Bourque's Busy 2008 Season Gets Off to False Start in Rolex 24

Pierre Bourque’s 2008 racing season was supposed to get into gear this past weekend in one of the world’s most prestigious and historic races, the Rolex 24 at Daytona.  However, the reality of the weekend was that Bourque only got to watch the race from the sidelines instead of from behind the wheel.

A team of several drivers share the driver duties of each entry in the Rolex 24 and Bourque was matched with three other competitors in the #63 Porsche fielded by The Racers’ Group.  However, just 31 laps into the 24 hour event, the engine on that car expired, leaving the team with a 66th-place finish.  With the race just 70 minutes old, Bourque didn’t even get to take a turn behind the wheel.

"This weekend was a bitter disappointment after winning the Hard Charger

Award at last year's race,” said Bourque.  “But I love the event, I love my team

TRG, I love driving the Porsche and I'll be back next year".

But before next year’s Rolex 24 rolls around, Bourque will have plenty of other

chances to race.  In just a few weeks’ time, he will be back at Daytona, driving

for Eddie Sharp Racing in the ARCA 200 event on February 9th.  Recently,

Bourque and his ESR teammates took part in a private test at Talladega

Superspeedway (AL) to get prepared for that event.

"We had a great test at Talladega last week,” said Bourque.  “My Eddie Sharp

Racing teammates Scott Speed, Ken Butler III and I will be in great shape for

qualifying. I'm very impressed by ESR and my crew. Crew chief David Leiner is

tremendous, so I expect great things out of the ARCA 200 and I can't wait to get

back to Daytona."

And that’s not all when it comes to Bourque’s 2008 racing plans.

"I have a deal with Whitlock Motorsports to run a handful of events in the NASCAR Canadian Tire series,” added Bourque.  “I'm thrilled about that, it's a very competitive ride and it will be the third season I run with them.  I'm very, very close to an exciting deal to run in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series with a high-profile team, likely starting at Martinsville at the end of March."

Bourque didn't get to log any race laps in his #63 Porsche at Daytona.