2006 marks the fourth year of Grand-Am Cup competition against factory-backed BMWs, Mazdas and Chevrolets, the Nuzzo Motorsports MINIs have become a fan and media favorite, drawing attention at every venue they visit.
In 2005, the Nuzzo Motorsports MINIs scored the marque’s first professional podium, serving notice that the MINI is ready to win. In addition, the MINI also recorded a pole position and numerous fast laps on their way to
a successful season.
And being the only professional MINI racing team in North America, Nuzzo Motorsports offers what no other team can offer—a singularly unique presence on the track and in the paddock. That uniqueness translates into high visibility for sponsors and high credibility to a community of over 750,000 MINI enthusiasts around the world.
Tony Nuzzo
Tony is the owner of Nuzzo Motorsports which is beginning its fourth year campaigning the MINI Cooper S. Tony began racing in Porsche Club and drove his first professional race in 2001 in a Rolex Series GT Class Porsche finishing sixth in class and tenth overall co-driving with John Werner. In 2002, Tony earned the Third place in the Grand Am Cup STII Class Drivers Championship and was named 2002 Rising Star. In 2003, Tony began campaigning the MINI Coopers in Grand-Am ST class and in 2005 co-drove the MINI to its first professional podium finishing third at Watkins Glen with co-driver Steve Pattee.
Lisa Nuzzo
Lisa Is co-owner and Tony's wife. She is in charge of team logistics, event coordination and hospitality. While at the race track, Lisa is responsible for Timing and Scoring, as well as keeping the team organized and on schedule.
Drivers - #20 Mini Cooper S
Tony Nuzzo
Tony is the owner of Nuzzo Motorsports which is beginning its fourth year campaigning the MINI Cooper S. Tony began racing in Porsche Club and drove his first professional race in 2001 in a Rolex Series GT Class Porsche finishing sixth in class and tenth overall co-driving with John Werner. In 2002, Tony earned the Third place in the Grand Am Cup STII Class Drivers Championship and was named 2002 Rising Star. In 2003 Tony began campaigning the MINI Coopers in Grand-Am ST class and in 2005 co-drove the MINI to its first professional podium finishing third at Watkins Glen.
Steve Pattee
Steve began racing in Porsche Club and was 2001 Rookie of the Year. In addition to racing in Grand-Am Cup, Steve has raced Porsche’s in Rolex GT and SGS classes. In 2005 Steve co-drove the MINI Cooper S to its first professional podium taking Third place in the ST class Grand Am Cup at Watkins Glen. In 2004, Steve finished in 6th place in Rolex Series SGS class at Barber Motorsports Park 250 co-driving with David Master.
Drivers - #22 Mini Cooper S
Mitch Bishop
Mitch comes from a racing family; his father, John Bishop, was the founder and president of IMSA, whose Camel GT series dominated the sports car racing landscape in the 1970s and 1980s. Mitch has raced in the Jim Russell Racing graduate series with 2 wins, 3 seconds, 2 thirds (7 podiums out of 8 races). Mitch has also raced in the IMSA RS series, the IMSA Firestone Firehawk series, and the Russell Pro Mazda series. When he's not racing, Mitch is the chief marketing officer for a fast growing company called iRise that builds and sells simulation software for Fortune 500 companies.
Joe Toussaint
Joe will co-drive the #22 MINI Cooper with Mitch at Daytona and will drive in some select races throughout 2006. Joe returns to Nuzzo Motorsports after racing with us in 2005. Joe has raced in Grand-Am Rolex, Grand-Am Cup, Historic Sportscar, Formula Russell, and Porsche Club. Joe was the 2003 Winner of HSR's USA GT series in Grand Sports division.