Indianapolis, IN. Salinsky racing driver Jay Salinsky has signed on to drive the Mini Cooper with the Mini JCW Racing team for a partial season in 2017. The Mini JCW Racing team, based out of Indianapolis, is fielding a 3 car effort in the 2017 IMSA Continental Tire SportsCar challenge. Jay will be driving the #52 JCW Mini Cooper with co-driver Mark Pombo. Mini came out strong in the season opener at the Rolex 24 at Daytona International Speedway. Car #73 car driven by Mat Pombo and Derek Jones took the checkered flag in the Street Tuner class during the opening round. “I’m extremely excited about joining a winning team in the IMSA Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge this year. I am very fortunate to have my 2016 sponsor Fuse Lenses backing me for these races. The Mini JCW team is a strong team and I know I will be able to shine this season.”
Fuse Lenses was the primary partner for Jay in the Pirelli World Challenge TCA class last year. He took 5th place overall in points for the season driving the #16 MX-5 with Berg Racing. It was a strong showing for his first full year pro racing and Fuse Lenses was with him all the way. They were excited about their first year sponsoring a race team and quickly realized it brought the fanbase they had been trying to reach. Fuse Lenses continues to work with the Pirelli World Challenge as they plan to host a booth in vendor village at the dramatic season opener, the Firestone St. Pete Grand Prix on March 10-12.
Salinsky Racing and Fuse Lenses had a great first year as partners and knew they wanted to team up again for whatever racing series Jay chose to run. Since logistics prevented him from going for a championship in either of the 2 series, Jay decided he would drive in some select races in the IMSA Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge. His first race will be at his home track, Sebring International Raceway, for the legendary Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring. “I am really excited to begin my season with Mini at the 12 Hours of Sebring. I’ve driven thousands of miles on that track in many different cars so I am really excited to get out there and see what the Mini can do. The Mini JCW team is the perfect team to join as they have proven themselves as winners already this season. I am confident that I will be able to get the most out of the car and stay at the front of the pack during the 2 hour race, especially with my co-driver Mark Pombo. I have been coming to this race for 5 years as a fan and I’m really excited to finally compete here. My family and friends will all be here cheering me on which makes it even more special.”
Look for Jay in the yellow and black Fuse Lenses #52 JCW Mini Cooper at the IMSA Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge on Friday, March 17 at 3:40pm EDT. Fuse Lenses will be in the main vending area giving away lots of prizes along with our friends at Top Speed Motion Simulators who will be providing a simulator for fans to experience the legendary bumps of the Sebring track. The television broadcast of the race will be on FOX Sports 1 Sunday, March 26 at 10:30am EDT.