Thaze Competition with the Junaid Family Foundation scored a magnificent podium finish to kick off the 2024 race season at the legendary Daytona International Speedway on Saturday.
The team from Detroit, MI, contested the opening round of the VP Racing Sportscar Challenge at the world-renowned circuit that combines a 2.5-mile high-banked oval with a tricky infield section that demands immense skill from those who tackle it.
With slated driver Eddie Killeen unable to compete at the last minute, the vastly-experienced Marc Miller was called into action at 7:30am on Saturday morning and put his years of racing at Daytona to good use by qualifying an excellent second in class.
The Michigan racer went around the outside of the polesitter to take the lead at the first corner but was shuffled back to third by the end of lap two.
With his Mercedes-AMG – configured for pace in the twisty infield section – no match for the straightline speed of some of other cars on the flat-out banking, Miller was forced to push ultra-hard to maintain a place in the battle for the GSX lead, but he did just that.
He surged into the lead on a late restart after a brief full course caution period bunched the field together, but again had to settle for third by the chequered flag; still a super result for Thaze Competition with the Junaid Family Foundation; in only the team’s third race event.
After losing ground at the start of Sunday’s second race, Marc moved up to third just before mid-distance, but was forced to end his race in the pits when his car developed mechanical issues following contact with another competitor.
The next event for the team will be Round Two of the VP Challenge on the streets of St Petersburg, FL, on March 8-10, where Eddie Killeen will take over the #37 entry.
Marc Miller said: “I’m so proud of the team. The Thaze Competition with Junaid Family Foundation Mercedes-AMG GT4 was fast in the infield all weekend but didn’t have the same straightline speed as some of the other cars, which on a track like Daytona that’s two-thirds high-speed oval, means I had to be very clever with how I used the drafting to keep up. It’s not my first rodeo here at Daytona so the combination of my experience and some great work from what’s almost an all-new over-the-wall crew was vital in qualifying second and finishing third. To get a podium and have a car that’s been fast at every track we’ve been to so far is very good news for the season ahead.”
Brian Makse, Co-Team Principal, said: “It’s unfortunate Eddie was not able to get in his car, but being able to pull Marc out of the closet, get him in Eddie’s car and finish on the podium is just incredible. It’s fantastic to see the Thaze car upfront once again and for me it’s completely surreal to be standing in Victory Lane at Daytona International Speedway. I’m just beside myself. The whole team performed incredibly well; we’re so proud of everybody and thrilled that they have chosen to join us this year.”
Faisal Ahmad, Co-Team Principal, said: “This is a fantastic result and a great, great start to 2024. The VP Racing Sportscar Challenge is an excellent series and we’re really excited to be able to get on the podium in our first race in the GSX class. We’re looking forward to really good things this year across the board. We have an amazing race team, amazing drivers and the right mindset. If we stick to our gameplan, we know good things will come.”
Eddie Killeen, Driver, said: “Right off the bat I’ve felt comfortable working with the team at Thaze Competition and it’s been a great experience thus far. I’ve done a couple of one-off races in Michelin Pilot Challenge and a season in the Porsche Cup, but this is ‘next level’ for me. This is a top-flight organization and they’re working their way up.”
Ansir Junaid, Chairman and Trustee of the Junaid Family Foundation, said: “Marc’s drive was hugely exciting, but I must say a huge thank you to IMSA for hosting this event. The platform it provides us to promote the Junaid Family Foundation is incredible. The foundation was conceived around our passion and commitment to empowering vulnerable populations, especially women, adolescents, and children to reach new levels of economic and social growth. I can see us developing multiple activation programs through IMSA that will underline and amplify our philosophy of ‘empowerment through sports’.”
