Kevin Buckler announced plans for TRG to enter five Porsches

In the January 30-31 Rolex 24 At Daytona on Wednesday’s special edition of GRAND-AM Weekly.

“Two of the cars will be going for the throat,” said Buckler, a three-time Rolex 24 winner as TRG team owner, including twice as a driver. Buckler followed up his GT triumph in 2002 with an overall victory the following year. In 2009, Buckler’s TRG Porsches finished 1-2 in GT.

In addition to multi-car efforts in both the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16 and the KONI Sports Car Challenge, TRG ran the full NASCAR Sprint Cup Series for the first time in 2009.

The car owner announced last weekend at Phoenix International Raceway that former NASCAR champion Bobby Labonte would drive TRG Motorsports’ No. 71 entry for the full 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season. Taxslayer.com, an associate sponsor with the team this year, will be primary sponsor in 12 races in 2010.

“I am trying to work on Bobby to get on the Rolex Series program with us for the Rolex 24,” Buckler said. “You’ll see Taxslayer.com with us at the Rolex 24.

“Phoenix was a big weekend for us,” Buckler added. “While you see a lot of teams folding and closing and joining, we actually made it and we’re growing. I’m really proud of everybody.”

Looking ahead to the Rolex 24, Buckler said the 2009 winner Andy Lally and runner-up Spencer Pumpelly are expected to be part of the lineup, and possibly Patrick Long.

In addition, Buckler hinted of a few surprises to the lineup that will be formally announced in the near future.

“We’re going to be running a great little program (in the Rolex 24) with Seth Neiman from Flying Lizard, Tommy Sadler and those guys, with a bunch of factory drivers, including Johannes von Overbeek.”

” We’re going for it there. We’ve got a program with Tim George Jr., who won Rookie of the Year and the Bob Akin Award in 2008 (with TRG), he’s coming back and he wants to win! It looks like we’re going to do a deal with Andy Lally, Spencer Pumpelly and maybe Pat Long. We’ll also be running with the Team Poliezi 144 guys, and another car with a group of guys we’ve yet to announce.”

“We should have more news about our driver lineup in a week or two and we have just a few seats left – in all top level cars,” Buckler wrapped up. “It should be real strong.”

GRAND-AM Weekly is usually heard Tuesday evenings from 7-8 p.m. ET on WELE-1380 AM Daytona Beach, featuring DC Williams, Wyatt Davis and J.J. O’Malley. However, the station’s prior commitments with basketball coverage will alter the schedule during the winter months.

The show can be heard live at www.news1radio.net.

source: Grand-Am.com