The ultimate race of the TC America powered by Skip Barber Racing Faculty championship served up limitless predictability, with wheel-to-wheel battles, late-stage hiccups, and surprising winners and podium finishers.
Because the season got here to a detailed at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Celso Neto, Connor Attrell, and PJ Groenke rose above the remaining within the TCX, TC, and TCA class to assert the ultimate wins and the chance to kiss the bricks.
TCX class
Race 1 winner and Race 2 pole sitter Celso Neto had a robust begin on board his No. 22 Skip Barber Racing Acura Integra Sort S, whereas Chris Walsh was barely on the backfoot within the No. 104 Carrus Callas Raceteam BMW M2 CS (Cup).
Because the laps elapsed, Neto was capable of construct up a slight hole, aided by the truth that Walsh discovered himself entangled in a battle with Cameron Steller within the No. 23 Quick Observe Racing BMW M2 CS (Cup).
Neto cruised to victory, sweeping the weekend within the course of. The struggle for second and third went all the way in which to the road, however Walsh was capable of defend his place, with Steller rounding off the highest three.
“We knew yesterday it was going to be powerful on the tires for the complete discipline, particularly after an eight-hour race,” stated Neto. “The monitor was tremendous soiled, tremendous arduous. That race was actually about preserving my head in it and never pushing past what I had by way of grip. We saved the tempo underneath management and managed the lap visitors. It was actually a race that got here right down to mindset, I’m pleased with the way it went. I wish to thank my crew, Honda Racing, HRC, my sponsors, and everybody who helps me. It was a extremely nice weekend. What a tremendous expertise! I couldn’t be happier.”
TC class
In the meantime, the TC class was stuffed with drama. Cristian Perocarpi had initially started carving his manner via the sector in his No. 37 MINI JCW Staff MINI JCW TC Professional, however made contact with Sally McNulty within the No. 780 Ricca Autosport Hyundai Elantra N1 TC, sending her into the tire barrier. This resulted in a drive-through penalty for the MINI driver for incident duty, who sustained bodywork injury within the course of.
In a significant flip of occasions, Jeff Ricca got here down pit lane with 5 minutes remaining within the race, working into points in his No. 78 Ricca Autosport Hyundai Elantra N1 TC. What might have been an ideal day, with a win on his birthday, turned out to be disastrous as he was plagued with a mechanical situation.
Nonetheless, the Ricca Autosport crew nonetheless swept the rostrum in each Race 1 and Race 2, with Connor Attrell promoted as much as first in his No. 75 automobile, with Ron Zaras and Vin Anatra finishing the rostrum within the No. 77 and No. 76 entries.
“It’s a dream come true,” stated Attrell. “I’m simply so comfortable to be right here representing Hyundai Quaker State and bringing it house for the crew. One other podium lockout — that actually reveals how far this crew has come and the way robust we’re. Large shoutout to Ricca Autosport and Jeff; I used to be attempting to chase him down. I obtained a bit fortunate this time, however I’ll take it. That’s racing!”
TCA class
After working into tire troubles within the opening race on Friday, it was clean crusing on Sunday for PJ Groenke as he led from begin to end in his No. 62 MINI JCW Staff MINI JCW, with Alex Garcia following swimsuit in second within the No. 14 Skip Barber Racing Honda Civic Si FE1.
Bruce Myrehn overtook his teammate Alain Lauziere on the midway mark to maneuver up into the ultimate podium place, however the battle between the No. 63 and No. 64 MINI JCW Staff MINI JCW machines wasn’t over. One lap later, Lauziere was capable of take the place again. The 2 continued to shuttle because the clock ticked away, and ultimately it was Myrehn who walked away with the {hardware}.
“It doesn’t get any higher than this,” exclaimed Groenke. “Ending our championship season on the highest step and at last getting the possibility to kiss these bricks — what a second. I can’t thank my sponsors sufficient. I really like you all a lot. The sequence, the individuals, and being the ultimate TCA champion — it’s a dream come true.”
