman Award, he came very close, losing out by only 98 points to Emil Assentato’s 4778. Joe holds the distinction in the Nonnamaker family of having the highest finish in a driver championship, securing 3rd place while driving a Porsche in 2004.
For 2014, a whole new chapter begins with the new United SportsCar Championship bringing the ROLEX and Amerian LeMans Series together into one. And with that will be a whole new chapter in the History Books.
Team Sahlen’s Campaign in the
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