Doug Goad Q/A
By Rich Hall
The Grand American Rolex Series has evolved by leaps and bounds since its inception in 1999. A team that seems to mirror the series’ metamorphosis is The Spirit of Daytona. As the competition level in the Rolex Series has risen in the past three seasons, Spirit of Daytona has run into difficulties adding to their series-best sixteen class victories. For 2006 the little team that could from Daytona Florida is embarking on a new project that will hopefully get the team back to its winning ways. In the run-up to the Rolex 24, a multitasking Doug Goad took a little time with GARRA-Fans.com to give us a little insight into what the team has in store for this season.
1) Spirit of Daytona has been extremely busy over the short off season. Along with the DP program, the team is fielding Pontiac GTO’s in the Grand Am Cup GS class. Could you tell us how this program came about?
Doug Goad: This actually is part our overall business plan which is to compete in both the Rolex and Cup classes of Grand American. The GTO program is an important part as this will allow us to not only expand our operations but since we are planning to lease cars to competitors who just want to show up and drive. It has been a very busy three months for the team and they have really pulled it off well.
2) How has the development of GTO gone leading up to the first race of the season?
DG: Very well, we have normal development issues, but the car has shown good handling and strength under the hood. Our biggest issue will be to get the braking system balanced, which we are working on. Once we get the ABS hooked up, it will be a lot easier on the drivers.
3) You have two GTO’s on the entry list for Daytona. What will the team consider a satisfying result for the programs first race?
DG: Well, we really wanted a top 15, but today was not as good as we had hoped. But both cars ran well, so we’ll see how it goes during the race.
4) Switching gears here, Lady Luck seemed to frown on the #07 and #09 entries. It seemed every time one of the cars was moving up in the field sometime would happen. Would you consider last year the team’s toughest to date?
DG: Yes, I would have to say it was. We had reoccurring electrical issues that ended up being the alternator. These are very expensive pieces that would work on the bench, but for some reason, kept failing at just the wrong time during a race weekend. The results were disappointing and frustrating, but we’ve been through seasons like that and you really cannot give up, you just have to tough it out and wait for your time to come back to you.
5) 2006 is about to begin and one thing I notice right off the bat is there is only one Spirit of Daytona machine on the entry list. Is the team trying to focus all of its resources on one entry for the full season?
DG: Bob Ward, who owns the 07 had a pretty bad accident a couple of months ago. He has decided to sit out the first half of the season to recouperate. It also is a matter of financing and as you can tell by the lack of it on our car last year, we really have to get more funding in soon in order to continue our operations. This has been and continues to be a key focus of the team.
6) Looking at the driving line-up for the Rolex 24; it’s solid. How did this line up come together?
DG: It all came together over the past two weeks. We are very excited to have Bobby and Larry on board for multiple races this season. For now, Harold will only be doing the 24hr with us, but if all goes well, maybe we can get him back over from France for a couple of more events.
7) Obviously having a NASCAR Superstar like Bobby Labonte is a plus to the team for a number reason. In the short time that Bobby has been with the team, is there something about him that surprised you?
DG: How personable a guy he is. Bobby is a racer and an all around nice person. He enjoys road racing and is a lot better at it than he gives himself credit for.
8) Spirit of Daytona has been a member of the Grand Am family for a long time. How have things changed for you as an owner/driver from the AGT days to competing in the marquee class of the series today, the Daytona Prototype?
DG: Yea, the competition is much higher and the amount of money needed to compete up front is a lot bigger. With teams the caliber of Gannassi, Sun Trust, Cheever and so on coming on stronger each year, the bar just keeps going up. But we are competitors, and with the right support we know we have the team needed to compete at this level. And since we a really are in this for the long run as a business, we just have to stay focused on the goal of building to be the best.
From what Doug shared with us, it only seems like only a matter of time before the team’s efforts bear fruit. Thanks to Doug Goad, and all of the staff at Spirit of Daytona for being so accessible to GARRA-Fans.com. I’d also like to take this opportunity to wish Bob Ward a speedy recovery and return to his rightful place behind the wheel of a racecar.Rich Hall
January 27, 2006
The Village
Since Rich submitted this article, it has been announced that Bobby Labonte is now the support behind this team to help them run the whole season, and will drive the car several times. Check out the logo below!
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