Buford, Racers Edge Head to Daytona for December Test

December 6, 2009

DELAND, Fla. - Twenty-one-year-old Jade Buford, co-driver Jordan Taylor and Racers Edge Motorsports will head to Daytona International Speedway on Tuesday and Wednesday for the two-day GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16 test.

Buford will drive the No. 30 Mazda RX-8, sponsored by IDEMITSU Racing Oil and Cobalt Friction, with Taylor, a two-time Rolex 24 At Daytona participant.

Buford will realize his dream when he steps foot on the grounds of Daytona, which is located only a half hour away from Racers Edge's team headquarters in Deland, Fla. It will mark the first time Buford has ever participated in any type of sanctioned event at Daytona, as he prepares to drive in his first Rolex 24 At Daytona in January.

Racers Edge team owner Jon Mirachi, who has worked with several talented, young up-and-coming drivers throughout his career, brought Buford into the team's fold following the 2009 Rolex Series race at Barber Motorsports Park in July. Mirachi coached Buford, who turned times and speeds that would have made him competitive in the previous day's race. Buford made his Rolex Series debut in September at Miller Motorsports Park, driving with Dane Cameron.

A season after running 10 of 11 races on the GRAND-AM Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge circuit in the Street Tuner (ST) division, Buford is scheduled to drive for Racers Edge in 2010 as they unveil the new Ford Mustang GT for the season-opening Continental Tire Challenge race in the Grand Sport (GS) class at Daytona. Buford's GS co-driver will be Glenn Bocchino, who won the 2008 Continental Tire ST race at Daytona.

Mirachi believes Buford will make a great addition to his team in both cars he drives, and said he looks forward to seeing his efforts this week.

"We've seen a lot of progress from Jade since he made his initial appearance at the Barber test with us in July," Mirachi said. "We feel that, though he is in the early stages of his professional racing career, this is the perfect opportunity for him to show his talent. We led laps and ran up front this season with the RX-8, and Jade should keep us there as he continues to progress."

Taylor, the son of Rolex Series team owner Wayne Taylor, has competed on and off for Racers Edge, and finished in 10th-place in last year's Rolex 24 in a Daytona Prototype.