Fluge Global Adventures

The 2008 sports car championship series began in March with many people questioning whether Team FGA could repeat as champions given the very competitive nature of the Sports Car Club of America Championship Series. But with one event remaining FGA fortunes are looking strong. 2007 champion Nick Fluge leads the Improved Touring “E” class by a commanding 18 points, poised to take another title in his Corvette Z06. FGA rising star, Spence Gatrell, moved into the top five with recent wins at PIR, also in a Corvette. Matt Crandall, Speed Sports Racing, leads the formidable GT2 class in a Panoz Esperante GTS. ProDrive’s own Todd Harris has put forth brilliant drives at different venues this year in FGA’s DerHaag Corvette.

Interspersed with other FGA adventures including the World Series of Poker, Biking and Triathlon Championships, and preparation for the TBD “Duel at Death Valley”, the race team has had to overcome a number of hurdles to reach sports car success.

Nick Fluge on Pre-Grid, mulling over Red Bull sponsorship

At the first race of the year in March, Fluge found himself setting the pole and leading the first 18 laps before running out of gas with 3 minutes left. Crandall, was likewise performing at peak speed when an errant mechanical issue sidelined him. Gatrell was still overachieving at college. Finally, Harris was in the early stages of prepping to defend his 07 Rose Cup title. The year began slow for the Fluge Team but quickly took shape.

Even with skipping the Rose Cup races (for a shot at the World Series of Poker title), Fluge ran off a string of sports car victories that put him in the point lead in both the Improved Touring “E” and Super Touring classes. Crandall overcame adversity (and disqualification at one event) to masterfully re-take the lead in the GT2 class and finds himself headed to the National Runoffs in October. Gatrell is challenging the Porsche status quo by improving with every lap he completes. Todd Harris, jet sets to Ferrari challenge events, and leads what many consider the best race driving school in the United States: ProDrive.

With many eyes focused on the yet to be determined Death Valley event between Fluge and Carter, the racing public can rest assured that FGA will represent at 2008’s last race.