News From Daytona International Speedway, Fall Cycle Scene 2005

Nicole, Tom Vallely, Rhiannon Lucente after 2nd place finish in Team Challenge, GTL

Vallely wins at 'home'

By D.C. WILLIAMS
Correspondent
Appeared in the Daytona Beach News Journal, October 23, 2005

DAYTONA BEACH -- Flagler Beach-based Vallely Racing turned out in force Saturday at Daytona International Speedway's Fall Cycle Scene as the Championship Cup Series' closed out day two of its three-day Race of Champions National Finals.

Even co-owner Tom Vallely got into a couple races on the 11-race slate, in which the team fell just short of matching Friday's first- and second-place Team Endurance Challenge sweep despite team rider Joe Ribiero finishing second in Expert heavyweight Superbike.

Nonetheless, the team still had much to be excited about given next year's prospects.

"You run into guys here you don't usually see," Vallely said. "Real fast young guys come from all over the country to race here. Those three words, 'Daytona International Speedway' bring out the best and we won't see most of them again until Bike Week next year -- and not again after that until we're back here a year from now."

Vallely, 66, Flagler Beach, didn't fare particularly well, racing to a 13th-place finish among 16 riders in Amateur Unlimited Supersport -- after stalling his Suzuki on the starting line.

"I was mad," he said, "Then went out and set my best-ever time here on that first lap."

Vallely would later score a ninth-place in Amateur Heavyweight SuperSport.

Another Vallely rider, Nicole Hoffman, of Port Orange, who in her day job is a NASCAR brand and consumer marketing department manager, finished eighth in Expert Lightweight SuperSport.

"I probably should've been more aggressive going into the first turn," Hoffman said, who teamed with Rhianon Locente Friday to finish second in GT Lights on their shared Suzuki SV600, the same bike Hoffman rode Saturday.

Though disappointed with the finish Saturday, Hoffman nonetheless was inspired with her rally from as low as 12th place while turning in a personal best lap.

"I'm proudest of turning in a 2:01.1 lap during the race," she said. "Tomorrow, though, I'm going to take my experience of today and stick it into the first turn."

Hoffman's final race of the weekend, again in Lightweight GP, is scheduled for late-morning green flag and is one of five CCS races and four Formula USA races this afternoon.

DAYTONA BEACH NEWS JOURNAL, October 22, 2005 -- A racing team based in Flagler County ruled the day at Daytona International Speedway.

Two bikes racing under the Team Vallely Racing, owned by Flagler Beach residents Tom and Gail Vallely, swept the top two positions in Friday's featured Team Challenge event at Fall Cycle Scene...more

NASCAR Employee Continues To Make Strides In Motorcycle World
Nicole Hoffman Readies For Fall Cycle Scene
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., -- NASCAR employees are accustomed to visiting Daytona International Speedway during Speedweeks and the Pepsi 400 Weekend for the stock car races on the legendary 2.5-mile tri-oval. But during the upcoming Fall Cycle Scene motorcycle races on Oct. 20-23 at historic Daytona International Speedway, their eyes will be focused on Nicole Hoffman, a NASCAR employee turned motorcycle racer...More