From GrandAmerican.com
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (July 29, 2006) -- With approximately 30 minutes remaining in Saturday's Grand-Am Cup 200 at Barber Motorsports Park, high winds, lightning and torrential rain showers descended upon the 2.3-mile, 16-turn Alabama circuit, forcing Grand-Am Cup Series officials to cancel the final portion of the 200-mile timed event, and handing the victory to No. 15 Playboy/Palms Casino Ford Mustang GT co-drivers Michael McDowell and Rob Finlay.

Overcoming a mid-race penalty for an improper restart that forced the No. 15 machine down pit road for an unscheduled stop, the duo scored their first Grand-Am Cup Series victory of the season. Finlay qualified the car eighth in this morning's qualifying session, running near the front throughout his opening stint.

"The Playboy/Palms Ford Mustang was phenomenal today," said Finlay. "The race itself was good but it was crazy with all those cars out there. I was able to stay out of trouble during my stint and get the car to Michael in good position. We're happy that we got the win and are looking forward to the next Cup race next weekend."

McDowell took over during a Lap 23 caution, and with many cars in the lead group staying out, was shuffled back in the running order. However, the strategy paid dividends, as McDowell quickly picked off positions while the leaders had to make green flag driver changes. When a full-course caution flew on Lap 50 to allow track officials time to two stopped machines off the track, McDowell was in second, behind No. 51 Stealth Racing Ford Mustang GT co-driver Stu Hayner. Hayner pulled down pit road to hand control to teammate Pete Halsmer, handing the lead to McDowell. A few moments later, black clouds and high winds brought about the red flag.

"Rob's opening stint was great," said McDowell. "He qualified the car well so we were able to start the race up front and kept it there the entire time. We saw that the weather was coming so we just stuck to the strategy and it paid off. We had a great car today, I had to serve a stop and go penalty early on but we managed to get our positions back and finish first."

Also benefiting from the timely caution period and subsequent weather were No. 59 Columbus Truck & Equipment Ford Mustang GT co-drivers Dean Martin and Roy Mason, who wound up second. It was the best finish of the season for either driver, topping a previous best result of sixth in Round 3 at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Mason started the machine 18th on the grid and both he and Martin ran steadily at the front of the pack throughout the event.

"It's my first professional podium," said Mason. "I've won and been on the podium in various club series, but this is my first professional podium and it feels great. We kind of backed into it. We had a hard time getting the car to hook up, but the team made a great strategy call to come into the pits when we did. We also got help from the rain gods and we'll take it."

"It's nice to be back again on the podium," Martin said. "We've had a rough go and we're really just starting to get the car up to speed with our '05 Mustang. It's a home-built Rehagen car. It is a good result for us. Ray did a great job in the car and I had a lot of fun mixing it up with the Porsches and BMWs out there today."

Terry Borcheller and Jeff Segal finished third in the No. 90 Automatic Racing BMW M3. It is the fourth top-six finish for Borcheller in only five Grand-Am Cup Series starts in 2006, and the second podium finish of the year for Segal, who also finished third at Laguna Seca. Bill Auberlen and Chris Gleason finished fourth in the No. 96 Turner Motorsport BMW M3, followed by teammates Boris Said and Anders Hainer in the No. 97 Under Armour BMW M3.

Auberlen and Gleason, who came into the race just one point behind Hainer in the Grand Sport class point standings, now lead the championship fight by just one marker over Hainer, 168-167.