Tucker, Boardwalk Ferrari Level 5 Team On Top in Ferrari Challenge Race 1 at New Jersey Motorsports

Boardwalk Ferrari Level 5 Motorsports driver Scott Tucker continued his 2010 dominance Saturday by winning Race 1 of the Ferrari Challenge Series at New Jersey Motorsports Park. The victory came at the end of a dramatic 30-lap run that included daring lead changes, on-track contact between the leaders and a late battle to the checkers.

The day began for Tucker with solid practice sessions setting a lap time of 1:25.409 at 94.838 mph. He then took the No. 55 Boardwalk Ferrari Level 5 Motorsports F430 to the top spot in qualifying with a fastest lap of 1:25.507 at 94.729 mph.

When the green flag waved to start the race, Tucker got a jump on Enzo Potolicchio's No 22 car and pulled out to a five-car-length lead. Tucker maintained a commanding pace through the first 10 minutes of the action.

That's when the action started heating up. With Tucker in the lead, Potolicchio in second, the two encountered the last car on the lead lap and prepared to make a pass. The three cars arrived at one of the most challenging turns on this road course. As they exited the turn, Tucker got on the brakes to avoid hitting the slower car. The move allowed the No. 22 to get around, but Tucker stayed close on him bumper.

"I didn't cut any slack out there. I kept on the pressure," Tucker said. "I finally got good run out of 12 on front straightaway and was able to make the pass on Enzo."

As the racers entered Turn 1 with Tucker on the inside front, Potolicchio braked late going into the corner and caught Tucker's bumper, sending the No. 55 F430 spinning into the dirt. The mishap allowed Francesco Piovanetti to take the lead in the No. 3 The Collection Ferrari.

With Piovanetti in the lead, Tucker got back on course and maintained the third position, in spite of the damaged suffered by the No. 55. Potolicchio suffered damage to his brakes and rear rotor. Undaunted, Tucker chased him down.

However, time was running out. Just as it appeared there wasn't enough race left, the yellow flags came out for a full-course caution, which brought the field back together.

"By that time, I had both Piovanetti and Potolicchio in my windshield and was just concentrating on closing the gap," Tucker said.

When the green flag waved to restart the race, teammates Piovanetti and Potolicchio raced with a lapped car in between. Realizing his position, the slower car moved out of the way to let the leaders pass. However, Potolicchio began running interference for his teammate, holding Tucker in third.

Driving a wounded car, Tucker maneuvered around Potolicchio, and began chasing down the leader. On lap 23, Tucker made a decisive pass on Piovanetti and carried the field to the checkered flag with Piovanetti in second and Potolicchio in third.

"This is a tremendous victory," Tucker said in Victory Lane. "This team is unstoppable. And, when that checkered flag waves, that is what gets you to the front -- the team."

During the post-race review, Potolicchio was penalized one minute for unnecessary contact, which dropped him to seventh place.

"It has been a great day for this Boardwalk Ferrari Level 5 Motorsports team," Tucker said. "Even after the spin, the car still maintained a winning pace. This is a great racetrack and we love the action here."

New Jersey Motorsports Park, a 2.25-mile, 14-turn road course in Millville, New Jersey, is conducive to success for Tucker and the Boardwalk Ferrari Level 5 Motorsports team. In 2009, Tucker set a track record here in qualifying his F430 and finished a solid second in the first event. He then led every lap in winning the second race of the weekend.

Tucker has posted one victory at each of the previous events in which the team has participated in 2010. He has also scored checkered flags at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Miller Motorsports Park and Infineon Raceway.

Despite missing one event -- the Boardwalk Ferrari Level 5 Motorsports team did not race at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal in June due to a commitment at the 24-Hours of Le Mans --Tucker came into this weekend third in the Ferrari Challenge Series championship standings.

Qualifying for the second race of Round 5 of the Ferrari Challenge Series is set for 10 a.m. ET Sunday, with the green flag scheduled to wave at 2:15 p.m. ET.

The next Ferrari Challenge Series event for Boardwalk Ferrari Level 5 Motorsports is set for September 3-5 at Watkins Glen International in upstate New York.

ABOUT BOARDWALK

Boardwalk Ferrari, Located in Plano, Tex., is one of the nation's leading Ferrari and Maserati dealerships. The company has extensive involvement in motorsports including relationships in the American Le Mans Series and their extremely successful sponsorship of Level Five Motorsports Ferrari Challenge entry.

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