RWR Driver Kevin O’Connell Co-Driving with Dad Gus O’Connell in The Great Race

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The 2016 Great Race is upon us. Stretching from San Rafael, California to Moline, Illinois, this historic race came into existence after Tom McRae received a phone call from Curtis Graf explaining the details of an extraordinary event that would run from Los Angeles to Indianapolis with a $250,000 cash prize, but there was a catch. The race was only open to pre World War II vehicles. Today, the Great Race allows vehicles with model years that run through 1972.

Kevin O’Connell and dad Gus O’Connell have decided to run a 1967 Ford Galaxie 500 Convertible in The Great Race this year. Their car is being sponsored by long time sponsor GunBroker.com. GunBroker.com was founded in 1999 by Steven F. Urvan to bring buyers and sellers of firearms together in auctions. After EBay changed their policies by banning the selling of firearms and firearm parts, many gun owners flocked to GunBroker.com. They make sure the correct ownership policies and regulations are followed by using licensed firearms dealers as transfer agents during the buying and selling process. With more than 2.5 million online users, GunBroker.com has become the largest online firearm auction site, having upwards of 500,000 listings at any given time. GunBroker.com also offers hunting gear, collectibles, vehicles, and other hunting and shooting accessories.

Kevin O’Connell has been a part time NASCAR XFINITY Series (NXS) driver since 2008, when he made his debut at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City, Mexico. His best finish came in 2014 when he finished 3rd at Road America for Rick Ware Racing driving the number 23 car. Along with running in the NXS, O’Connell has also competed in the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona event where he was able to finish in the top 10.

Gus O’Connell, father of Kevin O’Connell, was a car owner, driver, and a United States Naval Academy trained engineer. He had his first race in 1959 with a Fiat Abarth Allemano “H” Production Sports Car. Gus raced his Fiat Abarth Allemano in SCCA races along the East Coast.

The 2016 Great Race is being run June 18th through June 26th from San Rafael, California to Moline, Illinois. With Father’s Day occurring on June 19th, this cross country Great Race will be special for Kevin O’Connell and his dad, Gus O’Connell. O’Connell Racing is a very family oriented race team that has been running races since the late 1950’s and early 1960’s. Together, as Kevin and Gus O’Connell travel from California to Illinois, they will surely reminisce on the many years they’ve had together as father and son in the sport of motor racing.

Rick Ware Racing will be posting updates of Gus and Kevin’s progress in the Great Race on Twitter and Instagram.

RWR PR

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