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More News and Past Race
Details
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Races in
Puerto Rico:
Dec 5, 2004
Victory at
Salinas Speedway. For the first time
we have won the 3 Hours El Nuevo Dia,
in Salinas. Our prior attempts had
mishaps that left us out of the race
in this high endurance challenge.
This year, nothing could have been
more perfect. The race started and
we were able to turn into turn one
first, something we thought might be
very hard to do. From that time, we
lead 1 hour 15 minutes, lost the
lead for 3 minuts and lead again for
1 hour 42 minutes until we received
the checkered flag. As always, Millo
Martinez and the hole crew could not
have made a better job with the car
and the strategy for the 3 hours.
Oct 25, 2004
Ponce Grand Prix
Victory. We are proud to say that we went to the Ponce Int' Speedway
Park to prove what Millo Martinez and his family could do with our
race car. Their extraordinary work proved what they are capable of.
We came back with the track record of 1.12.58 and we won the first
and second race. Millo, Jose, Oscar, Carlos, Abner, Roldan, Thanks!
Nov 16, 2004
Other news, we
broke the Ponce track record again. The new track record is a
time of 1.11.907. We knew that the track would be fast, the
conditions were perfect, what we never thought was that we would
have the times we did. Thank to all the fans who went to watch. I
know many thought that the event would be canceled but besides it
raining all around the island, the track didn't receive rain that
day. My thanks again to my team for giving me another first place
car.
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International Races:
8/15/04 Jorge Díaz Jr.
problems in Denver.
Jorge Diaz, Jr. ran 3rd for most of the race to
find a spindle problem (front suspension housing) that
would take him out of the race for a total of 12 laps.
The suspension housing just suddenly gave out
unexpectedly without reason or warning during the race.
Millo Martinez and the whole crew took un mayor
repairs to some of the most delicate parts of the car.
The breaking system, suspension system and the hub
needed quick repairs for the car to return to the race,
and what would make many teams just give up on the race
was just a test of strength for the team.
"I
have never been so proud of my teams efforts as I am
after Denver. It is not every day you give your team a
huge obstacle and they not only succeed, but they give
you a car, rebuilt in 10 minutes, that runs with the
fastest in the field. I am impressed, I have always been
impressed with my team, but they sure proved it on this
one. I have seen teams give up, but I have never seen
mine do so!" said Diaz.
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8/11/04 Jorge Díaz Jr.
third in Road America
Jorge Diaz, Jr. is ecstatic after his fourth podium finish this season in the Motorock Trans-Am Series. He came in third at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wis. Previous podiums for Díaz Jr. include third at Portland, Oregon and Cleveland, and his first Trans-Am win at Toronto with only 19 starts.
“I am very proud of my team, their work and effort, have given me opportunity to challenge long time champions such as Tommy Kendall and Paul Gentilozzi. Everyone’s‚ work in the team is important. We came from Puerto Rico last year for our first full Trans-Am series season and we learned how difficult it is to race against long time, powerful teams. But, learning has paid off, this year we have been able to consistently be in front,” Díaz said after the race.
“We are looking forward to Denver this weekend. In Puerto Rico I raced for four years in a difficult, narrow track much like the ones we see in city tracks such as Denver. I hope my experience pays off this weekend because it’s the kind of track I enjoy, challenging ones.”
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8/2/04 Jorge
Díaz Jr. maintains second place in Trans-Am Series Championship
Jorge D'az
Jr. enters the Trois Rivieres' race in fifth position
after the cancellation of the qualifying race on Saturday,
due to bad weather. Officials of the race decided to use
the positions established on practice day, Friday. Early
in the race, D'az Jr's car suffered mechanical problems.
Brakes liquid started leaking forcing him to pit several
times. Due to this mallfunction, he then slides in one
of the curves, crashing against a fence and causing damage
to body of the car. Besides all the obstacles, Díaz
manages to maintain the second position in the Championship.
"This
was a difficult raceway, but I feel confident that I can
get ahead of Gentilozzi in the next race and recover a
large portion of the lost points, after finishing 12th.
Thanks to the hard work of my mechanics, I was able to
finish the race, although the faulty parts made it very
difficult. We are four races away of knowing if a puertorican
will win the 2004 Trans-Am Series Championship.
The Grand
Prix of Road America at Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin takes
place on August 5-8, followed by the Grand Prix of Denve,
August 13-15 in Denver, Colorado. See you then!
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8/3/04 Thanks to Mike Savage for the awesome helmet design. If you want one of the best detailed hand painted helmets, visit
www.savagedesigns.com or call 1-321-253-0766.
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 7/13/04
Photo of the Year! At
Toronto Canada, the First Place interview. Extremely nice
photo were I am on the big screen. :)
Highlight:
Alfredo Nin from "Girando A 18" in Santo Domingo
did the Trans-Am broadcast and award interviews. He was
also congratulated by the whole Trans-Am staff for being
one of the best announcers. (yes it was all in English)
Congratulations Alfredo.
Highlight:
This photo is thanks to a new fan who demonstrated the
warmth of Canada. Anthony DiBiase, many thanks for sending
us the picture.
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 7/10/04
1st at Toronto, Canada. Jorge
Diaz, Jr. predicted at the beginning of the 2004 Motorock
Trans-Am Series season that he would win a race before the
end of the year. His prediction came true Saturday as the
young Puerto Rican driver won the Trans-Am in T.O., part
of the Molson Indy Toronto weekend. The 2003 Trans-Am Rookie
of the Year, driving the No. 8 Puerto Rico Grand Prix Jaguar
XKR, took the lead from Paul Gentilozzi on lap 30 when Gentilozzi
spun, and he never looked back, beating second-place finisher
Randy Ruhlman (No. 49 Preformed Line Products Canada/Coyote
Closures Chevrolet Corvette) by 6.307 seconds.
"This is the biggest accomplishment in
my racing career,"; said Diaz, who with the win, closed
the gap in the points race. Diaz now sits just two points
behind championship leader Gentilozzi.. "I just followed
Paul (Gentilozzi) until I got the right opportunity. I didn't
really relax until the end of the race. We made a pretty
big gamble coming into today. We made four changes this
morning. My team and my crew chief Millo Martinez worked
really hard and it paid off for us today."
"We are dedicating this season to my sister,
Monique, who recently survived cancer," added Diaz.
I'm so proud to bring this first-place trophy back to Puerto
Rico for her."
Diaz earned the VP Racing Fuels Hard
Charger Award for making up the most positions during the
race as well as the BFGoodrich Tires Take Control Award
for leading the most laps.
The caution-free race ran in a record
one hour, 39.670 seconds at an average speed of 85.058 miles
per hour (136.887 kilometers per hour). Highlights from
today's race will run on Spike TV & Dangerous Curves
show on Sunday, July 18 at 1:30 p.m. (EDT/PDT). The next
race for the Motorock Trans-Am Series is scheduled for July
30-Aug. 1 at the 35th Le Grand Prix de Trois-Rivi?res in
Quebec.
(Resume from Trans-amSeries.com) |
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 7/09/04
Qualified 3rd at
Toronto.
One of the hardest tracks
to date with a down hill to the main strait and an up hill
to the in field. The track is hard but we had the second
fastest time in practice and then the third best in qualifying.
Since Gentilozzi decided to change his tires he was sent
to the back of the field. |
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 7/02/04
3rd at Cleveland.
“It’s really an awesome track,” said Diaz.
“It’s wide open and makes it easy to pass. This
is one of the tracks we really know and I think our results
today showed that.” This was one perfect run, start
to finish 3rd, 4th, 2nd and 3rd respectively.
This places
us 2nd in the Drivers Championship and 1st in the Team
Owners Championship. (Team owners championship is average
of qualifying and finishing positions) This demonstrates
the effort by the whole team.
(Partially from Trans-amSeries.com)
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Jorge Diaz, Jr. turned in the fastest time of
the weekend during final practice for this evening’s Trans-Am on the
Tarmac at Cleveland. Diaz, who scored his best-career Trans-Am finish here
last year, a second, turned the 2.106-mile temporary airport course in one
minute, 14.173 seconds at 102.215 miles per hour. Diaz drives the No. 8
Puerto Rico Grand Prix Jaguar XKR.
(Resume from Trans-amSeries.com) |
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 7/01/04
Qualified 4th at Cleveland.
Our setup was good, but the reduction in weight for qualifing made some
push in the car leave us about .4 of a second slower than we thought we
would qualify in. This is a good position for this race. |
| |  7/01/04 Jorge Diaz, Jr. recorded the fastest time in first-round practice Thursday for Friday’s Trans-Am on the Tarmac in Cleveland. Diaz, driving the No. 8 Puerto Rico Grand Prix Jaguar XKR, turned in a 1:15.239-minute lap at 100.767 miles per hour around the 2.106-mile airport course. Diaz recorded his best career Trans-Am finish here in last year’s race, a runner-up effort to race winner Scott Pruett.
(Resume from Trans-amSeries.com) |
 6/30/04
2003 Motorock Trans-Am Series Rookie of the Year Jorge Diaz, Jr. will sign autographs and meet with fans Wednesday, June 30 from noon to 1 p.m. at U.S. Bank Clark 25th Office, 3104 West 25th Street in downtown Cleveland.
Diaz came into last season a rookie and left a veteran. He finished fourth in the championship last season on the merit of two podium finishes, four top fives and nine top-ten finishes in 11 starts. He is appearing at the U.S. Bank location in support of its commitment to the surrounding Hispanic community.
We are privileged to be invited to take part in this event, said Diaz. We won the rookie title last year. That was our goal. This year, my goals are set squarely on becoming Trans-Am's first Puerto Rican Drivers Champion in its 39-year history.
"We are extremely excited for the opportunity to host an  autograph session with Jorge Diaz, Jr. at our West 25th branch as part of U.S. Bank's commitment to the Hispanic Community in Greater Cleveland," said Tom Zirbs, senior vice president and regional manager of retail banking in Northeast Ohio. "We look forward to welcoming Jorge, as well as the other drivers that will be competing over the course of three days at the 23rd annual U.S. Bank Presents the Champ Car Grand Prix of Cleveland."
(Resume from Trans-amSeries.com) |
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 6/27/04 8th at Infinion. When two things have to bite. We ran in 4th for most of the race. The rear brembo lost a break pad and lost the break liquid. Yes, it lost the pad!. Well, we maintained our position, that is, until a spark plug started failing. Ever feel like your car sounds like a truck, ours did. We hope to have better luck on the next race. |
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 6/27/04
Qualified 7th at Infinion. We
made some last minute changes and they did not help. After being around the
top 6 times we decided we needed to make changes to get to the top times.
Some of them didn't work and I take full credit. We went with really
aggressive gearing and they weren't better than what we had in the earlyer
practice. |
 6/20/04 3rd Place at Portland.
The race took place Saturday, June 19th, at Portland, Oregon. We qualified second on friday, which gave us great advantage at the beginning of the race. The car had a flat tire on lap 10, we pitted and came back one lap behind from the leader. Carving through the race track, we finished the 51 laps landing a third place. |
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 6/19/04
Qualified 2nd at Portland.
At .6 off from the first qualifier in a hard track to master, we are
happy. This track is new for us and the teams dedication really shined.
Lets see what happens after 51 laps! |
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6/14/04 Info - Trans Am will announce the TV coverage soon. The Portland track is 1.969 miles in a permanent road course. It was last paved in the 80s and will offer a real tire battle. Who will have their tires at the end of this 51 lap race? Close to Salinas Race Track the flat rough asphalt surfaces will create an awesome run. Traveling on Wednesday, who likes 9 flying hours? | |
6/03/04 Update - Here is one picture we found from the archives. You can click on this picture to view it full size. Our next race is coming up faster than we realized. June 19, Portland on Spike TV. Don't miss the 4 weekend special were we race Portland, Infineon, Cleveland and Road America all in a row. |
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5/05/04 News - The magazine "Autos y Deportes" has an article about JDRT on this months publishing and an internet special of 20% off. Now you can get the magazine for $30 a year and all the news about local and international race participations. Enter
Fiebre.com or click here to go to their
purchase page.
4/19/04 Race - Some bad luck with the brembo brakes left us behind at the end. We ran a constant 5th in the race and when we were making up time to get to forth position our rear right caliper broke a seal and leaked all the break fluid. Good thing for independant front and rear pumps. We were able to end the race in eight place, that leaves us in a good position for the season. See you at the next race, Portland June 19.
 4/17/04 Qualifying -
We had a bit of rain on the qualifying and were able to pull out the 3rd best time. Our car has been running consistently in the top 6 best times. That gives us something to wish for, I would sure enjoy one more rainy race. Here's my reason for loving the rain, Lime Rock's second place finish. Seems some people have a little bit more respect to barriers than others. That leaves me thinking, I don't want to get old. |
4/05/04 News - Seems we will have more race cars this year than in the past. I did Talk to D. Duncan from Trans Am and got the news of over 20 cars racing in this first event. The numbers are estimated by different people to be around 24 to 25 racing teams. 4/03/04 Long Beach, California - We will be leaving soon to Long Beach. The race is in April 18 and I am looking foward to the race. It is going to take me 9 hours to get up their but the team is on its way driving from Florida and it will take them at least 4 days. Trans Am is very late with the news of the TV coverage, I hope its on Speed or on CBS. 3/24/04 SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - 2003 Motorock Trans-Am Series Rookie of the Year Jorge Diaz, Jr. The affable Puerto Rican driver is planning to return full time this season, his eye not just on consistent finishes, but on victories and a possible championship. 12/02/03 LAST YEAR: Earned the Rookie of the Year title after coming out of a season-long battle with Bobby Sak. Diaz set the standard for future rookies, finishing on the podium twice—at Lime Rock and at Cleveland—and earning nine top-ten and four top-five finishes in 11 starts. Earned a best career finish of second at Cleveland, ironically where he made his Trans-Am debut in 2002. |
