The Doran team with drivers Memo Gidley and Dion Von Moltke notched up another great run this past weekend in the Emco Gears Classic held at the Mid-Ohio sports car course for round #7 of the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series race presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16.
Doran Racing, which is based in Mansfield, Ohio, considers this its hometown track and the Doran fans came out in force to support the local team’s effort. “Just coming to this race is special to me because of all the success I have had over the years here on my climb up the ladder,” said Gidley. “But it was even more special because being a Doran Team driver meant a lot of local people came out to support us which was awesome.”
And the Doran team started off strong with Memo putting the McDonalds/PR Newswire/Ford/Dallara car fifth in the opening practice. “We have unloaded with a really good car at most of the races this season,” said Gidley. “We have a good baseline set up with the car right now.”
In qualifying, Dion again did a good job by putting the bright red #77 seventh. “Dion is doing a nice job and is consistently putting the McDonalds/PR Newswire car towards the front of the field,” said Gidley. “Track position is so critical on a track with a short straightaway like Mid-Ohio.”
At the start, Dion had a great opening stint, keeping the #77 in sights of the leaders. At the one hour mark, a full course caution came out and the Doran team put Memo in to finish the race. “Even though it was really hot outside, I felt strong in the car and was doing everything I could to try to make a few more positions,” said Gidley. “It was a bit frustrating because as fast as we were, we were not strong on top speed and to pass was very difficult.”
With fifteen laps to go, Memo was in fifth place and was one of the fastest cars on the track. “I got a couple of really bad breaks trying to pass a couple of GT cars and the Spirit of Daytona and Gainsco car slipped by down the straights,” said Gidley. “It was frustrating because I was thinking I was going to be able to hold fifth place to the end.”
When the checkered flag did fall, the Doran Racing #77 with Memo behind the wheel finished in seventh place. “You know, as a team we did a lot of things right this weekend with a solid car, good pit strategy and nice pit stops,” said Gidley. “We really just needed a little more straight line speed to be able to get us on that podium. But all in all, it was a great weekend for the McDonalds/PR Newswire team and really fun to have all the local Doran fans that made the trip out to support us.”
The next stop is the Brumos Porsche 250 at Daytona International Speedway July 2nd – 3rd.