MEGENBIER GETS VOLKSWAGEN JETTA TDI CUP WIN NUMBER THREE ON THE YEAR AT ROAD AMERICA

Winner penalized after the race but retains Championship lead

CONTACT: Adam Hoover
Office: (440) 540-4670 / Mobile: (440) 258-2462
ahoover@automotive-events.com

Elkhart Lake, WI (August 15, 2009) – The 26 drivers competing in Round 6 of the SCCA Pro Racing Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup put in a long day today at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. Action began bright and early with qualifying at 8 am followed by the race at 7 pm.

When the checkered flag flew, the weekend belonged to Timmy Megenbier who led each session. The Melrose Park, Illinois native began Saturday’s action by winning his second pole position of the season after suffering a tire puncture early in the session. Even though he spent a good portion of the qualifying session in the pits, he was able to post the top lap time of the weekend, 2:38.921 (91.698 mph), just as the clock was running out.

Megenbier continued his dominance during the race which featured two full-course cautions that limited the action to nine laps. The first caution came on lap four when Devin Cates’ car ventured off course dramatically in turn 12 and ended up on top of the tire barrier. The second caution flag flew on lap seven when guest driver Levi LaVallee took an overly aggressive line into a turn and ended up in the tire barrier. Both drivers walked away from the incidents.

There also was a lot of action on the track during green conditions, which saw many of the title-contending drivers jockeying for position. Megenbier led all but one lap during the race, only once relinquishing his lead to eventual fourth-place finisher, Andy Lee. The podium also included AJ Nealey (2nd) and Joey Atterbury (3rd) who gained seven positions during the race.

The win is Megenbier’s series-leading third victory of the season. However, after the race, series officials penalized him 30 points for blocking Andy Lee on the last lap of the race. Despite this penalty, Megenbier walks away from this weekend with 218 points and a 25-point lead in the Championship battle. Lee was also penalized five points for on-track actions during the race. Lee (193) and Joey Atterbury (193) are tied for second in the points standings following the race.

“Today was a really crazy day with my problems during qualifying and all of the action during the race,” Megenbier said. “At the start, I got a really good jump and was able to pull away a bit, but then the caution came out and brought them up to me. Andy Lee and I had a great battle after the second caution, and he was able to get around me at one point. But thankfully, I was able to keep my head and get him back just before the final lap. Obviously, I’m disappointed with the penalty decision, but I still have the lead in the Championship and that’s what important. I’ll try to make up the points I lost today when we get to Mosport.”

The three guest drivers who joined the series for this weekend’s race lived the full Jetta TDI Cup experience during their two days at Road America. When the checkered flag flew, it was VWvortex.com founder, Jaime Vondruska, who finished highest in the guest category at 22nd. iRacing.com online racer, John Prather finished 23rd, while professional snocross racer and freestyle snowmobile rider, Levi LaVallee came in 24th after his on-track incident.

“This is one of the coolest opportunities that I’ve ever had,” said LaVallee who ran as high at 19th before his crash. “I have a lot of experience racing on the snow, but this is my first time racing a car on a track, so I’m really happy with how well I was able to run up until the point of my off-road adventure. The cars were awesome to drive, and all I’m thinking about now is when I can get behind the wheel again. Hopefully, it will be soon.”

The Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup series returns to action August 29-30 at Mosport for Round 7 of the season.

Saturday Qualifying Session:
Position/Car Number/Driver/Hometown/Sponsor/Time/Speed
1 17 Timmy Megenbier/Melrose Park/IL/Chicagoland VW/ 2:38.921/91.698
2 29 Devin Cates(R)/Broad Run/VA/HYPERFUELS/ 2:39.365/91.443
3 19 Jake Thompson(R)/Vancouver/BC/LAMIN-X/ 2:39.485/91.374
4 20 Mark Pombo/Duluth/GA/VW Parts & Accessories/ 2:39.600/91.308
5 2 AJ Nealey(R)/Pasadena/MD/Sherwin-Williams/ 2:39.621/91.296
6 27 Andy Lee/Maricopa/AZ/Castrol/ 2:39.682/91.261
7 8 Derek Jones/Philadelphia/PA/Aggreko/ 2:39.882/91.147
8 4 Nicky Boulle(R)/Dallas/TX/Defnder/ 2:39.909/91.131
9 23 Juan Pablo Sierra Lendle/Puebla/MX/Castrol/ 2:39.966/91.099
10 14 Joey Atterbury(R)/Renton/WA/SCCA/ 2:39.610/91.302
11 5 Ryan Ellis(R)/Ashburn/VA/VION/ 2:40.281/90.920
12 3 Taylor Broekemeier/Fort Collins/CO/Oakley/ 2:40.333/90.890
13 7 JD Mobley(R)/Castle Rock/CO/VION/ 2:40.386/90.860
14 24 Donny Warren(R)/Winchester/VA/Aggreko/ 2:40.400/90.852
15 22 Andrew Novich(R)/Novato/CA/Oakley/ 2:40.429/90.836
16 34 Juan Pablo Delgado(R)/Orizaba/VZ/MX/Red Bull/ 2:40.924/90.557
17 16 Eric Morse(R)/Pittsburgh/PA/Amplify/ 2:41.053/90.484
18 30 Perry Richardson(R)/Los Gatos/CA/Pirelli/ 2:41.475/90.248
19 26 Andrew Cordeiro/Woodbridge/Ont/CN/Bosch/ 2:41.764/90.086
20 6 David Richert/Niverville MB/CN/Bosch/ 2:41.964/89.975
21 10 Levi LaVallee(G)/Longville/MN/Red Bull/ 2:42.851/89.485
22 15 Theresa Condict(R)/Lexington/MA/HYPERFUELS/ 2:42.944/89.434
23 32 Andrew Gun Tucker(R)/McDonough/GA/Pirelli/ 2:43.619/89.065
24 18 Kerstin Smutny(R)/Bothell/WA/iRacing.com/ 2:41.853/90.037
25 31 John Prather(G)/Tracy/CA/IRACING/ 2:46.512/87.518
26 35 Jamie Vondruska(G)/Glen Ellyn/IL/VWVORTEX/ 2:50.101/85.671
(R) – Jetta TDI Cup Rookie Driver
(G) – Guest Driver

Time Warner Road Race Showcase at Road America (Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup - Round 6):
Position/Car Number/Driver/Hometown/Sponsor/Best Lap Time/Best Lap Speed
1 1 17 Timmy Megenbier/Melrose Park/IL/Chicagoland VW/ 2:40.340/90.886
2 5 2 AJ Nealey(R)/Pasadena/MD/Sherwin-Williams/ 2:39.836/91.173
3 10 14 Joey Atterbury(R)/Renton/WA/SCCA/ 2:40.349/90.881
4 6 27 Andy Lee/Maricopa/AZ/Castrol/ 2:40.438 90.831
5 9 23 Juan Pablo SierraLendle/Puebla/MX/Castrol/ 2:40.487/90.803
6 7 8 Derek Jones/Philadelphia/PA/Aggreko/ 2:40.341/90.886
7 12 3 Taylor Broekemeier/Fort Collins/CO/Oakley/ 2:40.168 90.984
8 15 22 Andrew Novich(R)/Novato/CA/Oakley/ 2:39.806/91.190
9 4 20 Mark Pombo/Duluth/GA/VW Parts & Accessories/ 2:40.000/91.080
10 11 5 Ryan Ellis(R)/Ashburn/VA/VION/ 2:40.632/90.721
11 19 26 Andrew Cordeiro/Woodbridge/Ont/CN/Bosch/ 2:41.126/90.443
12 3 19 Jake Thompson(R)/Vancouver/BC/LAMIN-X/ 2:40.108/91.018
13 13 7 JD Mobley(R)/Castle Rock/CO/VION/ 2:40.269/90.927
14 8 4 Nicky Boulle(R)/Dallas/TX/Defnder/ 2:40.105/91.020
15 14 24 Donny Warren(R)/Winchester/VA/Aggreko/ 2:41.798/90.067
16 18 30 Perry Richardson(R)/Los Gatos/CA/Pirelli/ 2:41.847/90.040
17 17 16 Eric Morse(R)/Pittsburgh/PA/Amplify/ 2:41.297/90.347
18 24 18 Kerstin Smutny(R)/Bothell/WA/iRacing.com/ 2:41.877/90.024
19 20 6 David Richert/Niverville/MB/CN/Bosch/ 4 9 -18.269 2:43.190/89.299
20 22 15 Theresa Condict(R)/Lexington/MA/HYPERFUELS/ 2:43.285/89.247
21 10 Levi LaVallee(G)/Longville/MN/Red Bull/ 2:43.609/89.070
21 16 34 Juan Pablo Delgado(R)/Orizaba/VZ/MX/Red Bull/ 2:45.262/88.180
26 35 Jamie Vondruska(G)/Glen Ellyn/IL/VWVORTEX/ 2:47.166/87.175
25 31 John Prather(G)/Tracy/CA IRACING/ 2:47.103/87.208
22 2 29 Devin Cates(R)/Broad Run/VA HYPERFUELS/ 2:42.709/89.563
23 23 32 Andrew Gun Tucker(R)/McDonough/GA/Pirelli/Crash
(R) – Jetta TDI Cup Rookie Driver
(G) – Guest Driver

About Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup
The 2009 season marks the second year of competition for the Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup, which is sanctioned by SCCA Pro Racing. During the season, young, up and coming drivers (between ages 16-26) will compete in 10 events on eight road courses around North America in identical factory-prepared clean diesel Jetta TDI’s powered by Syndiesel® B5 blended biodiesel fuel. Each driver competing in the series will earn a Pro Racing license from SCCA at the conclusion of the season. In addition to more than $50,000 in prize money at stake during the season, the series champion will win $100,000.

The Jetta TDI Cup car is powered by a 2.0-liter, 170 hp, four-cylinder TDI clean diesel engine mated to a six-speed, double-clutch, automatic DSG transmission. The car is only slightly modified from stock with Pirelli racing tires, race suspension and brake components, drivers racing safety seat, FIA roll cage and an on-board fire extinguisher system. Series sponsors include: Pirelli, Bosch, ViON, Castrol, Oakley, Red Bull, HYPERFUELS, Aggreko, defNder, Lamin-X, Meguiar’s, Sherwin-Williams, Chicagoland VW, Safety-Kleen, Ringer Gloves, Jim Russell Racing School and Trellis Earth.

Follow the Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup series action on:
www.vwmotorsportusa.com
www.tditruthanddare.com
SCCA Pro Racing Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup Live Timing & Scoring: http://www.livetiming.net/SCCA/VW/livetiming.asp
Volkswagen Online Newsroom: media.vw.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/VWJettaTDICup
Twitter: http://twitter.com/VWJettaTDICup

Volkswagen of America, Inc.
Founded in 1955, Volkswagen of America, Inc. is headquartered in Herndon, Virginia. It is a subsidiary of Volkswagen AG, headquartered in Wolfsburg, Germany. Volkswagen is one of the world’s largest producers of passenger cars and Europe’s largest automaker. Volkswagen sells the Rabbit, New Beetle, New Beetle convertible, GTI, Jetta, Jetta SportWagen, Eos, GLI, Passat, Passat wagon, CC, Tiguan, Touareg 2 and Routan through approximately 600 independent U.S. dealers. All 2009 Volkswagens come standard-equipped with Electronic Stabilization Program. This is important because the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has called ESC the most effective new vehicle safety technology since the safety belt. Visit Volkswagen of America online at vw.com or www.media.vw.com to learn more.

SCCA Pro Racing
A wholly owned subsidiary of Sports Car Club of America, Inc., SCCA Pro Racing Ltd. is a leading sanctioning body for motorsports events in the United States. A member of the Automobile Competition Committee of the United States (ACCUS), SCCA Pro Racing operates and sanctions the Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup, as well as provides sanctioning and various operational services for other racing series. For more information, please visit www.sccapro.com.

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