Cumming, Georgia -- Tafel Racing is headed west to the flat lands of Salt Lake City, Utah for round five of the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) Larry H. Miller Dealerships Utah Grand Prix to be run this Saturday at Miller Motorsports Park.

Miller Motorsports Park holds the distinction of being the longest road course in America, with its 24-turns and 4.5- miles in distance.  The course is no stranger to the Tafel team, having taken the battle for the Grand-Am GT series championship to the last race there in 2006.

The team used the weeks off since Houston to test both Porsche 997 RSR racers and all four drivers for two days at Road Atlanta.  The team is maintaining a steady development curve with the new Porsche that they hope will reap mid-season benefits.

Wolf Henzler and Robin Liddell are coming off of a third place finish in the last race at Houston in their No. 71 Tafel 997 RSR.  The duo are poised in third place in the ALMS driver standings and are looking to give owner Jim Tafel the team’s first win in ALMS. 

Cumming, Georgia-- Jim Tafel has had the opportunity to look back on the family’s Kentucky Derby win on Saturday with home-bred three-year old Colt Street Sense.  The race team owner is able to draw many synergies between his sportscar racing and the preparation it takes to win the biggest prize in horse racing.

“I learned a lot from my Dad all weekend,” said Jim.  “How he handled himself in the press conference and at the various parties and functions, I was in awe.  I was really there to help him.  I was purely in a support roll.  My enjoyment came from watching his dream come true in front of nearly 200,000 fans.  When the horse was in 19th, I said oh my God we’re in second to the last place.  I was just hoping he wouldn’t get blocked in, that was my moment of uh-oh.”

“I have taken away a lot from the weekend.  The way the horse was prepared, jockey Calvin Borel and Carl Nafzger had Street Sense at the top of his game when he needed to be and the race just fell into place for us.  Calvin and Carl had the perfect plan for the race and it all played out perfectly.  The team around the horse has really taken a measured approach of preparation and taking care of the equipment, similar to what we do in car racing.  You have to have four wheels and motor to make the next race, think long term.”