Compass360 Shoots for Another Strong Finish at Laguna

Monterey, CA—Compass360 Racing’s Toronto-based crew has hauled the team’s three Honda Civic Si’s across the country to the beautiful Laguna Seca track nestled on the picturesque Monterey peninsula of Northern California. Hoping to continue their strong 2009, C360R has assembled another impressive driver line-up.

Californian Christian Miller, who lives an hour away in downtown San Jose, is looking to notch his third straight first-place finish in the 034 Motorsport / Skunk2 / C360R #74 Honda. With Miller’s regular co-driver, Randy Pobst, competing across the continent at Mosport this weekend, the team drafted 2008 KONI Street Tuner Champion Jamie Holtom for the task of helping Miller to stay at the front of the Driver’s Championship.

Although this race marks Holtom’s first race of 2009, he tested with the team in the fall of 2008. The Laguna race marks his first time competing in a Civic. “I’ve raced against these Hondas for so many years, I’m looking forward to trying one on for size,” laughed Holtom.

Holtom is no stranger to two other members of the C360R, having competed with them in go karts for many years before they all graduated to sports cars in the KONI Challenge. Matt Pritiko and Travis Walker will once again share the CanadianRacers.com / Skunk2 / C360R #74 car. After two podium finishes in the first three races, the young duo look to solidify a place at the top of the Championship, currently sitting in 5th place. “It really is an important weekend for us in the points,” Pritiko said. “With another good finish, we can be right in thick of the championship hunt. I know the Compass360 guys will have all three cars prepared really well, and I am looking forward to an exciting weekend of racing.”

New to the team is Bret Spaude, who will co-drive with Team Owner Karl Thomson in the Skunk2 / K&N / C360R #75 Civic. Spaude is competing with rival Bill Fenton’s team, but will race with Compass360 for those events that Fenton does not attend this year, as he is in contention for the Mesco Rookie of the Year. “With Bill sitting this race out, it made sense to drive with Karl and Compass360,” noted Spaude. “After seeing them make history by putting three cars on the podium at New Jersey I’m looking to notch a good result here at Laguna.” Miller is equally excited. “This being a home race, we’ve got lots of friends and family out to entertain our sponsors. We’re obviously working hard to finish first for them.”

“We’re doing our best to put together strong driver line-ups in each of our cars,” remarked Thomson, who finished first at Laguna in 2007. “We pulled off a miracle in New Jersey, and I doubt we’ll ever see a dream result like that again very soon, if ever. But I think we’ve got an equally strong group for Laguna, and we’re excited to race on Saturday.”

The KONI Challenge race starts at 3:00pm on Saturday, May 16th, and will be televised tape-delayed on SPEED on May 23rd at 12:00 noon.

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Photo Credit: Sideline Motorsports Photography, reproduction rights granted.