Kasemets Returns to the World Renowned Run-Off’s

Heartland Park at Topeka, KS USA
October 1, 2007


This year at the 2007 National Championship Runoffs® Presented by AT&T, a familiar face returns.  Not just his annual pilgrimage to enjoy the 'Pinnacle of American Motorsports' or to engineer a friends entry... but rather to... wrench and compete in the “Team Tonis” #9 FA.  There’s something magical about the pairing of the Swift 014 with Tonis Kasemets at the wheel.  In fact, during the 2005 season of Champ Car's Toyota Atlantic Series, Kasemets finished 2nd in points, missing the overall Championship by a mere 17 digits.  And that was the final year of the Swift 014 in professional racing.   
 
Tonis has officially done all he’s set out to accomplish since migrating to the USA from Estonia in 1994.  His eye was on, and his heart was set, for “IndyCar” racing via “CART”.  It took a couple of years to make new friends on American shores and Tonis took his time by “not rushing things”.  Running on sheer “gut reaction” to all he'd meet.  To this day, 99.9% of those “first friends” remain by his side.  And the entire cast of characters who make up his unrelenting support crew are known as “Team Tonis”.  It’s more than just a race team.  It’s a family of racing veterans and close friends who have complete faith in Tonis’ skills as well as a concept of safety and excellence.  “Put the best product you can on the race track.  Absolutely no acceptations”, as Tonis demands.   
 
Back to more about Tonis' accomplishments since his last FA Run-Off’s competition... a huge climb that began in the Sports Car Club of America.  His various track records (15 to date), his record breaking qualifying laps, the poles and the podiums, the majority in Pro Series… have ran the gamut from Toyota Atlantic Series to Champ Car World Series, IMSA Lite’s, the new Champ Car Mazda Atlantic, Star Mazda, Grand Am/Crawford Ford DP, the Multimatic Ford DP and Vintage racing in Estonia.  Tonis is called upon often to test for several teams in Champ Car, Atlantics, Spec Racer Toyota and many others.  He's either testing and/or competing in all of the Series mentioned, since his last FA appearance at the Run-Off’s in 2003.
 
Yet there is still a yearning for Kasemets to win that SCCA FA Championship “One more time.”
 
This season, Tonis has entered all of the SCCA National's required to get to the Run-Off’s, winning every event.  He also added 2 more course records to his continuously growing stats, only 12 days apart.  The 1st of '07 was at Blackhawk Farms, early May, in the FA.  Followed by a new qualifying record at Utah's Miller Motorsports Park, for his 3rd and 4th outings in the Parallax Racing #6 IMSA Lite.  Tonis easily snags the pole for both races, but finishes P2 in race 1.  In race 2 however, Tonis leads the entire race, winning by nearly 7 seconds.  The June Sprints?  Add another FA Victory. 
 
Another bonus for Team Tonis' this year:  In the new Mazda "Zoom Zoom" TV commercials, look for the unmistakable Kasemets 'head shot' (in the IMSA Lite), featured in all of the Mazda ads. 
 
Now it's time for the 44th Annual Runoffs.

Test days are underway, then the focus shifts to official practice, qualifying and the race. 
For more information about the SCCA Run-Off’s, including TV schedule, log onto:


  
 
We appreciate the many good wishes that are arriving already.  Thank you to all who are as excited as we are to “see Tonis on TV again”, as most have noted.  It's a very exciting time, as it's been many years since anyone has won every event leading up to the Run-Off's.  Now all we need is... just one more win.  
 
 
Hope to see you at the Finish Line!
Jill Savage
Team Tonis Media/PR
 

Kasemets Adds New Meaning to ‘Frequent Flyer Miles’

May 10, 2007
Chicago IL / Indianapolis IN USA

One Team.  Three cars.  One driver.  

Tonis Kasemets adds 2 more wins and another new course record to his Atlantic’s resume.  One of the most accomplished Atlantic Swift .014 pilots in both Professional and Club racing, Tonis has chosen to run in SCCA National events this season.  Winning at GingerMan Raceway, April 28 – 29. Followed by another victory, May 5 – 6 at Blackhawk Farms Raceway, where Tonis also set a new course record in the #9 Team Tonis Atlantic. 

Today and tomorrow, Kasemets is in North Carolina at Crawford Composites.  For a seat fitting.  As Team Tonis announces the acquisition of a new Crawford Ford Daytona Prototype for our entry into the Grand Am Rolex Sports Car Series.  Our goal for the first event in the #9 DP is the Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen in June.  Co-Pilots include Tonis’ younger brother Madis Kasemets, age 31, a multi-championed driver from Parnu, Estonia and the well known, very accomplished Paul Gentilozzi, for at least one race, possibly more.  Other Co-Pilots are yet to be determined.

Sunday, Tonis flies to Utah for the one-day High Performance Racing School at Miller Motorsports Park on Monday.  From there, the red-eye flight Monday night to Florida to test the new DP Tuesday and Wednesday, on the road course at Daytona.   

Tonis also continues to race the Parallax #6 IMSA Lite.  As soon as our DP testing is a wrap, Kasemets jumps on another jet back to Utah Wednesday night for the support races with ALMS at Miller Motorsports Park, Thursday through Saturday, May 17 – 19. 

Saturday night, Kasemets takes another red-eye flight.  Back to northern Illinois, where he’ll contest in the Blackhawk Farms Raceway/SCCA/Milwaukee National on May 20 in the #9 Team Tonis Atlantic.  

Tonis Kasemets… Out of hibernation into a New Adventure

March 10, 2007
Indianapolis, IN / Sebring, FL

Tonis Kasemets races into his 33rd birthday this week by piloting a freshly assembled IMSA Lite, which literally touches the racing surface for the first time in opening practice on March 14th at Sebring International Raceway.  IMSA Lites are part of the many support events for the World Renowned Mobile1 “12 Hours of Sebring”.  This year is the 55th annual event.


**The #6 Parallax entry; load- in at Pabst Racing Services in Wisconsin

Kasemets is “Very excited to be back in competition, surrounded by my closest friends and in this beautiful new car.”  Tonis has been very busy off season, testing several types of racing machines.  This opportunity puts most of “Team Tonis” back together in one paddock.  Additionally, Tonis holds several track records at Sebring, on both the short and long courses. 

Indeed a “One for all, all for one” endeavor, Tonis wishes to express “Many thanks to Bob ‘Fireball’ Lojkovic and our ‘3 Musketeers’:  Rick ‘Aramis’ Bartuska, Steve ‘Athos’ Kohli and Jason ‘Porthos’ Kubasak.   All of these ‘characters’ collaborated to form PARALLAX RACING and I am extremely honored to be the first to race for them.”   Tonis’ long time racing sidekick, Augie “Tweak” Pabst III, is back in his Crew Chief position and Jerome “Frenchie” Guimont returns as Chief Mechanic.  

Kasemets is also “Very excited to have our long time friend Jay, of Flexovit Abrasives Products USA, as our Guest this weekend.”

The #6 Parallax IMSA Lite was prepared in very short order by Pabst Racing Services, however, Tonis “expects an excellent run this weekend and also appreciates everyone’s efforts to make this happen.” He adds, “I have many friends who’ll be at Sebring this weekend.  I wish them well and look forward to seeing them again.”

** Techno-Facts: 
The Parallax #6 IMSA Lite is a DP02 / 2.3 liter / 335 horse power / 6-speed sequential / Hankook tires.

For more information about the event: http://www.sebringraceway.com/

Jill Savage / Team Tonis Media - PR

Another 1st for Tonis: Driving in the Rolex 24 at Daytona


Daytona Beach, FL USA
January 4, 2007

 
At this moment, literally, Tonis Kasemets' continues his drive to be the best and the fastest.  This time in the #12 Rock Valley Oil Pontiac Riley.  Testing today through Sunday, Tonis is absolutely 'giddy' about this opportunity.  He's taken his own DP to Daytona to test, on a couple of occasions last year.  Participating in the 46th Anniversary of the Rolex 24 at Daytona has been talked about and tossed around within Team Tonis... for many months.
 
This has been a personal goal of Tonis' for several years.  Attending often, he was "just waiting for the right situation".  And the "right time... is now."  
 
Kasemets' love of endurance racing is obvious, with a brilliant overall win recently at the "5th annual running of the United States Air Force 25 Hours of Thunderhill TM".  Taking the checkers 25+ laps ahead of P2.  Indeed, that was "a huge effort and a job well done by all involved" as Tonis will tell you. 
 
Finally, the name 'Tonis Kasemets' is becoming well-known in many racing circles.  Now he's in a secure ride with a very committed team for this event, January 26th-27th.  Tonis adds "I like the guys there, they will do anything to be fast. I like that !  We're going to have a great time."  
 
For more information about the Rolex 24: http://www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com/
 
Additional info about the #12 RVO Team, from team mate Justin Bell, at Paddock Talk:
http://www.paddocktalk.com:80/news/html/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=73468
 
We plan on having a very exciting year with many updates forthcoming.
 
As Tonis adds: "We have much to do and much to share !" 
 
Cheers !
 
Jill Savage/Team Tonis