Drive Your Dream Blog

Finish in First Grand Am Cup Race at Miller Motorsport Park

Tooele, UT (Sept. 1, 2006) - The #35 Playboy Racing / Palms Casino Resort Nissan 350Z co driven by Tommy Constantine and Mike Borkowski scored a 3rd place podium finish in the inaugural Grand Am Cup race at Miller Motorsport Park.

Constantine qualified the car 9th in a field of 60 Grand Am Cup cars and took the green flag for the start of the 200 mile race. The No. 35 machine’s overall balance of power and handling persevered, passing as many as seven cars during the all green flag stint. Constantine was running 5th before the team executed a flawless pit stop and turned the car over to Borkowski. Borkowski continued the charge to the front and advanced the 350Z to 3rd place (also under all green flag conditions), to secure a podium spot.

“I qualified poorly,” Constantine said. “I was a second faster in the practice session before qualifying so we should have qualified better than ninth. The start was a typical drag race and it was tough to hang with the Mustangs, but we had a great handling car and a great race, so we were able to catch up to the leaders. The Nissan is just an awesome car and it just kept getting better and better. We’re very happy. It’s been a long time coming. We should have been here many times this year but we’ve had nothing but bad luck. Although it’s near the end of the season it’s great to be on the podium.”

“I felt we could have been championship contenders but we’ve been plagued by bad luck,” Borkowski said. “I’m happy for the team. We were really catching up to second (place) at the end but we’re happy with the podium. Tommy has also really come into his own this year and has done an amazing job in the last four races, each time bringing the car back to me in the top 5, ahead of other experienced pros. He and I will win races together…I can guarantee it. I just wish we did not have to wait until next season.”