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Brazilian Gaulter Salles has bumped Dennis Vitolo out of his seat at Payton-Coyne for this weekends Rio 400. Vitolo remains with the team and will add another race later in the season to complete his 15 race deal with the team.
Salles said, "Dennis will substitute another race for Rio. My plan is to show that I can do a consistent job and that I deserve another chance." Salles has had the best finish and qualifying efforts for the team this season. According to sources the move was prompted when Salles was able to raise the necessary funds to race in Rio.
Salles will have current year equipment for the first time this season as Payton-Coyne updated it's 97 chassis prior to the Nazareth race. Speculation about Salles second chance has centered around him driving a second car at Tasman or possibly filling the seat at Project Indy. The key to any ride seems to be finding a sponsor who could bring the necessary resources to a prospective team.
