Chris Dyson wanted to have the right race at VIRginia Worldwide Raceway to have a shot at claiming his fourth consecutive title within the Trans Am Sequence introduced by Pirelli’s TA class. He began the weekend on the precise foot by securing the pole in Saturday’s qualifying session, however he was stricken by points from the second the inexperienced flag waved. After Paul Menard claimed the lead from him on the preliminary begin, Dyson skilled a mechanical failure on lap seven, forcing him to retire early and permitting Menard to cruise to his sixth victory of the 2024 season.
Rolling to the beginning line within the first place in his No. 16 GYM WEED Ford Mustang, Dyson’s troubles started when the inexperienced flag waved and he spun his tires on the beginning, permitting Menard to capitalize and take the lead in his No. 3 Menards/Masterforce Instruments Ford Mustang. Dyson rallied after the beginning and defended the second place towards Amy Ruman (No. 23 McNichols Co./Valley Automotive Group Chevrolet Corvette) and Keith Grant (No. 40 Drissi Motorsports/Franklin Highway Chevrolet Camaro) behind him. Dyson chased Menard for the following few circuits, however on the ultimate flip of lap seven, the again finish of Dyson’s automotive stepped out on him, inflicting him to skid off the racing floor. After limping to the paddock, the CD Racing group decided that Dyson’s machine had a damaged shock absorber, forcing him to retire from the race and relegating him to a seventh-place end within the class.
A lap 12 restart gave second-place Grant a possibility to problem Menard for the lead, however he was unable to finish the go, opening the door for Ruman to get previous him for second. Behind him, Grant was joined by Tomy Drissi within the No. 8 Drissi Motorsports/Lucas/Mission Chevrolet Camaro, who had raced his method by means of the sector after a pre-race penalty pressured him to begin the race from the again.
Whereas Menard handily led, the motion continued behind him. On lap 19, Grant was in a position to get again previous Ruman. A lap later, with Drissi on her rear finish, Ruman spun, bringing each herself and Drissi to a brief cease on the racetrack. Drissi was the primary to get well, and he took over the third place whereas Ruman chased him. Because the laps ticked by, the 2 have been in a position to catch as much as Grant, and the three have been nostril to tail within the closing laps. Sadly, after taking the white flag, Grant had a difficulty on the racetrack, permitting each Drissi and Ruman to go him. Menard took the checkered flag, and Drissi and Ruman adopted him throughout the road for podium positions. Grant was fourth, and his father, Richard Grant within the No. 30 Grant Racing Chevrolet Camaro, was fifth.
“We had an amazing race,” stated Menard in GYM WEED Winners Circle. “I hate that Chris [Dyson] had his points. We obtained a very good launch initially. Chris is infamous for low air stress, sort of sluggish begins firstly, however then he comes on laborious on the finish, so I used to be making an attempt to construct a niche to preserve the lead for when the tires fall off. These guys constructed the automotive twice this weekend. We simply had a few little gremlins, and so they mounted it for qualifying. The automotive went from uncomfortable to OK to ‘now we are able to go race’ after qualifying. It was actually stable all day. We performed with the sway bars simply to attempt stuff, however actually didn’t have to regulate the automotive in any respect from the within. I can relaxation just a little bit simpler going into COTA now with factors, however we’re nonetheless going to COTA to win.”
Brian Lock within the No. 68 Helium Cell/JDI/Blockjoy Porsche GT3 R led the XGT class to inexperienced in his Trans Am debut and by no means appeared again as soon as the motion began. He carried unbelievable velocity, main each lap on his strategy to his first-career Trans Am victory. He was adopted throughout the end line by Danny Lowry (No. 42 Bennett/BridgeHaul/PitBoxes.com Mercedes AMG GT3) and Billy Griffin (No. 43 BridgeHaul/Bennett/PitBoxes.com Mercedes AMG GT3), who ran second and third, respectively, for everything of the race.
The SGT class race was a aggressive one, with a number of lap leaders and a really late-race go for the victory. Eric Foss, who was making his Trans Am debut within the No. 54 South Dallas Turf Chevrolet Corvette, began the race from the purpose place and led practically your entire race, solely briefly acquiescing the result in Josh Carlson within the No. 36 Enseva/TC Fab/Diercks Ltd. Ford Mustang late within the occasion. Foss was again in management by the restart on lap 28, adopted by Carlson and Kaylee Bryson within the No. 02 Logical Methods Inc./Sam Pierce Chevrolet Corvette. The restart was a wild one, and Bryson was in a position to go Carlson after the inexperienced flag to safe second. One lap later, she was in a position to seek out Foss, making the go to attain the victory and declare the 2024 SGT Nationwide Championship title.
“You understand, it’s my first time at VIR, and I undoubtedly rank this one on the high of my record,” stated Bryson. “That was the race of my life proper there; I by no means gave up. We began third and actually, actually needed to chase down the fellows. I believe as soon as we obtained the gas load off, the automotive actually got here to life on the finish. I can’t thank my fellow rivals sufficient for racing me clear. We have been aspect by aspect and by no means touching, having to run qualifying laps each single lap, and that was actually superior. It’s cool to be a champion on this sequence. This complete LSI, Logical Methods Inc. group does a lot to make this attainable. Thanks to Sam Pierce Chevrolet, AP driver Improvement, RE Enterprises. There are such a lot of individuals who make this Corvette quick and I can’t thank them sufficient.”
Chris Coffey within the No. 97 Norwood Auto Italia/Visitors Grafix Maserati MC GT4 took the inexperienced flag first in school and maintained that lead for practically your entire race. A late-race restart bunched up the sector sufficient to permit Michael Saia (No. 13 KMC/Speedy Efficiency Administration/Motul Porsche 997.1 GT3 Cup) to make the go on Coffey with one lap remaining, however the two fought laborious for the place. Coffey and Saia in the end made contact, which dropped Saia again to the fourth place and allowed Coffey to take the victory. He was adopted throughout the end line by Remy Faird (No. 53 KMC/Rabid Wraps Porsche 718 GT4 Clubsport MR), who earned his first-career podium, and Colin Cohen within the No. 38 Norwood Auto Italia/Visitors Grafix Maserati MC GT4.
“Sadly, me and Michael [Saia] got here collectively and we had just a little dialog about that,” stated Coffey. “I really feel horrible that it occurred, however we’ll discuss it. We’ll speak our method by means of it and see what occurs. I wish to thank Colin Cohen right here first. With out him, I couldn’t be right here. My crew, Xavier and Alex. My store, Norwood Auto Italia. My spouse, Morgan, and my son, Sam. Thanks.”
The spotlight present of Sunday’s race will air on MAVTV on Thursday, October 10 at 9:00 p.m. ET.
The Trans Am Sequence will subsequent hit the monitor for the season finale at Circuit of The Americas, November 1-3.
