July 24, 2004 – Portland, Oregon

RealTime Racing drivers Pierre Kleinubing and Matt Plumb raced their A-SPEC equipped Acura TSX cars to a 1-2 finish in today’s SCCA Pro Racing SPEED Touring Car Championship race at Portland International Raceway.

The win was the second for the new Acura TSX in its debut season, and RealTime’s first 1-2 finish since October, 2002 at Road Atlanta.

Kleinubing, a three-time champion in the series, vaulted past Plumb, the event’s pole-sitter on the first lap, ever-so-steadily increasing his half second margin on that lap to over three seconds when the checkered flag fell 30 laps later on the 1.944-mile, eight-turn circuit.

“Pierre is a great driver,” said Plumb, the 2003 Rookie of the Year in Touring Cars. “He had the bit firmly clenched in his teeth when the start lights were extinguished, and got by me on the first lap. From there I was able to keep the pressure on, but he was hooked up—He deserves the victory today!”

For Kleinubing, it was his 20th career win, and the 51st for Acura in the World Challenge since 1997, but it’s been seven points-paying races since he’s been atop the victory podium.

“I knew I was due for a win sooner or later,” he said, “because I’ve seen just how good this new Acura TSX can perform.

“Unfortunately I’ve had to see it out my windshield following Matt for the last few races,” he quipped. “I think his car looks much better in my rear view mirror.”

Nick Esayian qualified his Total Trolley/Datamine-backed Acura 23rd, and climbed to 15th by the finish.

The 29 points earned by Plumb for his qualifying and race effort drastically reduced the gap between him and Nic Jonsson, who finished fifth today. The duo is now sixteen points apart in their fight for second place, while Kleinubing climbed to seventh place.

Acura now trails BMW by only 18 points for the Manufacturers’ Championship with four races remaining.

The race will debut on the SPEED Channel this Sunday, August 1, at Noon (EST).

The team’s next race will be August 8 at Canada’s Mosport International Raceway.

The RealTime Racing Touring Cars are sponsored by the Acura Division of American Honda, A-SPEC Performance Parts, Red Line Oil, Eibach Springs, BOSCH, Sparco, Hella, Brembo, Hawk Performance, and Acura Genuine Parts.

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