For Immediate Release
Contact Laz Denes with True Speed Communication
(704) 875-3388 ext. 806 or Laz.Denes@TrueSpeedCommunication.com
www.TrueSpeedCommunication.com
Online Media Kit Available at www.TrueSpeedMedia.com

Date: March 30, 2012
Event: Porsche 250 (Round 2 of 13)
Series: Daytona Prototype division of the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series
Location: Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Ala. (2.3-mile, 17-turn road course)
Pole Winner: Richard Westbrook of Spirit of Daytona Racing (1:21.420 at 101.695 mph)
SunTrust Racing: 9th by Ricky Taylor (No time)

The No. 10 SunTrust Corvette Dallara DP of Wayne Taylor Racing will start Saturday’s GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series Porsche 250 from the inside of the fifth row after qualifying Friday at Barber Motorsports Park just outside Birmingham, Ala.

Ricky Taylor, who scored his first career Rolex Series pole here two years ago and backed that up with another top-three qualifying effort last year for the SunTrust team, found himself stuck in a turn-14 gravel trap nearing the end of his first timed lap today and brought out the black flag so safety workers could tow him out. By rule, that ended Taylor’s qualifying effort for the remainder of the 15-minute session and forced the No. 10 SunTrust Corvette DP to the back of the Daytona Prototype grid – ninth overall among 28 car-and-driver combinations that will take the green flag for Saturday’s two-hour, 45-minute race.

“I think we improved the car quite a bit for qualifying because I had a really good lap going,” Taylor said. “With the tires we have, you really have to get the most out of them on the first lap and I think I overdid it a bit. I got a little greedy and the tires weren’t quite up to temperature and pressure. I tried to take advantage of that first lap and just made a mistake. It’s a shame because I wanted to go back out there and try again. But it’s my fault, that’s the rules and that’s the way it is. We always say track position is important, but it’s important everywhere. And every year I’m surprised at Barber how much passing there actually is with the GT cars being out there with us. You never know, we can have a spectacular day tomorrow. The guys are good at working our strategy. I say let’s get out there and do it.”

Today’s result ended the SunTrust team’s streak of front-row qualifying efforts at nine consecutive races dating back to Memorial Day 2011 at Lime Rock Park in Lakeville, Conn.

The top-five in qualifying were the following teams:

1. Spirit of Daytona Racing (No. 90 Corvette DP) with Richard Westbrook and Antonio Garcia (1:21.420 at 101.695 mph)

2. Gainsco/Bob Stallings Racing (No. 99 Corvette DP) with Jon Fogarty and Alex Gurney (1:21.494 at 101.603 mph)

3. Action Express Racing (No. 5 Corvette DP) with David Donohue and Darren Law (1:22.379 at 100.511 mph)

4. Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates (No. 01 BMW Riley) with Memo Rojas and Scott Pruett (1:22.946 at 99.824 mph)

5. Michael Shank Racing (No. 60 Ford Riley) with John Pew and Oz Negri (1:24.041 at 98.523 mph)

Race time Saturday is 1:15 p.m. EDT with delayed television coverage provided by SPEED at 4 p.m. Live radio coverage will be provided by the Motor Racing Network (MRN) and Sirius/XM Channel 117 beginning with a 30-minute pre-race show at 12:45 p.m. Live timing and scoring during all on-track sessions can be found at www.grand-am.com, and on mobile devices at m.grand-am.com/laptrax.

- SunTrust: The Official Bank of Motorsports –

SunTrust Banks, Inc., headquartered in Atlanta, is one of the nation's largest banking organizations, serving a broad range of consumer, commercial, corporate and institutional clients. As of December 31, 2011, SunTrust had total assets of $176.9 billion and total deposits of $127.9 billion. The Company operates an extensive branch and ATM network throughout the high-growth Southeast and Mid- Atlantic states and a full array of technology-based, 24-hour delivery channels. The Company also serves clients in selected markets nationally. Its primary businesses include deposit, credit, trust and investment services. Through various subsidiaries the Company provides mortgage banking, insurance, brokerage, investment management, equipment leasing and investment banking services. SunTrust's Internet address is suntrust.com.