Continental Tire IMSA Driver Spotlight: Andrew Davis

Driver Profile: Andrew Davis
Driver, No. 6 Stevenson Auto Group Chevrolet Camaro Z/28.R
Follow: @andrewdavis59

How important is it to finish on the podium in the first two races of the season? 

“It’s certainly been an exciting start to the Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge season for Stevenson Motorsports!  In past years, there always seems to be a disastrous result in the first couple of races that puts us on the back foot in the championship standings.  We’ve become accustomed to digging hard to play catch up as the season closes out, but this year we were able to grab a podium finish in the opener at Daytona…and now Sebring.  Momentum plays an important role in the success of a racing team, so that’s the big advantage to starting out the year on a strong note.”

When you look at your Sebring win, how did the race go and how well did your stint go?

“Sebring is such a historic track for sports car racing, and last season’s victory was a little unexpected seeing that the program was in its infancy. However, this season we headed into the event with a better-developed product, and the confidence of knowing that we were capable of victory.

“Actually, we had a very smooth event until I was asked to check my cool suit on the grid before the race.  It was unusually hot over the weekend…over 90 degrees in March! On a hot day, temperatures can approach 140 degrees making it very uncomfortable…especially on a physically demanding circuit like Sebring. So, the driver cooling systems need to be working properly to ensure maximum performance throughout the stint.

“Unfortunately, we were not able to find a fix before the call to start the engines.  I knew there was a strong possibility of driving a double stint during this race, so I prepared myself mentally for a difficult race. As I expected, it became extremely hot inside my Camaro Z/28.R.  However, I was able to push through and hand the car off to my teammate, Robin Liddell, for the run to the checkers!”

How tough is the competition in GS this year and what will it take to win a championship? 

“The Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge has been producing some of the closest racing in the world for years now. This season is no exception, with a stacked entry list of strong GS teams and drivers.  There are some tracks that may favor certain cars as we have already seen this season, but there are also several strong teams that will run up front regardless of the circuit.”

During these long breaks between races, what do you do to help stay physically and mentally ready to race? 

“The long breaks can seem to drag on sometimes, but I manage to stay extremely busy in between races.  My four-year-old son certainly takes on most of my focus when I am at home…he is full throttle and keeping up with him often feels like enough to keep me physically fit!

“As far as physical training, I have been very excited to start a new training program here in my hometown of Athens, Georgia.  The facility is called SPARC, and is headed up by Olympic gold medalist, Adam Nelson.

“Actually, the driver coaching side of my business takes up the majority of my time between events. I enjoy helping aspiring drivers maximize their potential in the sport, and I’ve found that it also keeps me mentally focused on driving.”

What was your first car? And do you have any fun memories with the car?

“My first car was a 1990 Audi 80…I loved that car so much!  It wasn’t very fast, but I bought some nice wheels and a rear spoiler that made it look the part.  It was just a front wheel drive version of the car, so my dad would always question me about my front tire wear.  He knew that lots of front wheel burn-outs were the culprit, but also was aware the he was the source of my desire to drive fast!  I have a ton of fond memories in that car, but I probably shouldn’t speak of most of them.  As for getting pulled over…those weren’t really fond memories!”