After years of coming close and years of developing their own BMW E90 chassis to race in the SCCA SPEED World Challenge Touring Car series, team owner/driver James Clay scored his maiden win in the most competitive road racing series in North America on Sunday. This was BimmerWorld's first win since Joey Hand's victory for the team at Mid-Ohio in 2007.

In a season thus far dominated by factory teams, BimmerWorld’s breakthrough at Elkhart Lake was a popular one amongst fans and drivers. “I never knew what to expect after I got my first win the Touring Car, but it seems like the entire paddock-guys like Peter Cunningham, Pierre Kleinubing, and the rest of the guys made a point to congratulate me and the rest of the team. It means a lot. I think they understand how hard we’ve been working to make this happen.”

After heartbreak at Elkhart Lake in 2004 and 2006, Clay wasn’t willing to let the likelihood of winning distract him until he dove past the checkered flag. “I’ve been here before…I’ve had races I could have won before and have known it was something our team was ready for, but so often something silly would happen and the win would slip away. I wouldn’t let myself celebrate until I passed the start finish line.”

At a time when most drivers would be jumping up and down in a burst of emotion, Clay took his first win in stride. “I knew we could win all weekend long. I don’t mean to sound matter of fact, but this result is what I knew I was capable of and what I knew our car and team was capable of all year long. I’m really happy to have won, but I’m not surprised; if anything, it reaffirms that we have the right ingredients and can win more races.”

Clay’s elation to claim his first win was measured with appreciation and respect paid to the technicians that build and run all three BimmerWorld BMW E90’s. “The biggest thing I have to say is that this wasn’t my win today