Vasser to drive again

Bringing his veteran perspective back to a young team on the rise, 1996 Champ Car champion Jimmy Vasser will return to the cockpit of GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Racing's championship-leading No. 99 GAINSCO Auto Insurance Pontiac-powered Riley Daytona Prototype next week in the 2007 Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series season finale, the Sunchaser 1000k at Miller Motorsports Park in Tooele, Utah on Sept. 15.

Vasser rejoins the driving team of Alex Gurney and Jon Fogarty, who have torched the Rolex Sports Car Series Daytona Prototype field in the second half of the season, rebounding from a disappointing DNF in the season-opening Rolex 24 At Daytona to capture seven wins, including six in the last eight races. Gurney and Fogarty now hold a slim one-point lead heading into the 14th and final round, and Vasser will play a vital role in the team's quest for driver and team championships. He's relishing the opportunity to fight for a points crown.

"I'm very excited to be back in the GAINSCO 99 with Alex and Jon, and I'm extremely proud of what they've done this season," Vasser said. "I'm thrilled to be part of a championship run and I'm just looking forward to getting back in the car next week."

The road-racing veteran, who racked up 10 wins, nine poles and 33 podiums during an illustrious 15-year Champ Car career and scored an IMSA GTP Lights victory in the 1993 24 Hours of Daytona, has been a part of the GAINSCO team since last year's Rolex 24 At Daytona, and is team owner Bob Stallings' hand-picked "go-to guy" for the series' endurance events.