Austin, Texas, September 27, 2019 | One week prior to Cindi Lux racing the No. 45 Lux Performance Group Dodge Viper ACR-X Fueled by Black Rock Coffee Bar at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA), the Aloha, Oregon-native will help Black Rock fuel its own story in Austin, Texas. The 13-time road racing champion will join the family-owned company that specializes in crafted coffee drinks to celebrate National Coffee Day on September 29 for a very special Cars and Coffee at Black Rock’s first location in the Lone Star state. Lux will be on-site with the Viper race car to sign autographs and show visitors her championship-winning machine. The Black Rock Coffee Bar Cars and Coffee will be staged from 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. at 7415 Southwest Parkway in Austin.
In addition to the red and black Lux Performance Group-prepared and Cindi Lux-driven Viper, guests to the new location are encouraged to bring their own special road cars to celebrate the community-focused culture that Black Rock has long endorsed. Free crafted coffees, Black Rock’s FUEL energy drink, apparel, koozies, key chains, mugs, tumblers and more will be part of the festivities.
Lux Performance Group and Cindi continue as Black Rock’s ambassadors of the brand around North America helping to fulfill the company’s core philosophy to "Fuel Your Story"; a campaign focused on connecting and benefiting everyone in the community with interaction and communication. Black Rock has helped "fuel" Lux’s story, and Lux theirs, since 2011.
The Austin location is the first for the family business despite the company’s co-founder, Jeremy Brand, living in nearby Georgetown, Texas. The ever-growing coffee specialist has nearly 70 locations throughout Idaho, Washington, Oregon, California, Colorado, Nevada and Arizona. While not yet open for business, the first day of operation for the Austin location is slated for early November.
Lux Performance Group will remain in Texas the following week for the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli feature at COTA in Austin. In an abbreviated season, Cindi Lux is still looking for her first SGS class win of the 2019 season. The No. 45 has had two very uncharacteristic mechanical issues that have ended Lux’s races early. Dirk Leuenberger (Redmond, Washington) will again be behind the wheel of the No. 35 Dodge Viper ACR-X at the 3.427-mile, 20-turn Formula One race course. The one-hour race is scheduled for Saturday, October 5. Testing is set for Thursday, October 3 with practice and qualifying on tap for Saturday, October 4.
Quotes |
Cindi Lux, Driver, No. 45 Lux Performance Group Dodge Viper ACR-X | "It’s cool that I have such great partners in my racing that I almost consider them family. Helping Black Rock Coffee Bar introduce themselves to the Texas market at the Cars and Coffee event on Sunday will be a lot of fun. I just have to watch myself and not consume huge amount of wonderful caffeine at these events!
We are looking forward to a better run on-track on October 4 weekend. The last two races have been character building. We are fighting a little bit to find the balance of the performance of the Viper in this incredibly competitive field. I sound so politically correct, huh? We just want to get the monkey off our back and have a good race. I have been through this before and it does go away. Just need to keep pushing and stay positive with myself and team."
Jeremy Brand, Co-Founder and Vice-President, Black Rock Coffee Bar | "We are thrilled to have our good friend, Cindi Lux, out here to celebrate National Coffee Day with y’all and to give the community a taste of what Black Rock is all about before we get our doors open."
Aloha, Oregon, August 20, 2019| Road America has been very good to the Lux Performance Group over the years. Each season, the Oregon-based Trans Am Series race team travels 2,053 miles east to America’s National Park of Speed. Typically, the load is heavier on the trip back to the Northwest because lead-driver Cindi Lux (Aloha, Oregon) has raced her way to the Road America podium and brought the trophy back with her. The 13-time Road Racing champion returns to Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin this weekend with the intention to add to her victory hardware at the 4.0-mile track behind the wheel of the No. 45 Lux Performance Group Dodge Viper ACR-X. Also returning to the team for the August 24 Ryan Companies 100 will be Dirk Leuenberger (Redmond, Washington) in the No. 35 Dodge Viper ACR-X.
Now in her fifth-season of Trans Am, Cindi drove this same V10 beast to Road America podium finishes the last two Trans Am seasons. The black and red Viper narrowly missed victory last year finishing in second-place, only 0.7-tenths of a second behind the leader when the checkered flag fell. She was third in 2016. In 2015, the program raced the pair of American-made machines to a track qualifying record and captured the top-two steps on the Trans Am Series’ SGT – then TA3 – class podium. Going further back, in 2004 and 2006, Lux won the prestigious June Sprints driving a Corvette and Viper respectively.
With a race scheduled for 100-miles, Lux will have work to do. The packed entry list of sports cars – the largest SGT class of the season to-date – makes for heated competition with each machine having a variety of speed and braking differences. That puts a premium on the brake systems and the drivers who regulate their use. While the meaty disc brakes are the best on the market for Trans Am competition, the challenge for the drivers is to make them last. Lux has long been known as an ace at managing her car while husband Fred Lux is renowned throughout the paddock as “The Mad Scientist” with panache for perfect preparation.
Joining Black Rock on the No. 45 Viper will again be CoolShirt Systems, Forgeline Wheels and Motion Control Suspension.
CBS Sports Network will broadcast the Ryan Companies 100 on a tape-delayed basis. Check local listings for exact times in your area.
Quotes |
Fred Lux, Team Principal/Engineer, Lux Performance Group Viper ACR-X | "Setup is key at Road America. The long straights mean relatively low downforce to maximize top speed. A fast setup will produce 'grey hairs' for our drivers! It is typically an understeer track – especially the long 'Carousel' corner – which means the car wants to push to the outside at every turn. We'll adjust the suspension to find a good balance for the Viper. With the lap time being long here, you don't get many laps in practice sessions. Keeping Cindi and Dirk focused on setup and not lap times will be a challenge. Our drivers never want to be slow; but tell me a driver who does? Better yet, don’t. I am not looking for anyone like that on this team."
Cindi Lux, Driver, No. 45 Lux Performance Group Dodge Viper ACR-X | "We are a little late getting to the party this year… as usual. But, there’s no other track I look forward to more than Road America. It’s a classic race track that has everything I thrive on. It’s fast, has great elevation changes and it’s extremely challenging. I can't really put my finger on exactly what it is but I am not going to question it. It’s just like when you put on your favorite, comfortable old shoe… it just feels right. When you’re comfortable, you perform well. I have had some of my best wins and worst crashes at this track. Busted-up ribs and punctured a lung back in 2005 but I couldn’t wait to come back in 2006. I have a lot of respect for this track but I love pushing the limits here more than normal.
I thrive on turning my motivation into dedication. I need to race smart which sounds easy. However, with the level of competition in SGT class, you need the entire package. But I found some tricks at Road America that seem to work especially on the long runs. First priority is to make sure you have something left at the end. I’ll be very focused on that this weekend."
