Silver Hare Racing Packs 1-2-3 Punch at VIR
October 3, 2024
2024 Fulltimers Jake Drew, Boris Said Jr. Welcome Back Connor Zilisch as High Point-Based Team Looks for Repeat TA2 Win at Home Track
HIGH POINT, N.C. (Oct. 2, 2024) – There’s no place like home, as the saying goes, and when it comes to Cube 3 Architecture TA2 Series racing at Virginia International Raceway (VIR) in Alton, no one embraces that sentiment better than Silver Hare Racing.
The High Point, North Carolina-based team heads to the picturesque 3.27-mile, 17-turn road course ready to defend its dominating 2023 VIR SpeedTour victory with a three-car entry featuring 2024 fulltime drivers Jake Drew and Boris Said Jr. They’ll be joined for the first time since February by a familiar face, Connor Zilisch, who qualified on the pole and led every race lap on his way to winning this event a year ago this weekend, then repeated that feat for Silver Hare in this year’s season opener at Sebring (Fla.) International Raceway before embarking on a head-turning mixed bag of NASCAR Xfinity Series, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, ARCA Menards Series and IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Challenge races.
Drew, the 24-year-old from Fullerton, California, and driver of the No. 7 Silver Hare Racing/Franklin Road Apparel Chevrolet Camaro who’s competing in his first career TA2 season, has performed admirably since joining the team at the season’s second round in March at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta. The veteran of a half-dozen NASCAR Truck Series events in 2023 and a 23-race slate of ARCA outings from 2021 to 2023 that featured three road-course victories in 2022 arrives at VIR fifth in the TA2 standings, just nine points out of third with two races remaining. He leads the Rookie of the Year standings by a 37-point margin and is nine points behind the lead in the Young Guns standings for drivers 25 and under after his three podium finishes and six top-fives in nine outings.
Said, the 20-year-old first-year driver of the No. 75 HendrickCars.com/Silver Hare Racing Chevrolet Camaro, returns to the scene of his first career TA2 race in October 2022. He’s been a model of consistency in his second fulltime TA2 season, having scored back-to-back career-best TA2 finishes of sixth May 25 at Lime Rock Park in Lakeville, Connecticut, and June 22 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington during his string of five top-eight finishes. The son of NASCAR and sportscar racing veteran Boris Said arrives at VIR eighth in the TA2 standings and fourth among the Young Guns.
The 18-year-old Zilisch returns to the team behind the wheel of the No. 57 Bankers Insurance/Guy M. Turner/Clark Outdoor/Chevrolet Development Silver Hare Racing Camaro amidst a storybook 2024 season that started with his signing a multiyear driver development contract with NASCAR’s Trackhouse Racing. In addition to his season-opening TA2 Series victory for Silver Hare at Sebring, he was victorious in his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut last month at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International, qualified on the pole in his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series debut in June at Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway on his way to a fourth-place finish, powered his way to five victories in nine ARCA Menards Series races, and co-drove to LMP2-class victories at the iconic Rolex 24 At Daytona and 12 Hours of Sebring endurance marathons. Zilisch will be pulling double duty this weekend, which begins for him with the NASCAR Truck Series race Friday at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway. He will forego TA2 practice and qualifying Friday at VIR, sending him to the back of the starting grid for Saturday’s race. Two of his six career TA2 Series wins with Silver Hare came from the back of the grid – in June 2023 at the downtown street race, and in August 2023 on the streets of downtown Nashville, Tennessee.
It was at VIR in the summer of 2021 that a 15-year-old Zilisch first got behind the wheel of a TA2 car during a Silver Hare Racing test session. He returned for the TA2 race that October and promptly qualified on the pole with a track-record lap. He went on to drive fulltime for Silver Hare in 2022 and 2023, winning a series-high five TA2 Series races last season. The day after his dominating TA2 Series win at VIR a year ago this weekend, Zilisch made his TA-class debut and also qualified on the pole and led every race lap en route to victory by a 46-second margin, making him the youngest TA-class winner ever at the age of 17 years, three months and 15 days, and the first driver ever to sweep both the TA and TA2 races in Trans Am history.
This weekend’s VIR SpeedTour kicks off with a pair of TA2 test sessions at 12:50 and 4:50 p.m. EDT Thursday. Official practice is set for 11 a.m. Friday, followed by qualifying at 4:35 p.m. Race time is 12:40 p.m. Saturday with live television provided by series partner MAVTV, augmented by live-streaming video on the Trans Am and SpeedTour channels on YouTube. MAVTV will air a 60-minute race show at 8 p.m. EDT on Thursday, Oct. 10.
Silver Hare Racing leverages its Trans Am effort to promote its arrive-and-drive program, where aspiring racers and even tenured professionals hone their road-racing skills on some of the most revered tracks in North America. NASCAR Cup Series drivers Daniel Suárez, Christopher Bell, William Byron and Harrison Burton have all wheeled Silver Hare Racing-prepared cars to burnish their road-racing abilities in top-flight equipment.
The team offers six, professionally built and maintained TA2 chassis from Howe Racing for both competition and private testing. Silver Hare Racing has a dedicated, fulltime crew and operates out of a state-of-the-art facility in High Point, North Carolina. At the track, two 53-foot Featherlite transporters serve as the team’s base, each outfitted with a lounge and smart TVs for data and video review, as well as for hospitality.
To further Silver Hare Racing’s driver development capabilities, the team’s race shop in High Point is now equipped with a SHOCKWAVE Simulator, a tool specifically developed for drivers to accelerate racetrack familiarity, improve car control and confidence, and build stamina. SHOCKWAVE has been involved in racing since 1965 and is currently actively participating in NASCAR, ARCA, Trans Am, Late Models, and Sprint cars. Its Trans Am package replicates a Howe Racing TA2 chassis, complete with cockpit controls and sounds.
“With NASCAR having so many more road-course races, it’s our goal for Silver Hare Racing to be the preferred team for drivers to get that road-course experience,” said Laura Hull, Silver Hare Racing co-owner and team manager. “We want to be that important step in the ladder for the young, up-and-coming drivers. We want people to know we have an arrive-and-drive program, where for people who want to run this track or another, we provide the opportunity to do that and be successful.”
Jake Drew, driver, No. 7 Silver Hare Racing/Franklin Road Apparel Chevrolet Camaro:
For the first time in your 10 races this season, you’ll be heading to a track where you’ve actually turned laps before showing up for the event weekend. How does that affect your outlook at VIR?
“It’s definitely a boost of confidence to go into VIR having had some track time during recent test days there, so I feel that will help accelerate our trajectory getting the car where we need it to contend for a win or a podium. We won’t have to spend a session just learning the track this time. That makes me feel good and probably helps the team out, as well. So I’m definitely looking forward to that.”
What did you learn about the track, and how would you describe what it takes to get around there?
“It’s got everything, and it definitely keeps you on your toes. It seems like it will be a tricky place to pass, especially when you run with guys with similar pace. So I think qualifying will be pretty important. There’s also not a lot of room to make mistakes there with a number of stationary objects close to the racing surface, so you’re definitely going to want to keep all four tires on the pavement in order to make it to the end, for sure.”
Do you feel racing for Silver Hare at its beloved, home racetrack makes the race weekend even more special for you?
“Yeah, I think there’s definitely some excitement and some pressure that goes with that. Well, not so much pressure – I actually mean motivation. There’s always motivation to do well, but with it being the home track for Maurice and Laura (Hull) and everyone on the team, and the fact there will be dozens of family members and friends and partners there to watch us and be with us, that’s going to elevate the energy and enthusiasm to a whole, new level. My grandparents are going to be there this weekend, and even some friends from down in the Charlotte area where I live. So I’m really looking forward to going out there and putting on a show.”
Boris Said Jr., driver, No. 75 HendrickCars.com/Silver Hare Racing Chevrolet Camaro:
VIR is one of only two tracks on the schedule where you’ve raced more than once before. Talk about going back there and what you expect for this weekend.
“Yeah, my first-ever TA2 race was at VIR back in 2022. Our day got ended early that day, and last year we finished on the lead lap. I’m looking forward to going there with Silver Hare. We tested there last week and we got some good things out of it, so I feel like we’re prepared. It was my first time there in a Silver Hare car and it’d been a long time since I’d been there, but it felt really good. Obviously, Silver Hare has run well there in the past, so it should be good.”
How would you describe how VIR compares to the other iconic road circuits in America?
“It’s a pretty unique track with all the different things it throws at you, the high-speed stuff and the low-speed stuff. Overall, it’s got its own, unique rhythm as you make your way through the various segments. There are a few places where you can get into trouble, but it’s also forgiving in that there is a lot of grass there, so if you happen to go off, you’ll usually find some of that.”
What are your goals as you head to the final two races of the season, and think back on the progress you’ve made this year, your second full TA2 season?
“I think it’s all just a long journey, you know, and we’re all just doing the best we can each and every week, keeping everything together. I think it’ll be a good final two races going to a couple of tracks I like a good bit.”
Connor Zilisch, driver, No. 57 Bankers Insurance/Guy M. Turner/Clark Outdoor/Chevrolet Driver Development Silver Hare Racing Chevrolet Camaro:
Your overall thoughts as you return to the Trans Am Series and Silver Hare Racing for the first time since winning this year’s season-opener at Sebring?
“I’m really excited for this weekend back at VIR with the Trans Am Series and the Silver Hare team. I’ve got the NASCAR Truck Series race at Talladega on Friday and it’s going to be a busy day on Saturday getting back up to VIR to run the TA2 race. We tested a little bit at VIR and felt really comfortable with the car and just building off the speed we had there last year – we were really fast and it was probably one of our best races last year. It’s really special to race at VIR, being the home race for Silver Hare, and it’s the closest race to my house on the calendar, as well, so it’s also a home race for me and that makes it even more important and more special to go out and perform. Obviously, this is only my second race with Silver Hare Racing this year in the TA2 series and it’d be cool to go two-for-two. It means a lot to race with this team and get back with all the guys that I kind of started my professional career with. I’m going to try and do everything I can to apply everything I’ve learned this year in all the other series I’ve been blessed to be able to race in and make the most of this opportunity at VIR. It means a lot to be able to race with Silver Hair Racing again and be back with Maurice and Laura Hull, and Gil Martin (competition director) and Jeff Holley (crew chief), and everybody who I’ve learned from over the years. Hopefully we can pick up where we left off last time. We won the race at Sebring and just want to build on that success and the success we had the last half of last season. Just looking forward to it and ready for the opportunity and ready to make the most of it.”
After the lights-out weekend you had at VIR last year, winning from the pole and leading every lap in both the TA2 and TA races, how special is it to make your return at VIR?
“Obviously, VIR is special to me because that’s where it all started for me with Silver Hare Racing, my first test with them back in 2021. And then going there and winning the TA2 race last year and winning the TA race on the same weekend, becoming the first person to sweep the weekend, it makes it a special track for me, and it’s one that I really enjoy, too. It’s one of my favorite tracks in the country and I always have a good time when I race there, and it’s historically been a really good track for me, as well, so I’m looking forward to getting back there and racing with everybody and getting back with the Trans Am Series. Obviously, things have changed since I last was there last year, so I’m looking forward to getting there and seeing how the series has grown and just ready to make the most of this opportunity at a track that I love.”
About Hendrick Automotive Group:
Representing 131 franchises and 25 manufacturer nameplates from the Carolinas to California, Hendrick Automotive Group is the largest privately held automotive retail organization in the United States. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, the company employs more than 10,000 people in its 94 dealership locations, 21 collision centers and four accessories distributor installers in 13 states. For more information, please visit HendrickCars.com.
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About Silver Hare Racing:
Silver Hare Racing is a fulltime competitor in the TA2 division of the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli. The multicar team has won the TA2 masters class championship three times (2018, 2019 and 2020) with driver and team co-owner Maurice Hull. Under the leadership of Hull’s wife, co-owner and team manager Laura Hull, Silver Hare Racing provides a variety of services that includes private testing and arrive-and-drive programs. The team offers six, professionally built and maintained TA2 chassis from Howe Racing and operates from a state-of-the-art facility in High Point, North Carolina. For more information, please call 336-870-5151 or visit SilverHareRacing.com.