WATKINS GLEN, NY (June 30, 2021) – Team TGM is returning to its “home away from home” again at Watkins Glen International this week – ready for back-to-back races at the 3.4 mile New York State venue.

While the Independence Day weekend for the past few years has meant a trip across the border to Canadian Tire Motorsports Park for IMSA teams, the border remains closed due to COVID, which meant some creative rescheduling for IMSA.

This week the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge teams stayed in Watkins Glen and will run a sprint race on Friday, July 2, with practice and qualifying on Thursday, July 1.

For Team TGM, what should have been a quiet week for car refresh has turned into a very exciting time as yesterday it was announced that team owner/driver Ted Giovanis’s recently released book, BEYOND FEAR: How I Fought The Feds For Six Years and Won has become the #1 seller in new releases (in the Medicaid/Medicare category). Giving Giovanis his newest title of “best-selling author”.

“Last weekend Team TGM scored a top-five finish in our Chevrolet Camaros in the 4-Hour race, and our focus has been on race preparation and looking forward to bettering that finish this Friday,” said Giovanis.

“The book news is great, and I’m thankful for the success, but with these two races less than a week apart, we have to keep our sights on Thursday’s qualifying, which will be essential to having a chance for a race win on Friday.”

On Thursday, IMSA Michelin Pilot will have one practice session at 3:35 pm before GS qualifying at 8:15 pm. Both sessions can be followed on IMSA radio. On Friday, July 2, the Sahlen’s 120 at The Glen will take the green flag at 2:35 pm and be broadcast on NBCSN TrackPass.

Ted Giovanis

“We were a bit disappointed at an inconsistent penalty we received in the early stages of last Saturday’s race, but we’ve put it behind us and are looking forward to heading to the track again.
“It’s an abbreviated schedule with only one practice session before qualifying, so we’ll have to get the set up just right in a short time and then get down to racing.”

Owen Trinkler

“Congratulations to Ted on the book’s success! We’re all super excited for him and want to add another success to the week, this time on-track.
“Last Saturday was a long hot day (topping out above 90 degrees), and the weather forecast looks very different for Friday so we’ll have the added challenge to keep up with the changing circuit conditions.
“But our team is the best, and our Chevy Camaros will be good, rain or shine.”

Hugh Plumb

“There is a significant call for rain on Thursday and Friday and temps in the 70s, so it will be a very different track from last week but we’ll adjust and enjoy the cooler temps.
“Qualifying will be very important for the shorter race and Thursday will be critical.
“Congrats to Ted on reaching best-seller status in the first week of his book’s release, everyone on the team is very proud to carry the BEYOND FEAR livery on the race cars this week.”

 

Matt Plumb

“Quick turnaround in between rounds, just enough time to finish reading Ted’s new book! It looks like we might get a total change in scenery with all with temperatures much lower and lots of rain.
“I’m looking forward to mixing it up.”

Ted Giovanis the author

FOCUS FORWARD: Life lessons from racing

Life comes at you fast when you’re traveling 180 miles per hour. For Ted Giovanis, it’s also where you can learn the most valuable lessons. Since becoming a race car driver three decades ago at age forty-six—a ride that is still in overdrive—Giovanis has discovered how the tools of racing and the teamwork within it are applicable to life and business. In forty-eight motivating and, at times, exhilarating chapters, he shares his experience and knowledge.