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JLowe Racing—NJMP 250 race report

MILLVILLE, NJ, July 19, 2010 – The JLowe Racing Team started the #64 Porsche GT3 Cup from the twelfth spot on the grid for yesterday’s NJMP 250 presented by Crown Royal for the Rolex Sports Car Series at New Jersey Motorsports Park. The severe heat of the prior two days continued, and was expected to be a factor in the race and in the team strategies. Like most of the competitors, the JLowe team planned two driver changes instead of the customary one.

At the start, Johannes van Overbeek immediately began reeling in competitors. In the first lap alone, he passed three cars to move into ninth place. Coming by the start/finish line after the second lap, he was up to eighth. Johannes was running consistent laps and holding his position lap after lap. On lap 11, a DP competitor went off course at the end of the front straight, bringing out a full course yellow. The JLowe Racing team took advantage of the caution to bring in the #64 Porsche GT3 Cup for a “splash and go,” thus fulfilling the mandatory first stop requirement.

Johannes went back out in 14th and quickly brought the #64 Porsche back into the top 10. On lap 24, while running in tenth, a DP contacted the #64 causing damage on the right side. Johannes was able to continue, but his lap times fell off a bit. Johannes continued battling until lap 41 when the JLowe Porsche pitted for a complete stop: driver change, tires and fuel. Team owner Jim Lowe was ready take his turn behind the wheel.

Jim went out and joined the intense battle, running consistent, quick laps during his stint. He felt good in the car in spite of the long layoff since his last GRAND-AM race. He was able to keep the Porsche in the top 15 throughout his run. With the high heat in the cockpit, and the clock running down, Jim came into the pits for the final stop of the race. Feeling cooled down and refreshed, Johannes got back in with less than an hour to go.

Johannes was again a man on a mission. He worked his way back into the top ten and looked like he could hold the position until the end. But a late yellow period, enabled many of the GT competition to get fresh tires. The race went back to green with 20 minutes to go. It would be a sprint race to the finish. In spite of his tires going away, Johannes was able to bring the #64 JLowe Racing Porsche home in tenth place, for a great finish to the weekend.

Jim Lowe was clearly pleased after the finish. “This is an excellent way to get back in the series. Roger Reis put a great team together and the whole crew worked hard. And we had a fantastic effort on the part of Johannes. He’s an amazing driver. I really couldn’t be happier. I thoroughly enjoyed this weekend and being back here at NJMP.”

Johannes van Overbeek was hydrating after the race and reflected on the whole effort. “Considering where we started this weekend, tenth is a great result. All the guys on the JLowe Racing team worked non-stop and continued to improve the car. Jim was fantastic—running his best times of the weekend in the race! All in all it was a great weekend and a really good result.”

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About JLowe Racing
JLowe Racing is a professional sports car racing team established in 2006 by driver/owner Dr. Jim Lowe. Running primarily in the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16, the team fields Porsche GT3 Cup cars in the GT class. With an early history of top-10 and podium finishes, JLowe Racing has already established itself as a driving force in the GRAND-AM series. Additional information is available at www.jlowe-racing.com or JLowe Racing on Facebook.

JLowe Racing—NJMP 250 qualifying report

MILLVILLE, NJ, July 17, 2010 – The JLowe Racing Porsche GT3 Cup took to the hot Thunderbolt track during Saturday’s qualifying session, with team driver Johannes van Overbeek behind the wheel. Johannes was determined to give the team a good starting position for Sunday’s race and he delivered as promised. In addition to the dramatic improvement from Friday’s lap times, the #64 JLowe Racing Porsche was the fastest Porsche in the session.

Team owner and co-driver Jim Lowe watched from pit lane as Johannes continued to improve, until turning 1:22.864 on his sixth lap. Lowe was pleased with the result. “Considering where we were last night, we’ve made huge gains. I’m very happy with 12th on the grid. Roger and the crew did a great job in improving the car and with the help of Johannes, they put us in good position for the race. We’re the fastest Porsche and what we see in front of us on the grid doesn’t scare us. We’re all looking forward to tomorrow’s race.”

Johannes van Overbeek felt he could have posted an even quicker lap, but was held up by a slower car on one of his hot laps. “Normally I would be very upset with 12th, but considering where we started, this was a really good result. My best lap today was two seconds faster than yesterday’s best lap. My hat is off to the JLowe crew. They continued to work it and now we have a very competitive car for tomorrow.”

The NJMP 250 presented by Crown Royal for the Rolex Sports Car Series takes the green flag on Sunday at 1PM, televised live on SPEED.
Follow Jim on his Facebook page: JLowe Racing or jlowe-racing.com
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About JLowe Racing
JLowe Racing is a professional sports car racing team established in 2006 by driver/owner Dr. Jim Lowe. Running primarily in the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16, the team fields Porsche GT3 Cup cars in the GT class. With an early history of top-10 and podium finishes, JLowe Racing has already established itself as a driving force in the GRAND-AM series. Additional information is available at www.jlowe-racing.com.

JLowe Racing—NJMP Friday practice report

MILLVILLE, NJ, July 16, 2010 – The latest Northeast heat wave arrived as practice began for the third NJMP 250 at New Jersey Motorsports Park. The JLowe Racing team tried to make the best of the 142º F track temperatures. Drivers Jim Lowe and Johannes van Overbeek battled very high temps inside the car as the team chased the set-up through Friday’s two practice sessions.

Lowe was hydrating and staying in the shade before his turn in the car. “We’ve got a little way to go and we’ll keep working on the set-up until qualifying tomorrow. The Porsches don’t fare as well with the high temps, as the rear tires tend to go away sooner than on a front-engined car. But we have a great team and engineers. They’ll get it sorted and I’m confident we’ll have a very competitive car for the race.”

Lowe’s co-driver, van Overbeek felt they were making good progress. “It’s good to be back here in New Jersey with Jim. We’re making progress with the car. But, we’re not where we want to be yet. It’s very hard to come into a competitive series like this in mid-season and be right at the front. But I know we’ll be there on Sunday.”

For this weekend’s race, Jim has reassembled his team led by Roger Reis and brought in his good friend, and veteran racer van Overbeek as co-driver. The JLowe Racing #64 Porsche GT3 Cup carries sponsorship of SIEMENS GIGASET, Enviro Packaging Solutions, Porsche of the Main Line and ThinkFirst, National Injury Prevention Foundation.

Qualifying for the GT Class is on Saturday, July 17, at 12:55pm. The NJMP 250 presented by Crown Royal for the Rolex Sports Car Series takes the green flag on Sunday at 1PM, televised live on SPEED. Follow Jim on his Facebook page: JLowe Racing or jlowe-racing.com
________________________________________

About JLowe Racing
JLowe Racing is a professional sports car racing team established in 2006 by driver/owner Dr. Jim Lowe. Running primarily in the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16, the team fields Porsche GT3 Cup cars in the GT class. With an early history of top-10 and podium finishes, JLowe Racing has already established itself as a driving force in the GRAND-AM series. Additional information is available at www.jlowe-racing.com.

Jim Lowe:The World’s Fastest Neurosurgeon comes home to NJMP
July 14, 2010 ­ Millville, NJ

Dr. Jim Lowe spends most mornings in the operating room, conducting a team
of nurses and doctors. As one of the Northeast’s top Neurosurgeons, Dr. Lowe
is used to pressure and excels in it. Most doctors look to their time off to
relax and unwind, away from the stresses of the job, and Jim is no
different.

But Jim is not your average Harvard cum laude Neurosurgeon. On weekends,
instead of playing a relaxing round of golf, Jim trades the scrubs for a
Nomex racing suit. And instead of leading a team of medical professionals,
Jim is surrounded by a race team dedicated to getting him on the podium.

This year, Dr. Jim Lowe’s racing season started with high hopes as he headed
into January’s GRAND-AM Rolex 24 at Daytona. He had assembled a stout driver
line-up and impressive crew. The car was meticulously prepared and new
sponsors came onboard to support the effort. All was going to plan with the
#64 Porsche GT3 Cup running in the top five when, without warning, the car
suffered sudden engine failure in the fifth hour. The race was over without
even a scratch on the car’s gleaming red paint.

Fast forward to July. The New Jersey round of the GRAND-AM Roles Series has
been penciled in on Jim’s calendar since last year. As his home track, this
race carries considerable significance for Jim, regardless of Daytona’s
outcome. “I run at NJMP as often as possible. The track is only an hour
from my house so I can drive all day and then sleep in my own bed at night.
The course at Thunderbolt is challenging and fast, putting a real premium on
chassis set-up. We’re very excited to get the team back together after such
a long lay-off. With family, friends and sponsors on hand for the race, we
expect to give them all something to cheer about.” To say that Jim’s focus
remains laser sharp is an understatement.

For this weekend¹s race, Jim has reassembled his team led by Roger Reis and
brought in his good friend, and veteran racer, Johannes van Overbeek as
co-driver. The JLowe Racing #64 Porsche GT3 Cup carries sponsorship of
SIEMENS GIGASET, Enviro Packaging Solutions, Porsche of the Main Line and
ThinkFirst, National Injury Prevention Foundation.

Qualifying for the GT Class is on Saturday, July 17, at 12:55pm. The NJMP
250 presented by Crown Royal for the Rolex Sports Car Series takes the green
flag on Sunday at 1PM, televised live on SPEED. Follow Jim on his Facebook
page: JLowe Racing or jlowe-racing.com