This is what racing is all about.
Every year professional and amateur racing teams from around the world come together at the National Auto Sport Association’s (NASA) 25 Hours of Thunderhill endurance race at Thunderhill Raceway Park in Willows, California. The 25-hour race tests the limits of man and machine as they battle through rain, fog, and night.
At the 2011 25 Hours of Thunderhill event, SNT Motorsports Development assembled a talented team of professional drivers and crew members with a goal of winning the ES Class achieving an overall victory. Led by owners Steve Tarpley and Dave Smith, SNT Motorsports Development drove their No. 15 Ford GT along with Trans-Am Champion, Tomy Drissi; Jim Russell Racing Driver’s School Instructor, Jared Thompson; and veteran professional driver, Kai Goddard.
Before the 25 Hour Race, SNT Motorsports qualified the No. 15 Ford GT second in class and fourth overall. At the start of the race on Saturday, December 3rd at 11:00 AM Tomy Drissi drove the Ford GT to the head of the pack and was then replaced by Steve Tarpley after his stint, who was then followed by Dave Smith. Kai Goddard and Jarred Thompson brought the team into the night where temperatures dropped, but the competition remained heated.
The No. 15 Ford GT is an icon that represented American motorsports as the SNT Motorsports Development team battled against the likes of Porsche, BMW, and many other brands for the overall lead. The talented SNT Motorsports Development team was able to achieve fast lap times and consistently kept pace with the leaders throughout the majority of the race. Unfortunately, a mechanical problem forced the No. 15 Ford GT to retire just after the 14-hour mark.
SNT Motorsports Development proved throughout the race that they can compete at the highest level and challenge others for the overall lead. Although mechanical problems forced their early retirement, the team plans on returning to the NASA 25 Hours of Thunderhill in 2012 to take home the checkered flag.
Throughout the race SportTruckRV was trackside with a 79-foot trailer and sports deck along with their flagship Renegade and IKON RVs. They were able to provide a warm and welcoming atmosphere for all of the SNT Motorsports drivers, crew, and family. SportTruckRV also displayed two of SNT Motorsport Development’s stock cars in their state-of-the-art trailer for those in attendance at the 2011 25 Hours of Thunderhill.
Our friend, Kai Goddard, would like to extend a big thank you to MotoringExposure, GoPro, Redline Synthetic Oil, Muscle Milk, Inde Motorsports Ranch, SportTruckRV, Exotic4Play, The Sitter, and others for sponsoring the SNT Motorsports Development team. Goddard would also like to thank Steve Tarpley and Dave Smith of SNT Motorsports Development for putting together an accomplished driver lineup and talented pit crew for a memorable racing experience.
The SNT Motorsports Development No. 15 Ford GT will be featuring in an upcoming documentary on NBC Sports in early 2012. We’ll be sure to keep you updated for all of those interested.
SNT Motorsports Development No. 15 Ford GT at the 2011 NASA 25 Hours of Thunderhill
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[Photography Credit: Got Blue Milk]
Behind the Scenes with SNT Motorsports
[Photography Credit: Caroline Goddard]
What was your favorite part of the NASA 25 Hours of Thunderhill? Leave a comment and let us know!
