Chris Dyson was flawless on the Mission Meals Watkins Glen SpeedTour, claiming the pole with a record-breaking lap and main each single circuit in his No. 16 GYM WEED Ford Mustang. Nonetheless, TA factors chief Paul Menard was by no means far behind, relentlessly chasing Dyson with lower than a automotive size between them. After a surprising battle, Dyson in the end drove to GYM WEED Winners Circle, claiming his second victory of the season at Watkins Glen Worldwide.
When the inexperienced flag waved, Dyson had a skillful begin, easily crusing out into the lead. Second-place Menard (No. 3 Menards/Masterforce Instruments Ford Mustang) was briefly challenged by Adam Andretti (No. 17 High Liner/Castrol Chevrolet Camaro), however he maintained his spot and instantly closed in on Dyson. Though Menard was mere hundredths of a second behind, he was unable to do greater than creep as much as Dyson’s rear quarter panel. The 2 continued to battle whereas Andretti re-entered the combo on lap 18, closing in on the 2 leaders and making the quickest laps on the racetrack. Andretti was tight on Menard’s tail on lap 22, poised to problem for second whereas making his quickest lap of the race, when his automotive all of a sudden jerked off the racing line, thwarted by a minimize tire. Whereas Andretti limped to pit highway, Tomy Drissi (No. 8 Drissi Motorsports/Lucas/Mission Chevrolet Camaro) took over the third podium spot.
Because the laps clicked down, Menard saved peeking to both facet of Dyson’s machine, however was unable to arrange a move. The 2 have been so equal in velocity, with Dyson finest in some sections of the monitor and Menard quickest in others, that there was no solution to acquire a bonus. Though Menard fought till the checkered flag, Dyson crossed the end line to take the victory, adopted by Menard and Drissi. Boris Mentioned (No. 2 Final Headers/Weaver Racing Dodge Challenger) scored fourth on the end, adopted by Amy Ruman (No. 23 McNichols Co./Valley Automotive Group Chevrolet Corvette). Ruman had began seventh and engaged in hard-fought battles with Mentioned and Keith Grant (No. 40 Drissi Motorsports/Franklin Street Chevrolet Camaro) to assert the ultimate spot within the prime 5.
“What an occasion for us; the automotive was incredible,” stated Dyson. “We’ve received these new colours on our GYM WEED Ford Mustang right here, and it was quick proper off the truck. We’ve been away for 2 months, and it was nice to get again right here; it’s such a incredible monitor. We simply had an exceptional race the entire manner. [Menard] by no means let up as soon as, and we simply needed to hold pushing. That’s the sort of racing that this collection can placed on, when it’s head-to-head like that. It’s simply very memorable. I’m so grateful to have my household up right here. Some mates from residence got here up. I’m simply proud to take one other win residence from right here. These wins don’t come simple, and immediately isn’t any exception. I’m simply very grateful. I really feel actually blessed by the chance, and I’m actually grateful for the group and the job they did.”
In his first-career XGT begin, David Hodge within the No. 10 Kaizen Autosport Lamborghini Tremendous Trofeo took the inexperienced flag final at school, with Ricky Sanders (No. 43 BridgeHaul/Bennett/PitBoxes.com Mercedes AMG GT3) beginning in first, adopted by Danny Lowry (No. 42 Bennett/BridgeHaul/PitBoxes.com Mercedes AMG GT3) in third. Hodge labored his manner into the second place by lap three, and spent the subsequent 11 laps chasing down Sanders, claiming the lead on lap 14. As soon as he took the purpose place, he by no means regarded again, claiming his first-career Trans Am victory. Lowry in the end crossed the end line second, and Sanders completed third.
“It’s my first time right here at Watkins Glen,” stated Hodge. “I had some targets developing right here, and I needed to study some arduous classes on Thursday. All of the boys at Kaizen Autosport received the automotive put again collectively and she or he held up all weekend, so getting first place nonetheless makes it a superb run. I wish to thank everybody at Kaizen Autosport. They needed to work their butts off to get us right here, to get this automotive put collectively and hold it working all weekend. There’s a whole lot of items which can be coming collectively and we made all of it work.”
Joshua Carlson within the No. 36 Enseva/TC Fab/Diercks Ltd. Ford Mustang began the race with the lead, however after discovering that his tires have been out of steadiness, he struggled together with his dealing with and misplaced the primary place to Kaylee Bryson (No. 02 Logical Methods Inc./Sam Pierce Chevrolet Corvette) on lap 11. The subsequent lap, Lee Saunders (No. 84 LandSearch LLC Dodge Viper) received round Carlson and set his sights on Bryson. Bryson continued to guide till lap 28, however she was not with out problem from Saunders, and the 2 battled arduous for the ultimate half of the race. Sadly, Bryson started to expire of gas on the ultimate lap, which allowed Saunders to move her for victory. She was nonetheless capable of salvage a second-place end, and Carlson crossed the end line in third.
“To begin with, I’d wish to thank God for this stunning day and for this nation we stay in,” stated Saunders. “I’m actually, actually unhappy that Richard Forsythe couldn’t be with us immediately. I wish to dedicate this one to him. He was an important man, a fierce competitor. And it’s a disgrace; life is brief. You’re not assured the subsequent day, so pray arduous. I wish to thank each my opponents up right here, Josh [Carlson] and Kaylee [Bryson]. What a weekend. I feel Kaylee and I battled for 15, 20 laps. It was tremendous clear. I feel we have been beside one another two or thrice. And if it wasn’t for her gas problem, we in all probability would have by no means gotten it. We’ll take a win any manner we will. I wish to thank my crew at KSR. We’ve received Eddie right here immediately. Kevin’s at residence. I wish to thank my spouse, Tina, and the 2 boys. Because of Trans Am for placing this collectively. I really like Watkins Glen, it’s only a incredible, incredible venue.”
Chris Coffey began the race up entrance in his No. 97 Norwood Auto Italia/Site visitors Grafix Maserati MC GT4 however misplaced the result in Joey DaSilva within the No. 67 Ave Motorsports Toyota Supra by the conclusion of the primary lap. Coffey misplaced one other place to David Hampton within the No. 14 AR Motorsports/Porsche Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport on lap two, however Coffey labored his manner again into second by lap 4. From there, it was as much as Coffey to chase down DaSilva. The 2 had a heated battle, with Coffey lastly incomes the lead once more on lap 23. The 2 continued to run nostril to tail, difficult one another till the ultimate lap. Finally, it was Coffey who crossed the end line with the victory, adopted by DaSilva. Matt Forbush within the No. 33 zignyl Toyota Supra earned the ultimate podium place in his first-career Trans Am begin.
“I used to be exhausted after racing in opposition to Joey DaSilva; I needed to go ten tenths the entire time,” stated Coffey. “I’ve received to thank [TA2 driver] Josh Hurley; he’s been warning me about tire failures within the Bus Cease, as a result of he had a tire failure yesterday, and I needed to give it every little thing. I imply, I needed to sacrifice the braveness and every little thing, and I assumed for positive I used to be going to get a puncture simply to stick with this man. I can’t thank Trans Am and Joey sufficient. This man’s driving is totally unimaginable. After I’d make a transfer on him, he’d go away room, when he was making a transfer on me, I’d go away room. It was completely gentleman racing, and I want this man would present up at each single race.”
The spotlight present of Sunday’s race will air on MAVTV on Thursday, August 29 at 9:00 p.m. ET.
The Trans Am Collection TA/XGT/SGT/GT courses will subsequent hit the monitor at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park subsequent weekend, August 29-31.
*Pending technical protest
