That’s where the Frisselle brothers, Burt and Brian, will find themselves in 2013 beginning with the fabled Rolex 24 At Daytona. They’ll be fulltime drivers for Action Express Racing along with AXR’s Joao Barbosa and Christian Fittipaldi. “Our goal as always is to compete for wins and for championships,” said Action Express team principal Bob Johnson. “We feel strongly that the addition of Burt and Brian Frisselle will only enhance our chances for success.”
Neither Frisselle had a fulltime GRAND-AM opportunity during the past season. They were parts of a five-driver tandem that finished seventh in the Rolex 24 for Doran Racing. Brian Frisselle, 29, is a four-time GRAND-AM winner and finished third in 2009 DP points driving for SunTrust Racing. Burt Frisselle, 31, finished fifth in DP points the same season with co-driver Mark Wilkins.
Both are Los Angeles natives living in Aspen, Colo.
“To be joining the team along with my brother Burt is beyond anything I could have ever hoped for,” said Brian. “I have always enjoyed working with my brother but we have struggled to land in a solid situation together for an entire season.
“So for both of us to land with the same front running team in AXR is an absolute dream.”
His brother echoes those sentiments.
“We both know the expectations are very high, with wins and championship contention being expected,” he said. “The nice thing about racing on the same team with Brian is not only are we super competitive with each other, we are also very supportive of one another.
“That’s a great balance that has always helped both of us and it will make being on the same team an advantage for us this year.”
Action Express won the first race it entered, the 2010 Rolex 24 At Daytona. The team’s Nos. 5 and 9 Corvette DPs finished fourth and sixth in this year’s final standings. Drivers Darren Law and David Donohue ranked third and fourth with Barbosa seventh in points.
Action Express team manager Gary Nelson said, “We look forward to Burt and Brian joining our team and I want to send special thanks to David Donohue and Darren Law for the many years of service that they gave to Action Express Racing.”
Burt Frisselle expressed excitement to work with Nelson, a former NASCAR Sprint Cup Series director and 1986 Daytona 500 winning crew chief for Geoffrey Bodine.
“He has so much racing knowledge to share and is a very nice man,” he said. “When I first raced for Action Express in 2011, I had a chance to visit the DAYTONA 500 Experience and take a close look (at) the 500 trophy. I of course read his name and realized I was racing for a legend. Now having the opportunity to work with him full time in 2013, how cool!”
Both brothers are winter sports enthusiasts but hope for an early snowfall has been replaced by dreams of a Rolex 24 victory.
“Both Burt and I have wanted to win the Rolex 24 ever since we first competed in the event and now we’re together with a team that has a very good track record at that very event,” said Brian. “For endurance racers the Rolex 24 At Daytona is the crown jewel that everyone wants to win and I believe that AXR will have as good of a chance to win the event in 2013 as any of the other great teams.”