Steve Eppard SWE Racing’s President has made the decision to bring Mike Potekhen back to drive the SWE/Lucas Oil XFR/Jilbrit.com #43 for the two day event at Infineon Raceway 2.3 mile road course August 24th and 25th. The former Pro Yamaha Lights, IKAC Colorado Champion and Formula Ford SCCA Rocky Mountain Regional champion raised in Silverthorne, Colorado, and now resides in Tempe, Arizona with his wife Nicole.
In 2006 Mike competed with SWE Racing in the Firestone Indy Lights Series in their development year as the team for five races with a best finish of 6th at Infineon raceway. Mike has driven the Indy lights entry for SWE Racing on several occasions. President Steve Eppard said today in a phone interview “Mike is one of the greatest up and coming talents in the United States today, Mike has driven almost every type of pavement racing equipment Go Karts, Formula Fords, Mazda Pro Series, Formula Vauxhall Winter Series cars in England, he has won two championships and a lot of races in many series. Mike has a great feel for the Dallara and communicates well with the crew on what adjustments need to be made after a secession is completed, he is a real asset to the team."
Eppard continued “with mike being an accomplished road racer, it allows him to compete with the European drivers and are expectations are set on a high finish for both days of competition. We are not running for the championship so we are using the last three races as a test to help us prepare for the 2009 season. At Kentucky the car ran great and mike worked his way to 5th while running in the lead pack all night however he pinched the corner, the car became lose and as the cars behind him they took the air off the rear wing, on about lap 61 the #43 went spinning toward the wall. Mike reacting quickly regained control without hitting anything but the Firestone Firehawk’s were flat spotted from the spin, there was no caution, and Mike went a lap down on the field bringing the ill handling # 43 to a 17th place finish.
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