seen in the days leading up to the race. After the team’s sterling performance in last month’s Daytona 24-hour race, where the C5-Rs finished first and second in class and first and fourth overall, one might have expected a more buoyant ambiance in Texas. However, the Earnhardt tragedy was clearly still on everyone’s mind, and though everyone knew the business of racing stops for no one, smiles were understandably few and far between.
The Texas turnout was decidedly thin with a new two-car Viper team providing the only GTS class competition for the Corvettes. Noticeably missing was Saleen’s S7R, which was allegedly going to run all of the domestic ALMS races this year. There was no buzz around the racetrack concerning Saleen’s absence, though inadequate funding and disillusionment resulting from the car’s previous poor performances are