Pole Sitter of the Grand Am 200 at Daytona, Ryan Pilla, Driver of the Car Doctor World/Hidefspex Performance Optics Mustang Gt, Takes the Green Flag and Turns over the Driving Duty at Mid Race in First Place.
BRIDGEHAMPTON, N.Y. (January 27, 2006) -- To take the green flag at Daytona in his first Grand Am Cup race was a surreal experience for the young man from East Hampton Long Island. Following the drop of the flag, he proved his achievement was not a fluke and that his driving prowess deserves attention and credit. Ryan Pilla demonstrated that the years polishing his driving skills in Formula Ford to Speed World Challenge were paying off and have become some of the best in the business. For 27 laps Ryan bounced around from 1st place to 5th place never giving an inch and trading positions while driving a calculated race keeping his equipment clean. When it was time to surrender the wheel to his co-driver, Joe Foster, his extraordinary drive in his first Grand Am Cup race put him right back where he started when he took the green flag, in 1st place, out in front of the 88 car pack.
"I came to Daytona with an agenda. It was very simple. Go fast and show that I can drive the wheels off a racecar. The qualifying run was everything the car had and the race proved we have equipment that can hold it's own in a very well prepared field. I drive for the love of racing but I am here to compete and I always have something to show. For me, I am looking to be in the Rolex paddock soon and this was the start of something very special for me. My goal is to get behind the wheel of a prototype and I am confident I am showing I am worthy of the consideration. This was an incredible experience for me at this facility," said Ryan after the race conclusion. He continued, "To start the season with a 13th place finish is a bit frustrating after coming off in P1 but we will work harder and build on the experience. Hyper Sport has put together a solid package and we have a very fast car. Our car was more than capable of a podium finish but our pit stop put us in a hole after a lug nut got stuck in the gun. The program is brand new and we are expecting to find the podium real soon."
Ryan Pilla had driven the Ford Mustang for a total of 6 sessions prior to the Grand Am Cup 200 at Daytona. In his very first qualifying session competing in the Grand American Road Racing Series in a brand new car, the No. 55 Car Doctor World/HiDefSpex Performance Optics Mustang GT found the pole of the Grand Am Cup 200 at Daytona.
Ryan Pilla is the Owner of the Car Doctor World, the premier automotive salon of the Hamptons, which caters to the A-List of Hollywood and entrepreneurs of note. Having been in business for 15 plus years, CDW specializes Porsche, BMW and Mercedes. CDW has established itself as a leader in High Performance modifications and Restorations.
In addition to being the Owner of The Car Doctor World, Ryan is partnered with his brother, Philip Pilla, manufacturing HiDefSpex Performance Optics, the world's finest High Definition Eyewear for Shooting Sports including Hunting, Waterfowling, Fishing, Golf, and Snow Sports.
Ryan is a 2 Time winner of the Mohegan Sun Grand Prix at Lime Rock, CT and is the current track record holder in a Pro Spec Miata.
The No. 55 Car Doctor World/HiDefSpex Performance Optics Mustang GT will campaign the 2006 season with Hyper Sport.
See you on the podium.
Pilla Wins Monday Miata Cup Race At Lime Rock by Eric Prill
LAKEVILLE, Conn. (May 31, 2004) - One day after having his first-career Mazdaspeed Miata Cup Presented by Hankook Atlantic Tour win stripped due to a technical infraction, Ryan Pilla, of Amagansett, N.Y., made it stick to take Monday's Round Six race at Lime Rock Park. Payton Wilson, of Gainesville, Ga., and Shawn Dewey, of Townsend, Del., completed the top three.
Pilla started fifth in the No. 10 Car Doctor World Mazda Miata, and ran third in the race's early stages, moving up to the lead on lap seven. From there, he held of charges from polesitter Jason Saini, of Lake Forest, Ill., and Wilson to take the win by 0.373-second. Pilla averaged 69.087 mph in the 22-lap contest that was shortened due to time constraints.
"We had a rough day yesterday," Pilla said of his disqualification from Saturday's race due to a non-compliant camshaft. "This weekend has had its ups and downs. Today, I proved myself and that this series is not about engines, but about setup and driving. Some of my competitors decided to make some NASCAR moves on the restart and run it up against the wall on the pit straight. I got it into Winner's Circle and took just enough laps to do it."
Wilson had his own troubles in Saturday's race, not finishing after an on-track incident. However, the point leader rebounded to take second in the No. 38 Victory By Design/Maaco of Manassas Miata.
"I liked the first yellow, it gave me an edge," he said. "I wasn't looking for that second yellow. I couldn't do anything with Ryan [Pilla] in turn one.
Dewey made a late charge in the No. 8 indirect.com/DAB Services entry after qualifying a disappointing 12th. He was followed by Saini and James Evans, of Parktown, Md. Evans picked up the Sunoco Hard Charger of the Race award for advancing 10 positions.
Wilson extended his point lead over Dewey with only one round remaining 143 to 139. Pilla is third (123), followed by Tom Long (123) and Evans (110). The seventh and final round of the Mazdaspeed Miata Cup Presented by Hankook Atlantic Tour is set for June 26 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.
For more information, please visit www.scca.com/Pro/MiataCup.asp.
Check out some of these press shots from Ryan's race career:
http://www.motorsport.com/photos/select.asp?D=Ryan_Pilla