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The Level 5 Motorsports Team Discuss the Infineon Challenge

by Kyla Sweeney on December 3, 2011

Scott Tucker is considered to be an excellent race car driver, but when you add the fact he competes not only in the ALMS and the ILMS but also the Ferrari Challenge series, Tucker becomes an unbelievable race car driver-unbelievable not just because the schedule he keeps, but due to his continual success on the track. The first FC race of the 2011 year for Tucker and his Level 5 Motorsports team was the debut of the Ferrari 458 Challenge-the 5th model to be utilized since the series began in early 90s-at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif.

The 458 model was a newcomer to the race, but Tucker plus the car were old friends. He tested the vehicle exclusively in Spain the prior fall and again at the 12 Hours of Sebring weekend in the spring of 2011. The Ferrari 458 model is lighter and faster as opposed to its Italia 458 counterpart. The vehicle boasts 570 horsepower; 9,000 RPM direct injection V8 engine, and its gearbox is modified to extend torque at lower revolutions. The vehicle is also loaded with a top-quality traction control system that was put together by Ferrari. The device is based on logic and techniques from Ferrari’s experience in the Formula One series.

Tucker entered the 2011 FC season with four wins on the Infineon course, which covers approximately 2.5 miles with 12 turns. Overall, the Level 5 team fared well in the weekend’s pair of FC races. “We came out with two cars, but because we were trying a new product with a new seat, it caused some issues with technical people here, so we pulled out one car,” said team manager David Stone. “The car we were able to run didn’t get the new gearbox update, so we’ve been tentative about that.”

But a race car is only as nice as the sum of all its parts-and one of those parts is the operater. Tucker started the first race in fifth place. After some contact around the first corner, he bunkered down and worked his way up the rankings. His smart driving earned Level 5 a first-place ranking. “We extremely happy we got the win here with our 458 car,” said one engineer.

“I was trying to get up as fast as I could without making contact or being too aggressive,” said Tucker. “We had a good car, and fortunately it worked out for us in the end.”

The next of the FC pair wasn’t as seamless as its predecessor; Level 5 decided not to qualify because of a first-lap penalty the previous day. “We have a double whammy where we started in the back and we had another penalty,” Stone said. “Scott will have his work cut out for him. Getting on the podium is a tall order on this track.”

As well as the penalties and race placement, Tucker and the Level 5 team had to face the challenge of a shorter race-the clock ran approximately 10 minutes short in 2011 compared to previous years. “There will be a little less time to work toward the front, but it is what it is, and the goal will be to come out of here with as many points as we can,” Stone said.

Tucker delivered a stellar performance in spite of the hiccups, weaving through traffic efficiently with the front of the line his unwavering goal. Even so the 458 car started last, Tucker brought it over the line sixth, no small feat considering the circumstances. “It was a good race; we started last and finished sixth with no damage to the car,” Tucker said. “It’s about as good as you can do.”

With a solid performance again in May at the first FC series race of the year, Tucker continued on his whirlwind race schedule with an ILMC stop in Belgium for the Spa.

Keeping up with Scott Tucker Scott Tucker.

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Scott Tucker and Level 5 Motorsports are Making History

by Sarah Barnes on December 3, 2011

Scott Tucker, owner and driver for Level 5 Motorsports, creates history earlier this week at the SCCA National Championship Runoffs. Through the victory lap, he nabbed his 3rd straight SCCA titles, an historical accomplishment that merely a limited number of drivers have ever achieved.

In 2009, the Runoffs classic was held for the first time in Elkhart Lake, Wisc., its sixth location since it began. The location was close to Level 5 Motorsports’ home base in Madison, Wisc. The team, which Tucker founded in 2008, was still young but had enjoyed some good success already in the 2009 season. Tucker competed and won in the Hawk Performance Touring 1 race.

His No. 55 Ferrari 430 Challenge had the pole position to begin, and then he led the T1 field through turn one. In turn 2, he lost the top placement to rival John Buttermore, of Pontiac, Mich., who eventually makes podium behind Tucker. Tucker was hot on the tail of Buttermore’s Nearbrook Motorsports Chevrolet Corvette, keeping his 2nd place standing even with pressure from behind in driver Lance Knupp of Fenton, Mich., the 3rd driver to eventually reach the podium that day.

The very best 3 drivers fought it out through the race. Tucker followed Buttermore carefully, awaiting a chance to surpass him. In turn 5, Buttermore’s error became Tucker’s window, and Tucker passed him to regain charge in lap 4, right before turn six.

Tucker didn’t look back through out the 13-lap, 52-mile race. Once he crossed the checkered flag, Tucker had sped to a 1.42-second lead for the first place finish in his first Runoffs appearance. Along the way, he recorded the quickest lap of the race, with a 2:22.000 lap in the competition.

“Both Buttermore and Knupp were formidable competitors for the duration of the race,” Tucker said. “I was caught sleeping for a second there, when Buttermore overtook me, but he got a little wide in turn five, and I was able to take advantage of that. It really could have been anyone’s podium today; both of those guys put up strong, consistent races. I had to be continuously focused because I knew if I made a mistake, either one of them would be right there to pick it up.”

Shortly after Tucker overtook Buttermore, the Chevrolet lost stability because of braking, which helped Knupp’s No. 37 Dodge Viper to operate into the second-place spot. Even as Buttermore decelerated the pace, he still achieved the third-place podium finish.

In ‘09, Tucker had been in the middle of proving himself a top-notch driver in just his 3rd yr of professional racing. His decisive victory at the Runoffs, considered one of the very best sports vehicle races on the planet, added to his growing number of victories in ‘09. Going into this year’s Runoffs, Tucker was a different driver; he had not only two Runoffs wins under his belt, but a variety of other first-place and podium finishes from 5 various racing series. The 2009 SCCA Runoffs at Elkhart Lake, Wisc., were the start of 2 years of intense achievements for Tucker and the Level 5 Motorsports team.

Find more on Scott Tucker racing Scott Tucker .

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Driving in the Dark creates some challenges in the racing world

by Jesse Schwarck on December 3, 2011

Level 5 Motorsports, one of the world’s most legendary auto racing organizations, is in the middle of rounding out the 2011 racing schedule, with only about three short-but very important-races left to undertake. The SCCA Runoffs, the ALMS Petit Le Mans and the Six hours of Zhuhai in China instantly be high-profile, extreme competition races. Only one thing they’re not: a whole day long.

The mother of all endurance races is the 24-hour enduro. With 2 on the 2011 books for Level 5 Motorsports, belonging to Scott Tucker, the team must be ready for a hard day-and night-of racing. The Intercontinental Le Mans Cup series offered the 24 Hours of Le Mans in France, in June, and the Grand-Am Rolex sets up the Rolex 24 at Daytona International Speedway, which was Level 5’s first race of the 2011 year, in January.

Having made podium at both super-endurance races, the Level 5 drivers (which also include Luis Diaz and Christophe Bouchut) have clearly perfected a number of the unique challenges a day-long competition presents. Among the most obvious: driving at nighttime. After focusing on a well-lit road all day, drivers are typically challenged to maintain an aggressive pace when it gets dark, especially on tracks that aren’t well-lit. On the Daytona International Speedway, many of the track is lit by floodlights, so drivers adjust more easily. But in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the course occasionally passes through secluded highways in France.

“It takes a little while to get adjusted,” Tucker said. “But the track is still there; you just have to get used to it.” When making the transition from day to night, teams make sure to check that the headlights are working perfectly, and the rest is up to the driver. “You sort of become one with the road,” Tucker says. “It’s the same way a blind person’s other senses are heightened; your other senses eventually take over, and soon enough you’re matching the lap times from earlier in the day.”

Many of the newest Le Mans Prototype models frequently approach 200mph in race situations, that is amplified when driven during the night time. “There’s nothing like driving at night,” Tucker says.

Tucker along with his Level 5 team secured an invitation to the 24 Hours of Le Mans when they won their LMP class in 2010 at the ALMS Petit Le Mans. Taking the wheels of LMP2 cars for the 2011 season, the team will again look for their invite to 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2012-hopefully, with an LMP1 class designation. This weekend, the team competes in the SCCA Runoffs, but the race they’ve really concentrated on all season has been Petit Le Mans. They recently added a whole new car to their Microsoft Office-sponsored entries, a cost-capped Honda chassis with modified fuel injector and other specifications that ultimately allow car to run with an increase of power at a lighter weight.

So far, the car has proven hard to beat; it’s first appearance at Monterey was remarkable, and the weeks prior to Petit Le Mans are just additional chances for the drivers to familiarize themselves with the new set of wheels. With an LMP2 win at the top of their to-do list, the next time Level 5 Motorsports makes the transition from night to day could be in an LMP1 class at the 2012 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Get more information about Scott Tucker Scott Tucker .

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A Year in Review, Scott Tucker and his Level 5 Team: Infineon Challenge

by Susan Hall on December 3, 2011

Scott Tucker is without a doubt a great race car driver, however when you add the fact he competes not just in the ALMS and the ILMS but the Ferrari Challenge series, Tucker becomes a fantastic race car driver-unbelievable not just due to the schedule he keeps, but due to his continual success on the track. The first FC race of the 2011 year for Tucker and his Level 5 Motorsports team was the debut of the Ferrari 458 Challenge-the 5th model to be utilized since the series began in early 90s-at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif.

The 458 model was a new comer to the race, but Tucker as well as the car were old friends. He tested the vehicle exclusively in Spain the prior fall and again at the 12 Hours of Sebring weekend in the spring of 2011. The Ferrari 458 model is lighter and quicker when compared with its Italia 458 counterpart. The automobile boasts 570 horsepower; 9,000 RPM direct injection V8 engine, and its gearbox is modified to improve torque at lower revolutions. The vehicle is also built with a top-quality traction control system that was produced by Ferrari. The device is based on logic and techniques from Ferrari’s experience in the Formula One series.

Tucker entered the 2011 FC season with four wins on the Infineon course, which covers approximately 2.5 miles with 12 turns. Overall, the Level 5 team fared well in the weekend’s couple of FC races. “We came out with two cars, but because we were trying a new product with a new seat, it caused some issues with technical people here, so we pulled out one car,” said team manager David Stone. “The car we were able to run didn’t get the new gearbox update, so we’ve been tentative about that.”

But a race car is only as good as the sum of all its parts-and one of those parts is the driver. Tucker started the first race in fifth place. After some contact around the first corner, he bunkered down and worked his way up the rankings. His smart driving earned Level 5 a first-place ranking. “We extremely happy we got the win here with our 458 car,” said one engineer.

“I was trying to get up as fast as I could without making contact or being too aggressive,” said Tucker. “We had a good car, and fortunately it worked out for us in the end.”

The second of the FC pair wasn’t as seamless as its predecessor; Level 5 decided not to qualify because of a first-lap penalty the day before. “We have a double whammy where we started in the back and we had another penalty,” Stone said. “Scott will have his work cut out for him. Getting on the podium is a tall order on this track.”

In addition to the penalties and race placement, Tucker and the Level 5 team had to face the challenge of a shorter race-the clock ran approximately 10 minutes short in 2011 compared to previous years. “There will be a little less time to work toward the front, but it is what it is, and the goal will be to come out of here with as many points as we can,” Stone said.

Tucker delivered an outstanding performance inspite of the hiccups, weaving through traffic efficiently with the front of the line his unwavering goal. Even though 458 car started last, Tucker brought it over the line sixth, no small feat considering the circumstances. “It was a good race; we started last and finished sixth with no damage to the car,” Tucker said. “It’s about as good as you can do.”

Having a solid performance again in May at the first FC series race of the year, Tucker continued on his whirlwind race schedule with an ILMC stop in Belgium for the Spa.

Learn more about Scott Tucker at the Rolex 24 Scott Tucker .

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Scott Tucker and his Level 5 Dream Team have an exciting season

by Shelly Newman on December 3, 2011

Fast cars, feelings, tension and hours of motion: Aside from mood music, that’s the makings of any feature film-to be fair, one that was already made, but additionally one which might be equally as successful if filmed again with the exact same cast.

That cast is Level 5 Motorsports, the team featured in “Daytona Dream,” the 2011 Drive Motion Pictures feature film that chronicled the emotional, action-packed journey of the Scott Tucker-owned team to the Grand-Am series Rolex 24 at Daytona, an institution in American culture far beyond racing circles.

However, this time, the movie would be about the same team’s 2011 season, one that has effectively exploded the success and publicity surrounding Level 5 Motorsports. In fact, “Daytona Dream” was shown as a webcast on the team’s website, Level5Motorsports.com, on Aug. 12 to commemorate the one-year anniversary of its debut.

Following its theatrical debut in summer 2010 along with a successful run at film festivals, Discovery Communications obtained the rights to the project for domestic and international television broadcasts, an enormous leap for not just the film and the team as well as the endurance racing industry in the scope of the Discovery Channel’s viewership. The crazy thing is the stats continually posted by endurance racing teams don’t merit their very own mainstream cable channel or films all the time-emotion, drama, tension and action have been at record highs for Level 5 Motorsports this year, and mood music has nothing regarding it.

The growing season began with the film-topic Grand-Am Daytona series. Level 5 entered the Rolex 24 at Daytona with a win-only mindset; but that optimism and determination was crushed when the Microsoft Office-sponsored No. 95 entry got caught in a stackup in the notoriously narrow lanes. The team drove impressively through out the race, but it ultimately finished Eighth.

The anticipation surrounding Tucker’s seemingly impossible schedule would be a crowd pleaser; the 2006 rookie entered in not one or two but three series for the 2011 season. The next race of the year was the initial of the ALMS and the team’s first in the LMP2 class, following the LMP championship Level 5 won in 2010. With a new LMP2 car, the team found themselves at the top of the podium, a huge win at their class debut in the 12 Hours of Sebring.

As with every excellent story, the momentum built for Level 5 Motorsports as it went on to take second at the Long Beach, Calif. street circuit, and Tucker made podium at Infineon Raceway and Mazda Laguna Seca Raceway in the Ferrari Challenge series. But, problems befell the team. When Tucker caught wind of a new Honda Performance Development/Wirth Research cost-capped prototype, he reserved the 1st two models. With the car still in development for much of the summer, Tucker and his awesome team withdrew from a major ILMC competition, the Silverstone in England, because the car wasn’t ready. The risky decision cost the team an opportunity for points and a big showing at an ILMC event, and the team was sidelined through ALMS races at Lime Rock Park in Connecticut and MoSport in Ontario, Canada. Additionally for those races, the team had hardly any LMP2 competition, so they devoted to the ILMC and ALMS championships ahead, specifically on making sure that the new HPD ARX-01g was ready to drive. The suspense built; would the vehicle be well worth the wait? Would it be enough to secure an LMP2 championship?

The Lola-Honda chassis made its race debut at the team’s return to the ALMS series with the ModSpace American Le Mans Series at Mazda Laguna Seca Raceway. The team finished fourth overall and first in points for the LMP2 class, which secured drivers’ championships for Tucker and co-driver Christophe Bouchut.

Endurance racing is naturally excellent material for any feature film. But add to the typical suspense, emotion and action Scott Tucker’s improbable schedule-and improbable career, for that matter-and you’ve got a story for the ages. The “Daytona Dream” season was impressive in and of itself, but the way Level 5 Motorsports has spent 2011 so far, and the excitement sure to follow with Petit Le Mans and Intercontinental Le Mans Cup in China still to come, prove how exciting endurance racing truly can get.

Learn more about Scott Tucker racing Scott Tucker .

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The 2011 season gets even more thrilling for Level 5 Motorsports

by Jim Tobin on December 2, 2011

Fast cars, emotion, tension and hours of action: Excluding mood music, that’s the makings of a feature film-to be fair, one that has been made, but also one that could be equally as successful if filmed again with a similar cast.

That cast is Level 5, the team featured in “Daytona Dream,” the 2011 Drive Videos feature film that chronicled the emotional, action-packed journey on the Scott Tucker-owned team to the Grand-Am series Rolex 24 at Daytona, an institution in American culture beyond racing circles.

However, this time, the movie would be approximately the same team’s 2011 season, one that has effectively exploded the success and publicity surrounding Level 5 Motorsports. The fact is that, “Daytona Dream” was shown as a webcast on the team’s website, Level5Motorsports.com, on Aug. 12 to commemorate the one-year anniversary of its debut.

Following its theatrical debut in summer 2010 in addition to a successful run at film festivals, Discovery Communications acquired the rights to the project for domestic and international television broadcasts, a significant leap for not merely the film and the team as well as the endurance racing industry in the scope of the Discovery Channel’s viewership. The crazy thing is that the stats continually posted by endurance racing teams don’t merit their own personal mainstream cable channel or films all the time-emotion, drama, tension and action have all been at record highs for Level 5 Motorsports this year, and mood music has nothing regarding it.

an incredible began with the film-topic Grand-Am Daytona series. Level 5 entered the Rolex 24 at Daytona with a win-only mindset; but that optimism and determination was crushed when the Microsoft Office-sponsored No. 95 entry got caught in a stackup in the notoriously narrow lanes. The team drove impressively through out the race, but it ultimately finished Eighth.

The anticipation surrounding Tucker’s seemingly impossible schedule would be a crowd pleaser; the 2006 rookie entered in not one or two but three series for the 2011 season. The 2nd race of the year was the first of the ALMS and the team’s first in the LMP2 class, following the LMP championship Level 5 won last year. With a new LMP2 car, the team found themselves at the top of the podium, a huge win at their class debut in the 12 Hours of Sebring.

Just like any fine story, the momentum built for Level 5 Motorsports as it went on to take second at the Long Beach, Calif. street circuit, and Tucker made podium at Infineon Raceway and Mazda Laguna Seca Raceway in the Ferrari Challenge series. Then, problems befell the team. When Tucker caught wind of the new Honda Performance Development/Wirth Research cost-capped prototype, he reserved the first two models. With the car still in development for much of the summer, Tucker and his team withdrew from a major ILMC competition, the Silverstone in England, because the car wasn’t ready. The risky decision cost the team an opportunity for points and a big showing at an ILMC event, and the team was sidelined through ALMS races at Lime Rock Park in Connecticut and MoSport in Ontario, Canada. Additionally for those races, the team had almost no LMP2 competition, so they centered on the ILMC and ALMS championships ahead, specifically on making sure that the new HPD ARX-01g was ready to drive. The suspense built; would the vehicle be well worth the wait? Would it be enough to secure an LMP2 championship?

The Lola-Honda chassis made its race debut at the team’s return to the ALMS series with the ModSpace American Le Mans Series at Mazda Laguna Seca Raceway. The team finished fourth overall and first in points for the LMP2 class, which secured drivers’ championships for Tucker and co-driver Christophe Bouchut.

Endurance racing itself is of course excellent material for a feature film. But add to the typical suspense, emotion and action Scott Tucker’s improbable schedule-and improbable career, for that matter-and you’ve got a story for the ages. The “Daytona Dream” season was impressive in and of itself, but the way Level 5 Motorsports has spent 2011 so far, and the excitement sure to follow with Petit Le Mans and Intercontinental Le Mans Cup in China still to come, prove how exciting endurance racing truly can get.

Want to watch Scott Tucker race? Scott Tucker .

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Infineon Challenge : Scott Tucker and Level 5 Motorsports

by Jim Tobin on December 2, 2011

Scott Tucker is considered to be a really good race car driver, but if you add the fact he competes not only in the ALMS and the ILMS but also the Ferrari Challenge series, Tucker becomes a great race car driver-unbelievable not simply because the schedule he keeps, but due to his continual success on the track. The first FC race of the 2011 year for Tucker and his Level 5 Motorsports team was the debut of the Ferrari 458 Challenge-the 5th model to be utilized since the series began in early 90s-at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif.

The 458 model was novices at the race, but Tucker as well as car were old friends. He tested the automobile exclusively in Spain the prior fall and again at the 12 Hours of Sebring weekend in the spring of 2011. The Ferrari 458 model is lighter and quicker versus its Italia 458 counterpart. The vehicle boasts 570 horsepower; 9,000 RPM direct injection V8 engine, and its gearbox is modified to raise torque at lower revolutions. The vehicle is also furnished with a top-quality traction control system that was put together by Ferrari. The device is based on logic and methods from Ferrari’s experience in the Formula One series.

Tucker entered the 2011 FC season with four wins on the Infineon course, which covers approximately 2.5 miles with 12 turns. Overall, the Level 5 team fared well in the weekend’s set of FC races. “We came out with two cars, but because we were trying a new product with a new seat, it caused some issues with technical people here, so we pulled out one car,” said team manager David Stone. “The car we were able to run didn’t get the new gearbox update, so we’ve been tentative about that.”

But a race car is simply as effective as the sum of all its parts-and one of those parts is the driver. Tucker started the first race in fifth place. After some contact around the first corner, he bunkered down and worked his way up the rankings. His smart driving earned Level 5 a first-place ranking. “We extremely happy we got the win here with our 458 car,” said one engineer.

“I was trying to get up as fast as I could without making contact or being too aggressive,” said Tucker. “We had a good car, and fortunately it worked out for us in the end.”

The next of the FC pair wasn’t as seamless as its predecessor; Level 5 decided not to qualify because of a first-lap penalty the previous day. “We have a double whammy where we started in the back and we had another penalty,” Stone said. “Scott will have his work cut out for him. Getting on the podium is a tall order on this track.”

Besides the penalties and race placement, Tucker and the Level 5 team had to face the challenge of a shorter race-the clock ran approximately 10 minutes short in 2011 compared to previous years. “There will be a little less time to work toward the front, but it is what it is, and the goal will be to come out of here with as many points as we can,” Stone said.

Tucker delivered a stellar performance regardless of the odd hiccups, weaving through traffic efficiently with the front of the line his unwavering goal. Although 458 car started last, Tucker brought it across the line sixth, no small feat considering the circumstances. “It was a good race; we started last and finished sixth with no damage to the car,” Tucker said. “It’s about as good as you can do.”

With a solid performance again in May at the first FC series race of the year, Tucker continued on his whirlwind race schedule with an ILMC stop in Belgium for the Spa.

Find out more about celebrity Scott Tucker Scott Tucker.

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Scott Tucker and His Level 5 Team Discuss Infineon Challenge

by Katherine Waters on December 2, 2011

Scott Tucker is certainly the best race car driver, but if you add the fact that he competes not just in the ALMS and the ILMS but also the Ferrari Challenge series, Tucker becomes a fantastic race car driver-unbelievable not simply due to the schedule he keeps, but due to his continual success on the track. The first FC race of the 2011 year for Tucker and his Level 5 Motorsports team was the debut of the Ferrari 458 Challenge-the 5th model to be utilized since the series began during the early 90s-at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif.

The 458 model was a newcomer to the race, but Tucker as well as car were old friends. He tested the automobile exclusively in Spain the previous fall and again at the 12 Hours of Sebring weekend in the spring of 2011. The Ferrari 458 model is lighter and faster compared with its Italia 458 counterpart. The vehicle boasts 570 horsepower; 9,000 RPM direct injection V8 engine, and its gearbox is modified to boost torque at lower revolutions. The car is also equipped with a top-quality traction control system that was produced by Ferrari. The system is based on logic and methods from Ferrari’s experience in the Formula One series.

Tucker entered the 2011 FC season with four wins on the Infineon course, which covers approximately 2.5 miles with 12 turns. Overall, the Level 5 team fared well in the weekend’s set of FC races. “We came out with two cars, but because we were trying a new product with a new seat, it caused some issues with technical people here, so we pulled out one car,” said team manager David Stone. “The car we were able to run didn’t get the new gearbox update, so we’ve been tentative about that.”

But a race car is as good as the sum of all its parts-and one of those parts is the driver. Tucker started the first race in fifth place. After a little contact around the first corner, he bunkered down and worked his way up the rankings. His smart driving earned Level 5 a first-place ranking. “We extremely happy we got the win here with our 458 car,” said one engineer.

“I was trying to get up as fast as I could without making contact or being too aggressive,” said Tucker. “We had a good car, and fortunately it worked out for us in the end.”

Another of the FC pair wasn’t as seamless as its predecessor; Level 5 decided not to qualify because of a first-lap penalty the day before. “We have a double whammy where we started in the back and we had another penalty,” Stone said. “Scott will have his work cut out for him. Getting on the podium is a tall order on this track.”

Besides the penalties and race placement, Tucker and the Level 5 team had to face the challenge of a shorter race-the clock ran approximately 10 minutes short in 2011 compared to previous years. “There will be a little less time to work toward the front, but it is what it is, and the goal will be to come out of here with as many points as we can,” Stone said.

Tucker delivered a stellar performance regardless of the hiccups, weaving through traffic efficiently with the front of the line his unwavering goal. However the 458 car started last, Tucker brought it over the line sixth, no small feat considering the circumstances. “It was a good race; we started last and finished sixth with no damage to the car,” Tucker said. “It’s about as good as you can do.”

Having a solid performance again in May at the first FC series race of the year, Tucker continued on his whirlwind race schedule with an ILMC stop in Belgium for the Spa.

Want more about celebrity Scott Tucker Scott Tucker .

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Scott Tucker Made History at the 2009 SCCA Runoffs

by Susan Hall on December 2, 2011

Scott Tucker, owner and driver for Level 5 Motorsports, made history earlier this week at the SCCA National Championship Runoffs. Through taking the victory lap, he nabbed his 3rd consecutive SCCA titles, an historical feat that only a select few drivers have ever completed.

In ‘09, the Runoffs classic was held initially in Elkhart Lake, Wisc., its 6th area since it began. The venue was near to Level 5 Motorsports’ home base in Madison, Wisc. The team, which Tucker founded in 2008, had been young but had experienced some good success already in the 2009 season. Tucker competed and won in the Hawk Performance Touring 1 race.

His No. 55 Ferrari 430 Challenge had the pole position to start out, and he led the T1 field through turn one. In turn two, he lost the leading place to challenger John Buttermore, of Pontiac, Mich., who eventually would make podium behind Tucker. Tucker was hot on the tail of Buttermore’s Nearbrook Motorsports Chevrolet Corvette, keeping his second place status even with pressure from behind in driver Lance Knupp of Fenton, Mich., the 3rd driver to eventually reach the podium that day.

The very best 3 drivers fought it out through the race. Tucker followed Buttermore intently, waiting for the opportunity to overtake him. In turn five, Buttermore’s error became Tucker’s window, and Tucker passed him to regain the lead in lap 4, prior to turn six.

Tucker didn’t look back for the remainder of the 13-lap, 52-mile race. When he crossed the checkered flag, Tucker had sped to a 1.42-second lead for the first place finish in his first Runoffs appearance. Along the way, he recorded the quickest lap of the race, with a 2:22.000 lap while in the competition.

“Both Buttermore and Knupp were formidable competitors for the duration of the race,” Tucker said. “I was caught sleeping for a second there, when Buttermore overtook me, but he got a little wide in turn five, and I was able to take advantage of that. It really could have been anyone’s podium today; both of those guys put up strong, consistent races. I had to be continuously focused because I knew if I made a mistake, either one of them would be right there to pick it up.”

Soon after Tucker overtook Buttermore, the Chevrolet lost stability as a result of braking, which helped Knupp’s No. 37 Dodge Viper to operate into the second-place spot. Even as Buttermore decelerated the pace, he still pulled off the third-place podium finish.

one of the best, Tucker was still in the middle of proving himself a top-notch driver in just his 3rd yr of professional racing. His decisive victory at the Runoffs, considered one of the very best sports vehicle races around the world, added to his growing list of victories in ‘09. Going into this year’s Runoffs, Tucker was a different driver; he had not only two Runoffs wins under his belt, but a variety of other first-place and podium finishes from several several racing series. The 2009 SCCA Runoffs at Elkhart Lake, Wisc., were the start of two years of intense achievements for Tucker along with his Level 5 Motorsports team.

Find more information about race car driver Scott Tucker Scott Tucker

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Scott Tucker appears to have an optimistic looking season ahead

by Jesse Schwarck on December 1, 2011

There are a few things different about this year’s Mazda Laguna Seca race. For all drivers, the weather has been uncharacteristically chilly throughout the week’s practice runs and system checks. For Level 5 Motorsports, the weather is hardly noticeable-at least not compared to the brand new metal vessel they’ve been wheeling around at triple-digit speeds. The team recently partnered with Wirth Research to debut an HPD ARX-01g chassis at the American Le Mans Series race tomorrow. Last week, drivers Christophe Bouchut, Joao Barbosa and Luis Diaz, along with team manager David Stone, visited the Wirth Research team to meet their new team member. But of course, giving it the once-over means nothing once behind the wheel.

Scott Tucker and the team recently partnered with Wirth Research to debut an HPD ARX-01g chassis at the American Le Mans Series race tomorrow. Last week, drivers Christophe Bouchut, Joao Barbosa and Luis Diaz, as well as team manager David Stone, visited the Wirth Research team to meet their new team member. But of course, giving it the once-over means nothing once behind the wheel.

The motions should be enough for Level 5, if last year is any indication. The team won the 2010 American Le Mans Series championship, and Tucker won both 2010 Rookie of the Year and Champion Driver. Still, with a brand new car, it will be important to find the team’s sweet spot in order to make the podium once again.

The motions should be enough for Scott Tucker and Level 5, if last year is any indication. Scott Tucker along with his team won the 2010 American Le Mans Series championship, and Tucker won both 2010 Rookie of the Year and Champion Driver. Still, with a brand new car, it will be important to find the team’s sweet spot in order to make the podium once again.

Although the drivers are being diplomatic in their answers, team manager David Stone offers a bit of insight. “Everybody left last night feeling pretty optimistic about the car,” he says. “The initial performance indicators were really good. This is really a test race for us getting ready for Petite le Monde.”

Although the drivers are being diplomatic in their answers, team manager David Stone offers a bit of insight. “Everybody left last night feeling pretty optimistic about the car,” he says. “The initial performance indicators were really good. This is really a test race for us getting ready for Petite le Monde.”

The team has been using a simulator in London in order to prepare for the new car’s debut. The car is so new that no spare parts have arrived yet, which makes this weekend’s race a risky one for Level 5. “We don’t have any spare parts, so we need to be really good with the car today,” Stone said. The team rushed the new car to the raceway in order to be ready for Petite le Monde next weekend, so it’s clear their eyes are to the horizon.

True to his history, Tucker is prepared for and confident in the change. “We’ve seen gains with the engine all year and the good thing is that there’s still room for development,” he says. “The HPD engine and chassis combination has proven to be the best over the years. We feel very comfortable and confident in making this unprecedented and decisive move in the middle of the season.”

True to his history, Tucker is prepared for and confident in the change. “We’ve seen gains with the engine all year and the good thing is that there’s still room for development,” he says. “The HPD engine and chassis combination has proven to be the best over the years. We feel very comfortable and confident in making this unprecedented and decisive move in the middle of the season.” As the race kicks off tomorrow, the new car will weather it’s first true road test. The results of tomorrow’s race will be a telling indicator of the weekend to come.

Level 5 Motorsports, owned by 5-time National Champion Scott Tucker is a team comprised of Champions. Our presence is well-known atop podiums at racing circuits the world over, including 6 wins in the prestigious American Le Mans Series Scott Tucker and Level 5 Motorsports

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