There is something new, yet familiar, at Lime Rock Park for the 2013 ALMS Northeast Grand Prix, the start/finish straightaway of the 1.5 mile circuit has been named in honor of Lime Rock legend Sam Posey.

Posey the Renaissance man of motorsports as a driver, painter, writer, designer and broadcaster was surprised by the honor. “Paul Newman once said that the best gifts are those that someone can’t buy, and this is certainly a wonderful gift from Skip Barber and the folks at Lime Rock Park,” said Posey.

The first driver to break the one-minute lap mark at Lime Rock, Posey and his wife Ellen reside in nearby Sharon, Conn. Their son, John and daughter, Judy, often join in as he participates in Lime Rock Drivers Club track days in his Corvette.

“The Posey straight is not as long as the Mulsanne at Le Mans, but like Lime Rock Park, it delivers plenty of excitement per foot,” said Posey.

Asked to describe the reaction of his longtime rival, friend and broadcast partner David Hobbs to the news, Posey laughed. “Hobbs is, of course, very jealous, because if anyone were to name a part of a race track in Hobbs’ honor it would have to be the slowest corner on the track, or maybe a rest stop on the main straight with plenty of food and drink and a big screen TV,” said a grinning Posey.