Around this time last year, the Canadian Tire Motorsports Park was still known as Mosport International Raceway. It was here that Paul Brown set two new class records and won one of the two races that weekend, helping set him and the Ford Mustang Boss 302S he was driving for the eventual championship victory. So his absence from the track for the 2012 season has left more than a few people wondering where he has been.

As a just-released press kit tells us, it turns out that Paul Brown has been battling melanoma skin cancer. But he hopes that won’t keep him off the track, as he tries to take over driving duties for the race this weekend.

Brown, who was diagnosed with skin cancer just two weeks before the season opener, has had to report to the Comprehensive Cancer Center in Los Angeles every three weeks. There he is receiving a new, cutting-edge drug, a drug that has given his doctors the confidence to sign Brown’s releases, allowing him to practice driving the #50 Boss 302S this Friday.

If practice goes well, then Brown will take the wheel from Justin Bell, who has been filling in for Brown. Bell has two victories under his belt so far this season, and currently he sits in 4th place overall, though if Brown decides he can’t drive himself, then Jeff Altenburg is signed up to fill in for him.

The mere fact that Brown is even considering a return to the race track just a few months after being diagnosed with cancer is a testament to his winning spirit.

Official Release

Tiger Racing’s Paul Brown Will Try to Return to Competition This Weekend In SCCA Pirelli World Challenge Doubleheader At Canadian Tire Motorsports Park

COVINA, Calif., June 19 — Paul Brown/Tiger Racing and the rest of the SCCA Pirelli World Challenge contingent will cross the border this weekend for their only event in Canada this year when the series visits Canadian Tire Motorsports Park, the facility in Bowmanville, Ontario formerly known as Mosport International Raceway.

Lead driver and team owner Paul Brown won the GTS portion of the second half of the doubleheader at Mosport last year in route to the driver, team and manufacturer’s championship for Ford. He also set two new track records for the class as he was the fastest driver in qualifications and he set the fastest race lap.

Brown, of Covina, Calif., hopes to drive in both races this weekend. Justin Bell has been substituting for him in the No. 50 Ford Mustang Boss 302S sponsored by eBay Motors and Kenny Brown Performance. Bell is currently fourth in the driver point standings with two victories, but he will be busy this weekend as part of SPEED’s broadcast crew for the Barrett-Jackson Auto Auctions.

Brown has been unable to compete in the series so far this season because he is battling an aggressive melanoma (skin cancer). He is being treated as an out-patient at the Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center in Los Angeles, a leader in cancer research that is affiliated with the University of Southern California.

Brown was diagnosed with the disease two weeks before the season opener at St. Petersburg, Fla., in March. He is being treated with a new, cutting-edge drug and must report to the hospital every three weeks for injections.

“I’m going to try to do the test day on Friday, and we’ll see how that goes, Brown said. I have already gotten releases from my doctors to drive. If I don’t feel up to doing the races we have Jeff Altenburg signed up as a relief driver for me. He’s definitely another good shoe and he’ll represent the team well”.

Like Brown, Altenburg is a series champion and won the World Challenge Touring Car championship in 2007.

“I want to thank our sponsors for their support while I’m focusing on my health, Brown added. They include eBay Motors, Kenny Brown Performance, Lucas Oil, Ford Racing, K&N Filters, Eibach, Baer Brakes, Hawk Performance, One Hour Heating and Air Conditioning, G-Stream, ERP/JRZ, Tremec Transmission, Bassani Xhaust and Wellendorf Performance”.

Paul Brown is the son of Mustang legend Kenny Brown, who has been instrumental in the development of the Mustang racing program over the last two years.

While Paul Brown is concentrating on his health, Kenny Brown Motorsports Group will become more active in his team from an administrative and marketing resources perspective. It already is heavily involved as a sponsor, and the team and Kenny Brown Performance conduct a technology-sharing program that benefits both.

Kenny Brown Motorsports Group will be also be handling and growing Paul Brown/Tiger Racing’s G-Stream line of aerodynamic products.

Fans can send Paul Brown well-wishes through the Tiger Racing Facebook page. Other team information will also be posted there, on Kenny Brown Performance’s Facebook page, and in the blog on KennyBrown.com.

About eBay Motors: eBay Motors, a part of eBay Inc., is the Internet’s largest marketplace for buying and selling all things automotive. The site offers everyday cars for everyday drivers as well as collector cars, motorcycles, auto parts and accessories. eBay Motors is consistently ranked the No. 1 automotive site on the Web by Nielsen/NetRatings. Nearly 4.5 million new and used vehicles have been sold on eBay Motors, and there are more than 22 million automotive parts and accessories available on eBay Motors at any given time.

About Kenny Brown Performance: Kenny Brown, a 25-year veteran in the Ford Mustang performance aftermarket, is legendary for building some of the most technically advanced Mustangs in North America. His critically acclaimed AGS (Advanced Geometry Suspension) high-performance suspension components for street and track-day Mustangs are some of the best and most innovative in the aftermarket. Brown is a well-known celebrity in the Ford aftermarket and has played a critical role in Mustang racing heritage and new product development since 1986. For more information see KennyBrown.com and visit Kenny Brown Performance on Facebook.

About Paul Brown/Tiger Racing: Paul Brown/Tiger Racing won the 2011 SCCA Pro Racing Pirelli World Challenge GTS team championship and propelled its owner/driver Paul Brown to the driver’s championship and Ford to the manufacturer’s title. Based in the Los Angeles suburb of Covina, Calif., it is also involved in the NASA AIX, VSCDA, SVRA and VARA series. It specializes in race car prep, transportation and trackside support as well as exotic and luxury car maintenance and repairs. It is a popular source for carbon fiber and fiberglass work as well as race car parts for Mustangs and other high-performance cars.

Note: Due to Paul Brown’s treatment schedule, please submit inquiries and interview requests for him through one of the following people rather than contacting him directly.