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CORVETTE RACING AT PETIT LE MANS: Big Heartbreak in 2021 Finale

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Official Release
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GT Le Mans championship sweep takes sting out of tough finishes

BRASELTON, Ga. (Nov. 13, 2021) – Corvette Racing had hopes of going out of the GT Le Mans (GTLM) era in winning style, but fortune had other ideas at the 10-hour Petit Le Mans. Despite setbacks to both Chevrolet Corvette C8.Rs in the final race of this year’s IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, the program still celebrated a second straight sweep of the full-season GTLM titles.

Antonio Garcia and Jordan Taylor wrapped up their second straight class Drivers Championship as the No. 3 Mobil 1/SiriusXM Chevrolet Corvette C8.R took the green flag for the race start. It also locked up consecutive Manufacturers championships for Chevrolet and the Team title for the No. 3 Corvette squad.

A mid-race accident, however, forced the No. 3 C8.R’s retirement just before the halfway point. Taylor was part of a long train of cars coming to a restart over a blind crest and crashed heavily into another GT car that had spun and stopped only seconds before. He was evaluated and released from the infield care center.

Corvette Racing still had hopes of a ninth Petit Le Mans victory with the No. 4 Mobil 1/SiriusXM Corvette C8.R of Tommy Milner, Nick Tandy and Alexander Sims.

The trio led a race-high 313 laps with all three drivers taking turns at the front of the field. While lacking overall performance, clever strategy and pit work kept the No. 4 C8.R at or near the lead for the first three-quarters of the race. Fuel savings by the Corvette drivers meant shorter fuel fill times, and the No. 4 pit crew helped capitalize by gaining 11 spots during the first six pit stops in the race.

In a fight for track position late and running second in class, Tandy was hit and pushed off-track by the eventual race-winning prototype. The impact broke the left-front suspension of the Corvette with 10 minutes left.

Corvette Racing will return to IMSA in January for the season-opening Rolex 24 At Daytona in the new GTD PRO category. That effort will go along with a single-car entry in the FIA World Endurance Championship.

ANTONIO GARCIA, NO. 3 MOBIL 1/SiriusXM CHEVROLET CORVETTE C8.R – 2021 GTLM CHAMPION
TALK ABOUT WINNING YOUR FIFTH CHAMPIONSHIP TODAY.
“A good first lap for sure knowing that we had clinched the championship You forget about that right away because you are in race mode. Everything was running super smooth for the first full stint or half-stint then I was able to save fuel and jump first and second place on the first pit stop. Then it felt the car came back to me and was really pretty good. I saw Nick (Tandy) behind me and we pulled a good gap over the other cars. So I settled in and everything seemed to be going to plan. Actually it caught me by surprise because yesterday the car didn’t feel very good. Somehow we had pace today. It’s just a shame about what happened to Jordan. I could anticipate something happening after the three or four restarts I did because traffic was very severe not only on the restarts but with all the class splits out there. There was a lot of tension you could see out there. As Jordan said, the good thing is he is okay that’s the best thing so what I’m very grateful for.”

ON THE CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON: “This year was a really good year. We started by winning the Rolex 24. It felt like a really long time since my last one. It was starting to be a little bit like last year. Corvette was super strong and probably even stronger this year. We just kept doing what we did last year, Jordan and I. We seem to be really good together. Everything was working really good. We just kept doing what we did. We didn’t think about the championship but somehow everything came back to us. Other than this year, my only downside was Sebring. I thought we had a really good race going until six minutes to go. Now for sure I’ll remember this championship. Not winning Petit does hurt, though.”

MOVING TO GTD PRO IN 2022: “We’re definitely looking forward to that. That opens up the opportunity to win this race, for one! This championship has really, really good racing. Getting back to race again at Daytona, Sebring, here and the other good tracks we go to, I’m really happy for that. As you can see today, GTD looks like good fun. I’m looking forward to that, too.”

JORDAN TAYLOR, NO. 3 MOBIL 1/SiriusXM CHEVROLET CORVETTE C8.R – 2021 GTLM CHAMPION
JORDAN, HOW ARE YOU FEELING?
“Just a little sore, thanks. It’s just really tight, a muscle spasm. I’ll be fine in a couple of days. Thankfully, Corvette, Chevrolet and Pratt Miller built a very strong car that kept me safe. It’s definitely a scary moment when you come over the crest in fifth gear and everyone stops on the other side. It’s something we can learn from in the future on restart procedures. But thankfully I got out of the car and am okay, and we still had another Corvette in the fight.”

TALK ABOUT THE RACING OUT THERE AND SECURING THE CHAMPIONSHIP.
“Like Antonio said, as soon as you start the race, you kind of forget about the championship and go for the win because it is Petit Le Mans. When you come into these events, such high-profile events, it’s unfortunate you have such a mix of drivers and classes that don’t mix well and makes the traffic and the racing so difficult. My first stint was kind of messy with traffic in and out. Then the way it worked we were starting in the back for that restart. The stack-up effect is always there and 10A and 10B, which was way more extreme today. It was unfortunate to catch us out, but definitely amazing to get a championship for Antonio and I and two in a row. Amazing to finish up the GTLM era with two championships like that and I think Antonio is the winningest driver in the class over its existence, so I am proud to have been his teammate for nine of those wins and looking forward to fighting for a third one next year.”

JORDAN, IN YOUR OPINON, WHAT HAPPENED?
“When we were restarting, I don’t know where we were in line, maybe 30th or 35th. The leaders were coming out of 10B and they start accelerating out of the chicane. So they start going and then when you get back to 15th or 20th, they are still braking in the chicane and it starts the accordion effect. We were so far back, we were pretty much flat-out all the way down the back stretch trying to kind of keep up with everyone. By the time we got to the crest, I was behind the 79 or 97 and at that point I’m in fifth gear. I’m just basically following him and trusting him that he knows where he is going and he could see where we were going. As soon as we crested, he went left and I went right. Basically where he had gone turned out to be the only safe place and when I popped up next to him, there were two cars stopped in the middle of the racetrack. I had nowhere to go so I slid into them about 110 miles an hour. Thankfully everyone was fine. The first thing I thought was I thought I broke my back, that is how hard it was and probably hurt the guy in front of me with how hard I hit him directly in the back. Thankfully he was fine.
“I already saw someone already and it is muscle spasms in my lower back. Thankfully nothing right now is too serious. When I got to the medical center, I was the worst one.”

PERSPECTIVE: “This was the first time I’ve had a big crash in an event… we’re a family of racers – my dad and my brother. It’s the first time one of us has had a big accident. It’s always a fear for a family member to get injured. Antonio’s family probably watches at home and they don’t get answers as fast as this if something happens. I knew Ricky was in the 10 car and when I walked over the wall, my first thought was that he was going to drive by this mashed car and he’d be looking for a thumbs up. I knew he’d be freaked out, so it was an emotional moment to be honest. It brings a lot of things back into reality. You’re on track racing these guys and wanting to beat everyone. But as soon as an accident happens, it becomes a lot more human and brings out that back into the big picture. So I want to say thank you to everyone on the team for the safety and the IMSA safety team, as well.”

SEEING YOUR DAD AFTER THE ACCIDENT: “Ricky was one of the first ones I saw on the track. I was on the wall and he was looking for a thumbs up, so I gave him a thumbs up just to put him at ease considering his position for the championship. Then I was carted off to the medical center, where I knew my mom and my girlfriend were outside. I called my mom from someone’s cell phone and told her I was OK and hopefully relay that message to my dad. I saw him about an hour-and-a-half later. He was still crying, which I can imagine. I hated watching him race for the same reasons, and I can’t imagine what it’s like for him to watch his kids every day. Thankfully to this point, it was smooth sailing but in this sport anything can happen. Today was a bit of a reality check for everyone. I’m sure everyone we’ll all be really happy once we get home safely.”

NICKY CATSBURG, NO. 3 MOBIL 1/SiriusXM CHEVROLET CORVETTE C8.R – FINISHED SIXTH IN GTLM: “The season started amazing with winning Daytona. I think at Sebring we were in a very good position to win the race as well until we were taken out in the last little part of the race. Le Mans wasn’t too bad. So yes I can look back on a good season. And the boys can look back on an even better season because they won the championship. Today was very unfortunate. We are all happy that Jordan is feeling well and got away with just some muscle pain. Of course I would have loved to drive and not sit on the sideline for the whole race, but other than that it was super nice this season and we get to celebrate a championship.
“It is only one-and-a-half months and we are back in Daytona GTD PRO. New challenge and I think the competition is bigger. The field is bigger. That is going to be interesting. I can’t wait to be honest.”

TOMMY MILNER, NO. 4 MOBIL 1/SiriusXM CHEVROLET CORVETTE C8.R – FINISHED FOURTH IN GTLM: “Going into the race I said our biggest competition would be the Porsches because they had such a big advantage in performance. They already had a fast car last year and on paper, they should have been significantly faster which they were as we saw toward the end of the race today. It is kind of a shame for Corvette Racing that this happens. We don’t go into a race thinking we are going to lose. We use any possible advantage we can find, and today we used whatever advantage we could find to be competitive at the end. It was just a little bit too big of a mountain to climb. Then at the end, Nick got taken out by the Mazda. It happens all the time. As soon as we are out of their view they just decide to move over. We can’t just disappear, and it has ruined races for a lot of GT cars over the years. They’re never really ever penalized as much as they should. The race today was a great race for us for most of it. We were able to find ways to keep the car at the front. It didn’t end like we wanted it to, but we can look back on a great season. There were lots of highlights for both the 3 and the 4 car all year. Nick and I both were happy with the last half of the season with three wins in a row. And we get the Manufacturers and Team championships for Corvette and Chevy. I’m happy with all that. It’s hard to reflect on the good when you had a sour end. I’m very, very proud of this Corvette Racing team and proud to be a part of it.”

NICK TANDY, NO. 4 MOBIL 1/SiriusXM CHEVROLET CORVETTE C8.R – FINISHED FOURTH IN GTLM: “I was passing a GTD car late and the Mazda came through to make us three-wide down the straight into the braking zone in (Turn) 10. I was in the middle and all of a sudden the Mazda decided he would try to take the racing line. He was on the inside and came straight across the track and hit the side of our car and broke the suspension. It’s a shame that the season ends like this. Unfortunately into the night toward the end, I didn’t have the pace in the car to challenge the Porsches. It’s a shame not to finish on the podium, but we have a lot to be happy for this season. We wrapped up the Endurance Cup for the No. 4 car, we won a lot of races along the way and we got Manufacturers, Drivers and Team championships. All-in-all its been a successful season even if it ended very disappointing.”

ALEXANDER SIMS, NO. 4 MOBIL 1/SiriusXM CHEVROLET CORVETTE C8.R – FINISHED FOURTH IN GTLM: “A large part of today’s race went really, really well. In the first seven hours or so, we were in the mix and showing like we were getting stronger and stronger. We had really good strategy and good pace to make the fuel economy work. We were at the front or near the front most of the time. As the temperatures got really cold, the pace dropped away from us and we couldn’t hang on to the Porsches in the final couple of hours. Unfortunately the race was lost on pace but the final contact on Nick was the final nail in the coffin. I had it happen to me in my stint where a DPi got into me. They just pass three-quarters of the way and then expect you to evaporate. It’s frustrating when we are trying to do our own thing. But I’ve loved the year. It’s been fantastic to drive the C8.R. The team has been brilliant. It feels a bit disappointing because we had a bad Sebring, a bad Le Mans and now a bad Petit Le Mans. But I’ve enjoyed every bit of it except for the results! I’m looking forward to more next year.”

Team Chevy high-resolution racing photos are available for editorial use.

About Chevrolet
Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world’s largest car brands, available in 79 countries with more than 3.2 million cars and trucks sold in 2020. Chevrolet models include electric and fuel-efficient vehicles that feature engaging performance, design that makes the heart beat, passive and active safety features and easy-to-use technology, all at a value. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.

Wright Motorsports Secures Michelin Endurance Cup Championship

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Official Release
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BRASELTON, Ga., (November 14, 2021) – A day after winning the 2021 IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge Driver and Team championship titles, Wright Motorsports again celebrated their success securing the 2021 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Michelin Endurance Cup championship on Saturday at Petit Le Mans. The No. 16 1st Phorm Porsche 911 GT3 R race car, driven by Patrick Long, Trent Hindman, and Jan Heylen, entered the event with a one-point lead and sailed to championship victory after standing in first-place at the four-hour and eight-hour marks, earning enough points to clinch the title.

“What a weekend for our team,” said Team Owner John Wright. “In Michelin Pilot Challenge, we celebrated two titles, and then today in WeatherTech, we earned two more. I’m immensely proud of everyone on this team. An incident in the second practice really threw a wrench into our weekend, and an early race incident pushed us two laps down, but we climbed our way back to lead when we needed to lead and put in a really strong race. Incredible effort by everyone here.”

Petit Le Mans offered no smooth sailing for the Porsche customer racing team’s IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship program. During the second practice session, Heylen’s first laps of the weekend were cut short after the No. 16 Porsche 911 GT3 R was tagged by a faster LMP2 car exiting turn eleven at Road Atlanta. The contact sent Heylen and the Porsche into the wall, causing catastrophic damage. Fortunately, Heylen was unhurt and would go on to win the Michelin Pilot Challenge GS class race and championship for the team on Friday. After the team assessed the GTD class car and considered all options, two truck drivers were flown privately to Cincinnati and drove to the team’s Batavia, Ohio shop location. They trucked a spare Porsche 911 GT3 R to Braselton, Georgia, and at 7:00 am the following day, the dedicated group of men and women that make up the Wright Motorsports crew got to work to build up the new arrival. Though no small feat, the team had the car prepared just in time, and Trent Hindman qualified the car, setting an impressive seventh-place starting position for Saturday’s race.

A post-qualifying change ahead in the grid moved the No. 16 Porsche to start from sixth place, and though the field had a clean start in the opening turns, tight pack racing led to the Wright car suffering contact and limping around the circuit with a flat right-rear tire early on. Hindman painstakingly kept the car slow through the turns, trying to keep the car free of any additional damage. He at last pitted, and the team inspected the car, took care of any loose bodywork, and sent him out of pit lane with a fresh Michelin tire.

The team ultimately lost two laps in pit lane, due to repairs and extra stops, but masterfully used a series of cautions to take advantage of the series pass-around procedure that allows for lapped cars to circle around the pace car and gain a lap back. The team would also stay out while the field pitted and instead pit shortly later, gaining additional track time that would be beneficial in pit lane as the team double and triple-checked the potential damage to the Porsche. A series of back-to-back yellows not only allowed the car to get back on the lead lap, but catch up to the field, and by then, Hindman was ready for the restart. As the field went back to green, he immediately passed the Nos. 42 and 44 cars of Don Yount and John Potter, to climb from 13th to 15th. After passing the No. 88 Porsche of Rob Ferriol, trouble for four more cars played into Wright’s hands, bringing Hindman up to eighth position with only two hours complete. Five cars dropped into pit lane just before a full-course caution, catapulting Hindman up to third, but he later came in for a scheduled stop, and Patrick Long took over just before the three-hour mark.

The veteran Porsche factory driver rejoined in eleventh with just under three hours complete. He ran a relatively quiet stint, patiently riding his way through cautions. Knowing the strategy was to lead at the four-hour mark in order to obtain Michelin Endurance Cup points when a caution came just seven minutes before the first segment, Wright Motorsport stayed on track while the majority of the GTD field pitted for full-service stops, again rocketing the team to first-place. Just 15 minutes later, a massive, multi-car crash occurred on the restart as the field headed into turn one, creating another lengthy caution. After accruing the four-hour points, Long pitted the Porsche from first for a safety check and rejoined to restart the race in fifth. He quickly made the pass on the No. 12 of Robert Megennis to take fourth and shortly after pitted for Heylen to take over.

Hindman jumped in at sunset, and again the field endured several more full-course caution periods. The Porsche ran in fourth-place with steady lap times and made a longer pit stop to make an adjustment to the rear wing, giving the car a setup change to fight in the night hours. At the eight-hour mark, the team again kept the No. 16 Porsche on track while the rest of the field pitted, and Trent Hindman again led the field and acquired points for the Endurance Championship.

Hindman closed out his stint in first, and Heylen rejoined to run to the checkered flag. At this point, the Endurance Cup championship was almost locked in, provided the team finished the race. Heylen brought the Porsche 911 GT3 R across the finish line in fifth place, the team’s seventh top-five finish of the season in the GTD class.

“I’d like to thank everyone that made this season possible,” concluded Wright. “Porsche Motorsport North America is unbeatable, and we’re so proud to be with the manufacturer that won both GTD titles. We also owe a big thank you to Ryan Hardwick, and our partners in 1st Phorm, Mountain Motorsports, and Una Vida Tequila. We’re very proud to celebrate this championship with them, and I’m glad we were able to end Pat’s full-time driving career with a championship win.”

Driver Quotes | Porsche 911 GT3 R

Patrick Long
Today was a measure of teamwork. We went to work on the strategy. We easily did the most pit stops of any team today with an eye on a prize and goal [the Michelin Endurance Cup]. It wasn’t the overall championship but the next best thing. I am so proud that Porsche took both titles in GTD. This is a great way to cap off a full-time driving career. I am going to enjoy tonight.

Trent Hindman
That was more than just an eventful day. That was an eventful weekend and an eventful season. There were a lot of challenges this year and it did nothing but fight through them and make it happen. A massive thanks to everybody at Wright Motorsports for making the entire year possible. We fought through some hard times and still came away with some hardware. It is a pleasure working with these guys and I am grateful to be a part of this team.

Jan Heylen
We won a bunch of championships this year, two this weekend. Given what happened at the beginning of the race, this is more than we thought we were going to do. To come back and play the strategy just right, to come away with the endurance championship is really amazing. It has been an amazing season and I hope we can do it again next year.

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1st Phorm
1st Phorm is a sports nutrition company based in St. Louis, MO. In 2009, CEO Andy Frisella and his business partner Chris Klein started the brand, and since then, it has become the fastest growing supplement company in the world. 1st Phorm has set the standards in the industry for quality and helping people reach their goals. This new racing partnership is not their first time in the exotic car scene either. 1st Phorm has been the title sponsor for the Gold Rush Rally for six years running. With over a million followers across social media, 1st Phorm has amassed a huge cult-like following known as, “The Legion of Boom.” They stand for a movement in the fitness world. To turn it back to what it was meant to be. Helping others improve their lives, to be a good human… and to drop the excuses and do the work. 1st Phorm is a winning brand and they don’t expect anything less when it comes to their race team. For additional info: www.1stphorm.com

Mountain Motorsports
Mountain Motorsports is a group of motorcycle and powersports dealerships with multiple locations in the southeastern United States. The company was founded by lifelong friends Ryan Hardwick and Justin Price when they opened their first location as a single-line Honda dealership in Sevierville, Tennessee in 1999. The company has since grown into one of the largest retailers of motorcycle and powersports vehicles in the nation, spanning nine dealership locations representing eleven of the industry’s most well-known brands. For additional info: www.mountainmotorsports.com

Una Vida Tequila
Una Vida translates to One Life. That is how this brand started. By people who want to live their “One Life” to the absolute fullest and to their highest potential. A group of guys from the Midwest who love great quality tequila, and want their One Life to have meaning and impact others.

One Life, One Tequila is our CORE BELIEF. We’re building the only tequila brand you will ever need to drink. Una Vida is bigger than just tequila we’re also building a culture of people who want to live their life to their utmost potential.

Our story begins and continues to grow bottle by bottle. It’s a life mission for us to create a community of people who all raise a glass knowing they’re living their ONE LIFE! For more information, visit unavidatequila.com

Wright Motorsports
Wright Motorsports is the premier Porsche race engineering facility in Ohio and a multi-series, international racing team known for superb car preparation, expert race strategy, and driver development. Located in Batavia, Ohio, it is owned and directed by John Wright, a certified Porsche factory-trained technician. As a crew chief John Wright has played a key role in winning eight driver and seven team championships in World Challenge, IMSA (ALMS) and the Grand-Am Rolex Series. Wright Motorsports won the team championship in Porsche GT3 Cup USA in 2012, 2013 and 2015, and went on to win the Pirelli World Challenge Overall, Sprint, Team and Manufacturer’s titles in 2017. In 2020, the team captured the GT World Challenge America Am championship.For more information, visit wrightmotorsports.com For more information, visit wrightmotorsports.com.

Chevrolet, Corvette Racing Claim Final GTLM Championships

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Official Release
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· 14th Manufacturers Championship for Chevrolet in IMSA competition
· Garcia, Taylor go back-to-back as GTLM Drivers champions
· Milner, Tandy secure second place in GTLM points
· Corvette Racing closes GTLM era with 15th Team Championship

BRASELTON, Ga. (Nov. 13, 2021) – For the second straight season, Chevrolet and Corvette Racing captured all three full-season GT Le Mans (GTLM) titles of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. The Corvette Racing program completed a repeat sweep of the GTLM Manufacturers, Drivers and Team championships with the start of Saturday’s 10-hour Petit Le Mans at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.

Chevrolet claimed its 14th Manufacturers title in GT racing, Antonio Garcia and Jordan Taylor went back-to-back as Drivers champions while the No. 3 Mobil 1/SiriusXM Chevrolet Corvette C8.R repeated as Team title-winners.

“Chevrolet is proud to win the 2021 Manufacturers Championship and the final for the GT Le Mans category,” said Jim Campbell, Chevrolet U.S Vice President, Performance and Motorsports. “The mid-engine Corvette C8.R is building a strong legacy thanks to the ‘One Team’ approach of the Corvette race team, our powertrain engineers, and Corvette production engineers and designers. We are excited to continue the development of the C8.R onward in 2022.

“Congratulations also to Antonio Garcia, Jordan Taylor and everyone on the No. 3 Corvette C8.R team,” Campbell added. “This was a challenging season in many aspects but the competitive spirit within the two Corvette C8.R teams has never been stronger.”

Chevrolet and Corvette Racing won seven times in IMSA entering Petit Le Mans including 1-2 finishes in the Rolex 24 At Daytona and the three most recent rounds of the championship. Corvette Racing also claimed pole position in each GTLM race heading into Petit Le Mans.

After winning five times during their 2020 championship run, Garcia and Taylor backed that up with four wins to date including the Rolex 24.

Garcia won his fifth IMSA title, tying Oliver Gavin for the most among all Corvette Racing drivers. The rapid Spaniard took pole positions at Sebring and the Watkins Glen Six Hours and was the fastest GTLM driver at Sebring.

Taylor is now a four-time IMSA champion with two in GTLM to go along with a pair of Prototype titles. The American has five pole positions to his credit this season – all consecutively from the Watkins Glen Six Hours to Long Beach.

No. 4 Corvette C8.R teammates Tommy Milner and Nick Tandy wrapped up second in GTLM points with the start of today’s race. They also were contributors in the Manufacturers Championship with three victories and two pole positions.
Team Chevy high-resolution racing photos are available for editorial use.

About Chevrolet
Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world’s largest car brands, available in 79 countries with more than 3.2 million cars and trucks sold in 2020. Chevrolet models include electric and fuel-efficient vehicles that feature engaging performance, design that makes the heart beat, passive and active safety features and easy-to-use technology, all at a value. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.

Team Hardpoint’s Efrin Castro Wins Inaugural Porsche Carrera Cup North America Pro-Am Championship

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Official Release
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Photo credit Sideline Sports Photography

Castro Won Three Races at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta for Come From Behind Title; Dickinson Brings Home Podium Finish in Season Finale

BRASELTON, Georgia (November 13, 2021) – Team Hardpoint driver Efrin Castro won three consecutive Porsche Carrera Cup North America races this week at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, making up a 39-point deficit in the final weekend to claim both the inaugural North American championship in the Pro-Am class and the team’s first title.

Castro won six of the final eight races in the season, including all three at the final round this week, to make up a gap that felt insurmountable coming into the weekend. Entering the final race on Friday, Castro needed to win and see the Championship leader finish in sixth-place or lower to claim the title.

As Castro drove his No. 65 Fine Fare Supermarket/GoDominicanRepublic.com Porsche 911 GT3 Cup to the class lead in Turn 10 on the opening lap of the race, that championship leader and race polesitter spun off course and into the gravel.

With his points competitor two laps down, Castro still had to take care of his own business in the 45-minute race. He answered the bell, turning the fastest class lap of the race in 1:22.627 (110.665 mph) and finishing 11th overall in a smart, and still quickly run, race to claim the championship.

“This is unreal,” Castro said. “Coming into this weekend I had just a little bit of hope. I was putting faith in the Man Above and whatever would happen would happen. I just got blessed with this amazing weekend. I love it. It feels unreal. I was crying inside the car non-stop, I am not going to lie. I feel so blessed. I have to give thanks to everyone that made this possible. To everyone who supported me and believed in me.”

On the season, Castro won seven races and finished runner-up six times on his way to the two-point championship victory.

Teammate Riley Dickinson had an outstanding weekend of his own, finishing third overall and in the Pro Class for Saturday’s race and setting a new track record during Friday’s second stanza.

Dickinson was the fourth-quickest qualifier on Wednesday, but his No. 53 Porsche Austin/Team Hardpoint Porsche 911 GT3 was found to be slightly below the minimum ride height in post-qualifying technical inspection. Dickinson started 14th following the penalty and drove through the field to finish fourth in the opening race.

In race two, after starting seventh, Dickinson and the team made the decision to pull into pit lane and put on a fresh set of Michelin Tires at the midway point of the race. Dickinson used the fresh rubber to run a series-best race lap of 1:21.258 (112.530 mph), sacrificing a race two finish to earn the third qualifying position for Friday’s race.

Starting third on Friday, Dickinson held onto the podium spot during the 45-minute race to earn his eighth trophy in the 16-race season. Dickinson finished fourth in a very competitive Pro Class driver’s championship.

“It’s important to keep perspective on the weekend,” Dickinson said. “We want a win, it’s what we’ve been working so hard for this year and I feel we truly deserve. For whatever reason, we weren’t able to achieve it this year. To rebound to where we were today was great. To have the setback in qualifying and move up to P4 in race one, through deciding to go for the fastest lap in race two to set up race three. There was a lot to come back from. I’m proud of my performance, I’m proud of what I did, and I’m even more proud of the Team Hardpoint guys and their entire effort all year. From the top to the bottom, everyone did a fantastic job. I can’t thank them enough, and I can’t thank Porsche Austin enough for their support this year. Without them, this would not have been possible. I’m looking forward to partnering up with them again and getting to next year, because I’m more hungry than ever.”

Dickinson and Castro combined to give Team Hardpoint a third-place finish in the Entrant’s Championship.

“I’m really proud of Efrin, Riley and the entire team for the way they’ve handled all the adversity a race season can throw at them,” Team Owner Rob Ferriol said. “We knew coming into this weekend that all we could really control was our effort and the rest would come. Efrin did a tremendous job to get the three wins he needed and bring home the first of what we hope will become many championships for Team Hardpoint. Riley made a bold move in race two that paid off for him in the form of a podium finish today. I’m just proud of the way both drivers represented themselves and Team Hardpoint this season.”

Team Hardpoint’s No. 88 Richard Mille/GridRival Porsche 911 GT3 R will start Saturday’s 10-hour IMSA WeatherTech Championship finale, Motul Petit Le Mans, in 12th position following Friday’s qualifying. Andrew Davis qualified the car and will begin the race before handing off to co-drivers Ferriol and Katherine Legge. Saturday’s race begins at 12:10 p.m. EST, live on NBC for the opening three hours before moving to NBCSN for the remainder. The race can be seen in its entirety, commercial free, via TrackPass on the NBC Sports App.

About Team Hardpoint:
Hardpoint Motorsports was founded by Rob Ferriol in 2018 with the vision of combining his experience as a successful entrepreneur with his passion for racing. Headquartered at VIRginia International Raceway, the team’s 2021 plans include a full-season effort in the IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship in a Porsche 911 GT3 R and a multi-car effort in the IMSA Porsche Carrera Cup North America. More information on Hardpoint Motorsports can be found at www.hardpoint.com or through its strong social media presence on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Atlanta Speedwerks Scores Second Place At Home Track in IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge Finale at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta

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Official Release
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Tyler Stone and Ryan Eversley Combined For Thrilling Podium in No. 94 Hella Pagid/Inline Electric Honda Civic TCR

BRASELTON, Georgia (November 12, 2021) – Atlanta Speedwerks scored a podium finish at their hometown race on Friday, moving from the rear of the field at the start to second in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge finale at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.

Tyler Stone and Ryan Eversley, co-driving together for the first time this week, combined for the runner-up finish in the No. 94 Hella Pagid/Inline Electric Honda Civic TCR. It was the fifth podium of the season for Atlanta Speedwerks, who scored wins at both Watkins Glen rounds of the championship.

Stone, making his lone appearance of the season for Atlanta Speedwerks, started on the last row of the grid while working to get up to speed. By the time Stone came to pit lane under a full course caution with 68 minutes remaining in the two-hour race to hand the car to Eversley, he was in ninth-place in the 17-car TCR-class field.

“I’ve been on the podium before, just never on this level,” Stone said. “I’ve been close many times. I’ve had a lot of top 10s, but to make it to the podium is just an awesome feeling. To take the car from the very back row of this awesome and very talented field all the way up to ninth and turn over a good car to Ryan in clean condition with everyone wrecking in front of me is amazing. I probably dodged three or four potential wrecks. It was a fun drive. Atlanta Speedwerks did a great job of providing a winning setup and a few more laps I think we might have been on the top spot.”

Eversley took over the charge from there. The Atlanta Speedwerks car was sixth under yet another yellow, the third of five in the race, with 48 minutes remaining, but two laps after that Eversley sat in fourth place. He stayed there through two more full course cautions in the final 42 minutes of the race, and remained there with just three corners left in the race.

The second and third place cars were ready to race going into Road Atlanta’s Turn 10 at the end of the backstretch, and when they made side-to-side contact through the corner it killed both cars’ momentum and opened the door for Eversley. Eversley, still carrying that momentum, swung through the final corners and across the stripe for the final podium position.

“To come home on the podium with a car that was clearly the fourth-fastest of the race, I’ll take that every time,” Eversley said. “I’m really happy with that. Tyler picked up a second just in sector one in three laps of the race. He was right there already and I actually applaud him for not being too aggressive. He got stuck behind some slower cars at the start and if he had tried too hard to get by it could have been the end of the day. I’m really happy with the pit stop, I’m just happy. I’ve got to thank Honda and HPD, the Atlanta Speedwerks guys, and everyone who made this happen at my and the team’s home race.”

Eversley, who drove with five different co-drivers during the 10-race season, finished in a tie for third in the season-long championship point standings.

The podium finish was a strong end to the season for Atlanta Speedwerks, coming at the team’s home track of Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta and with partners Hella Pagid and Inline Electric on board.

“This was a great way to end the season,” Atlanta Speedwerks owner Todd Lamb said. “It’s been two years since Tyler has driven with us, and he knocked the rust off quickly and kept improving his lap times even during the race. The crew did a fantastic job of prepping the car and had a flawless pair of pit stops, and Ryan brought it home with a really good run and a great final lap. The whole race, including having Hella Pagid and Inline Electric here with us, has us looking forward to 2022 already.”

About Atlanta Speedwerks
Atlanta Speedwerks is a professional road racing team and prep shop, providing road racing services, car builds, roll cages, arrive and drive programs, and performance parts. Headquartered near Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, the company runs winning arrive & drive programs in IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge, Mazda MX-5 Cup, Porsche Club of America and SCCA Spec Miata, among others. Professional coaching and driver development round out the company’s offerings.

Toyota Unveils the New GR Supra Funny Car in NHRA

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Supra, Funny Car, Toyota

POMONA, Calif. (November 14, 2021) – This morning at Auto Club Raceway in Pomona, Toyota unveiled its new race car for the 2022 NHRA season in Funny Car competition. For the first time, Toyota will campaign the GR Supra beginning with the season kickoff event in Pomona in February.

Toyota has competed with the Camry in Funny Car competition dating back to 2012. Prior to the Camry, the Toyota Celica and Toyota Solara were run. The 2021 season has marked the 20th anniversary of Toyota’s official involvement in NHRA with competitors in both Top Fuel and Funny Car.

Toyota’s commitment to race vehicles that closely resemble production vehicles continues with this GR Supra. With the new body on the Funny Car for 2022, it marks the most significant styling characteristics of any previous Funny Car.

“After 10 years of fielding the Camry in NHRA Funny Car competition it’s really exciting for us to be moving to the GR Supra and ultimately the next generation of Funny Cars for NHRA,” said Paul Doleshal, group manager of motorsports for Toyota Motor North America. “Our team at TRD (Toyota Racing Development) along with the design team at Calty worked hard to incorporate as many features from the production GR Supra into the Funny Car that J.R. Todd and Alexis DeJoria will drive in 2022.”

In addition to the augmented styling characteristics of the new GR Supra Funny Car, safety enhancements have also been made during the development of the new car. These include giving the driver more visibility while sitting behind the wheel and adding more room around their helmets along with additional safety foam in the driver’s cockpit of the GR Supra. TRD worked closely with Toyota Champion Funny Car driver, J.R. Todd, on many of the safety enhancements during the nearly two-year development process.

“It’s been a really unique experience getting to work with the engineers at TRD on the new GR Supra Funny Car,” said Kalitta Motorsports Funny Car driver J.R. Todd. “To be a part of the work to try to make these cars as safe as possible for us as drivers means a lot to me. We all worked together on some of the issues we’ve faced for some time including visibility. That said, I’ve had some big moments in my DHL Toyota Camry including my first U.S. Nationals win and championship. Toyota’s support of NHRA, Kalitta Motorsports and myself specifically means a ton, and I hope we can deliver even more success to them with this new GR Supra.”

Toyota drivers have won 137 Top Fuel and 43 Funny Car races along with six Top Fuel and three Funny Car championships during its tenure in the series.

About Toyota

Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in North America for more than 60 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands plus our 1,800 dealerships.

Toyota has created a tremendous value chain and directly employs more than 47,000 in North America. The company has contributed world-class design, engineering, and assembly of more than 40 million cars and trucks at our 14 manufacturing plants, 15 including our joint venture in Alabama that begins production in 2021.

Through its Start Your Impossible campaign, Toyota highlights the way it partners with community, civic, academic and governmental organizations to address our society’s most pressing mobility challenges. We believe that when people are free to move, anything is possible. For more information about Toyota, visit www.toyotanewsroom.com.

Give the Gift of the 2022 DAYTONA 500! Holiday Packages Available Now for up to 30% off DAYTONA Speedweeks Presented By AdventHealth Events

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Limited Number of Tickets Remain for 64th Annual Great American Race; Fully Open Frontstretch Seating, Camping, Hospitality & Pre-Race Experiences; Debut of NASCAR Next Gen Car

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Nov. 12, 2021) – With a limited number of tickets remaining for the 64th Annual Great American Race fans need to act now to take advantage of a host of DAYTONA 500 Holiday packages, which are on sale for a limited time, offering up to 30% off for DAYTONA Speedweeks Presented By AdventHealth events.

The DAYTONA 500 at Daytona International Speedway is set for Presidents’ Day Weekend, Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022, and it will be the site of the points-race debut of the NASCAR Cup Series anticipated ‘Next Gen’ car. Tickets are selling fast for the DAYTONA 500 and fans are encouraged to make their plans now. The Cup cars will be in action on Thursday, Feb. 17 during the Bluegreen Vacations Duel at DAYTONA qualifying races. Friday (Feb. 18) will see the NextEra Energy 250 for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series while Saturday, Feb. 19 will feature a doubleheader, with the Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. 300 for the NASCAR Xfinity Series and the Lucas Oil 200 Driven by General Tire for the ARCA Menards Series.

In addition to purchasing a DAYTONA 500 tickets, for only $100 more, fans can attend all the leading events to the DAYTONA 500. The longer fans stay as part of for DAYTONA Speedweeks Presented By AdventHealth, the more the savings. Here’s the specific breakdown of economic opportunities, which end on Dec. 31:

Offer 1: $199

  • Single-Day DAYTONA 500 Ticket and $25 Merchandise Voucher; Savings of 20%.

Offer 2: $239

  • Single-Day DAYTONA 500 Ticket, General Admission Ticket to Saturday’s Doubleheader (Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. 300 and Lucas Oil 200 Driven by General Tire) and $25 Merchandise Voucher; Savings of 22%.

Offer 3: $299 (Best Savings!)

  • Single-Day DAYTONA 500 Ticket, General Admission Ticket for all Leading Events (Bluegreen Vacations Duel at DAYTONA Qualifying Races, NextEra Energy 250, Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. 300 and Lucas Oil 200 Driven by General Tire) and $25 Merchandise Voucher; Savings of 30%.

UNOH Fanzone and Premium Parking are available to add to any holiday package. DAYTONA Speedweeks Presented By AdventHealth will have fully open frontstretch seating, expanded camping, hospitality and pre-race experiences.

The Next Gen car, a collaboration of the brightest engineering minds in racing and the automotive industry, is designed to give the drivers greater control. It will put an emphasis back on race strategies, team personnel and vehicle setups while returning the ‘stock car’ look to NASCAR. The cars are set to put on great racing for fans, incorporate relevant technology and look more like street version vehicles.

For ticket information on the 2022 DAYTONA 500, as well as Speedweeks Presented By AdventHealth events, log onto www.DAYTONA500.com or call 1-800-PITSHOP. Fans can stay connected with Daytona International Speedway on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for the latest speedway news.

About Daytona International Speedway
Daytona International Speedway is a state-of-the-art motorsports facility and was awarded the SportsBusiness Journal’s prestigious Sports Business Award for Sports Facility of the Year in 2016. Daytona International Speedway is the home of The Great American Race – the DAYTONA 500. Though the season-opening NASCAR Cup Series event garners most of the attention – as well as the largest audience in motorsports – the approximately 500-acre motorsports complex, also known as the World Center of Racing, boasts the most diverse schedule of racing on the globe. In addition to at least nine major event weekends, the Speedway grounds are also used extensively for events that include concerts, civic and social gatherings, car shows, photo shoots, production vehicle testing and police motorcycle training. The iconic venue will be the site of a host of motorsports events early in 2022, beginning with AHRMA Classic Motofest and the Rolex 24 At DAYTONA in January, and the 64th DAYTONA 500, which will debut the first points race for NASCAR’s ‘Next Gen’ car as part of Speedweeks Presented by AdventHealth, in February. The tradition-rich 81st Annual Bike Week At DAYTONA returns in March, featuring DAYTONA Supercross and the DAYTONA 200, and in May with the Heroes Honor Festival. Later in the summer during Independence Day weekend, the track, in association with Torneos, will host Soccer Fest before the NASCAR Cup Series returns for the final race of the regular season with the Coke Zero Sugar 400 on Aug. 27.

Tony Stewart Racing Names Crew Chiefs for NHRA Program

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Neal Strausbaugh To Crew Chief Top Fuel’s Leah Pruett;
Dickie Venables Continues with Funny Car Driver Matt Hagan

BROWNSBURG, Ind. (Nov. 12, 2021) – Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) has announced its crew chief lineup for the team’s 2022 debut in the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series with Top Fuel driver Leah Pruett and Funny Car pilot Matt Hagan.

Neal Strausbaugh will be the crew chief for nine-time Top Fuel event winner Pruett and Dickie Venables will continue his longtime role as the crew chief for 39-time Funny Car event winner Hagan. Both Strausbaugh and Venables come to TSR from Don Schumacher Racing (DSR), where the duo have spent a combined 25 years.

Strausbaugh has been an assistant crew chief since 2008 working across both Top Fuel and Funny Car, first with Cory McClenathan in Top Fuel (2008), Tony Schumacher in Top Fuel (2009-2016), Jack Beckman in Funny Car (2017-2018) and Pruett (2019-present). Venables has had two stints at DSR, spending 2010-2011 with Funny Car driver Johnny Gray before returning in 2013 to lead Hagan’s Funny Car effort.

“Joe Gibbs taught me a long time ago that you win with people, and Neal and Dickie are the right guys to help build this team and get it ready for next year,” said team owner Tony Stewart. “For the past year-and-a-half, I’ve gotten to know Neal and Dickie and have seen firsthand how they work and interact with everyone on the crew. Both have a strong work ethic and know what they’re doing, but they also know each other and their drivers really well. That kind of familiarity and continuity is massively important as we build this program from the ground up.”

Strausbaugh will be joined at TSR with co-crew chief Mike Domagala and car chief Ryan McGilvry. Venables is bringing the same personnel who have helped Hagan earn two of his three Funny Car titles (2014 and 2020) and compete for a potential second straight championship in the season-ending Auto Club Finals this weekend in Pomona, California. Specifically, co-crew chief Michael Knudsen and car chief Alex Conaway will continue with Venables at TSR.

“Being a part of TSR is a dream situation,” said Strausbaugh, a native of Hillsboro, Illinois. “There are a lot of great people who are a part of this team, and it starts at the top with Tony. It’s built by racers, for racers, and we have all the resources we need to be successful.”

While Venables knows what he’s doing next year, the Texan who has spent the last 25 years in Plainfield, Indiana, is intently focused on the present this weekend at Pomona. Hagan is second in the championship standings heading into the season finale.

“We’d like nothing more than to do well this weekend and be able to take the championship,” Venables said. “We’ve got a lot to take care of, but I’m looking forward to what’s coming shortly thereafter.

“I’ve been doing this a lot of years and I honestly haven’t looked forward to a program as much as I’m looking forward to this one. Being able to bring all my guys over will help us get started on the right foot and really grow this program.

“That’s what intrigues me about this opportunity most of all. I enjoy being able to build things from scratch. I enjoy being able to work with people and teach them to work in certain roles.”

TSR will make its NHRA debut during the 2022 season opener Feb. 17-20 at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona. Those interested in partnering with TSR for its inaugural NHRA season can contact the team at TSRnitro@TonyStewart.com.

PMH and SCCA Pro Racing Expand Partnership to Long-Term Operating Agreement

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Trans Am presented by Pirelli TA2® cars set a single-event grid record with 53 entries at the Austin SpeedTour at Circuit of the Americas in 2021. Photo by Chris Clark.

INDIANAPOLIS (November 12, 2021) – Parella Motorsports Holdings (PMH) and SCCA Pro Racing announced today that they are strengthening their current partnership through a historic 25-year partnership agreement, a highly strategic move that builds on an already strong foundation.

Under the expanded agreement, PMH will assume responsibility for promotion, operating, staffing, and commercial aspects of SCCA Pro Racing starting in 2022, while sanction and sporting oversight of the Formula 4 U.S. and Formula Regional Americas Championships and FIA International events will stay with SCCA Pro Racing.

“Bringing SCCA Pro Racing centrally under the management of PMH will serve to strengthen all of our properties,” said Tony Parella, PMH Owner and CEO. “This cornerstone agreement sets PMH up for continued success, delivering immediate improved operational and organizational strength, while maintaining agility and focus on new opportunities.”

Parella’s ability to create a strong internal culture transcends his decades of leadership across multiple industries. Optimizing the organizational impact of PMH will have an immediate and positive impact for all stakeholders, partners, staff, contractors, and fans.

“We have been partners with Tony and the PMH team supporting the Trans Am series since 2017 and they have done a great job growing and promoting the Formula 4 U.S. and Formula Regional Americas Championships this year,” said Mike Cobb, President and CEO of SCCA. “Tony and I share a lot of the same values of integrity, fairness, and professionalism. We are excited to build on this success in the future, to deliver the best racing experience possible for our combined membership, partners, and fans.”

PMH will have a booth at the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) show, Booth 7014, on December 9-11. The 2022 SpeedTour schedule kicks off on February 4-6 at Auto Club Speedway.

About Parella Motorsports Holdings: PMH is a premier motorsport holding company that includes wholly owned Sportscar Vintage Racing Association (SVRA) and Trans Am Racing Company (TARC). PMH also holds commercial rights to Formula Regional Americas Championship Powered by Honda and Formula 4 United States Championship Powered by Honda. Together with independent properties such as International GT (IGT), the PMH portfolio of racing properties combine to produce some of the largest and most diverse motorsport festivals at America’s most storied and prestigious racing venues.

About SCCA Pro Racing: SCCA Pro Racing has been at the forefront of the professional racing landscape in the United States since 1963, providing full-service organization, operational support, and sanctioning for numerous professional racing series. SCCA Pro Racing is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sports Car Club of America, Inc. – a 65,000-member organization dedicated to motorsports events and a voting member of the Automobile Competition Committee of the United States (ACCUS) – the FIA delegate for the United States.

Wagner Takes Mazda MX-5 up Championship; Thomas Gets First Race Win of 2021

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Paley Earns Rookie Title and $80,000 in Mazda support

BRASELTON, Ga. (November 12, 2021) – With a 150 point advantage ahead of the last green flag of the season, it was Gresham Wagner’s (No. 5 Spark Performance) championship to lose as the Idemitsu Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by BFGoodrich® Tires race got underway at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta on Friday. Despite not finishing on the podium for the first time this year, Wagner still finished high enough to secure his first championship with a run to sixth at the finish. Earning his first win of the season, Jared Thomas (No. 96 JTR Motorsports Engineering) claimed the top spot on the final lap in another dramatic race finish.

Coming off of a win in Thursday’s Round 13 race, Wagner’s margin over Michael Carter (No. 08 Carter Racing Enterprises) meant that even if Carter won the race, Wagner only had to finish 11th or higher to lock in the title and the $250,000 support package from Mazda for the champion.

Wagner struggled in the race, at one point running as far back as ninth and in the middle of a tense fight for Rookie of the Year. Up at the front, Carter was fighting for the win. Wagner ultimately finished sixth, which is his worst finish of the season, but still took home the biggest prize of all.

“It’s been a long season, with everything building to this,” Wagner said. “It’s amazing to get it done, it’s almost more relief than excitement. But today, the car was just slow. Not much else to it. That was probably my worst race of the season, but I just had to get top nine and we did that, so I’m happy with that. Aside from that, it was a pretty un-fun race. I was back in the rookie pack and it seemed as though they were racing harder for sixth than a lot of the wins I’ve been a part of. It was tricky, some guys cut me slack and some didn’t, so I’m happy to bring it home.”

Carter was doing everything he could to hold off Thomas and Selin Rollan (No. 87 Hixon Motor Sports) and keep his championship hopes alive. The trio was able to pull away from the pack, except when two, short full-course yellows brought everyone in line again.

On the final lap, Carter slid in Turn Five and got some air over the exit curbing. There was no way to hold his momentum and Thomas went right past. The former Rookie of the Year took his first win of the season by 0.132-second over Rollan. It was long overdue for Thomas, who had plenty of pace but zero luck all season.

“We started the season strong, had some ups and downs mid-season, but Laguna was a step in the right direction,” Thomas said. “I love Road Atlanta – we’ve been fast in everything we’ve raced here and it was absolutely perfect today, no one could touch us. It felt like a walk-off homer. That last lap, it was a three-car breakaway and all three of us knew what was going to happen. I tried to cool off my brakes to make sure I had them the best I could and I was ready to make a move on Michael [Carter], but he made a mistake that let Selin [Rollan] and me around. It was a drag race from there, but I had the line and my brakes were there. It was great to take the checkered flag in an awesome race. The guys at the front had absolute respect for each other – we knew what was acceptable and right and we made it a great race.”

En route to victory, Thomas set a new Mazda MX-5 Cup lap record for Road Atlanta: 1:36.567.

Rollan started from the pole and led six laps of the race while taking on Thomas and Carter. Any plans he had for the last lap to take over the lead went out the window when Carter’s car slammed over the Turn Five curbing.

“After the second restart, once we saw we were leading the pack, the plan was just to stay working together,” Rollan said. “I didn’t know if I wanted to be first or second or third. Michael going off helped me out, and I wanted to be in second, but I timed the run wrong and Jared and I made contact. Michael [Carter] might have been thinking about it (the championship) more than I was – I was just planning to pick up the pieces, if there’d been any pieces to pick up. But I’m happy to be on the podium and I’m happy Jared got the win. I’m glad to be racing with Hixon Motor Sports. I didn’t expect to be here this year, so to get four wins, and finish third in the points, it’s been a great time.”

Racing in front of family and friends at his home track, Carter was doing everything in his power to steal the championship from Wagner. He led the most laps of the race, which gave him 10 bonus points, but one small mistake cost him the race win, although ultimately even a race win would not have been enough considering Wagner’s position.

“Gresham still finished sixth so in the end it wouldn’t have mattered (to have won the race or not),” said the 2020 champion, who led 20 laps. “But yeah, I really wanted to win a race. I really like winning. I carry a chip on my shoulder and expect to win like every race. And, you know, it hurts but, I mean, I guess there’s nothing wrong with second. It’s just frustrating, you know after yesterday and then to lead all those laps today, it’s definitely frustrating, but you know, Gresham [Wagner] had a great season and he deserves it. He really does. I felt like we still ran a great season but there were some things out of our control, and those things add up over the season and they ended up really biting us. I had my opportunities, but I just wonder ‘what if all that stuff didn’t happen?”

The championship wasn’t the only title on the line; Rookie of the Year honors came down to a close matchup between Sam Paley (No. 28 McCumbee McAleer Motorsports) and Chris Nunes (No. 32 JTR Motorsports Engineering). Both were part of a pack of cars running fourth through ninth. The order shuffled in every turn with intense door-to-door driving. Nunes finished seventh to Paley’s ninth, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the point lead Paley had built. Paley earned rookie honors by 40 points.

“It was definitely a crazy race,” Paley said. “I felt like a lot of people were out to get me. The main goal was just to finish in a decent spot because I knew I had the rookie championship sealed up. I was giving everyone a lot of room, being cautious and trying to bring it home. It means a lot to win the rookie title – the team and I have been through a lot of adversity this year, a lot of different issues. And of course, this helps me financially next season, so hopefully I can come back and win the championship. It’s a big relief and I’m really happy.” Finishing fourth, another rookie, Luca Mars (No. 41 Copeland Motorsports) earned the Hard Charger Award for advancing five positions in the 45-minute race.

In only his second MX-5 Cup race, Connor Zilisch (No. 72 Hixon Motor Sports), the most recent MX-5 Cup Shootout winner, finished fifth.

All of the 2021 Mazda MX-5 Cup awards will be handed out at Friday evening’s championship celebration, including the $250,000 grand prize for Wagner and $80,000 for Paley’s rookie title.

Rounds 13 and 14 from Road Atlanta will air on NBCSN, Tuesday, November 23, at 3pm ET.

The 2022 Idemitsu Mazda MX-5 Cup season opener is just around the corner, January 27 – 30 at Daytona International Speedway.

About: The Idemitsu Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by BFGoodrich® Tires is the signature spec series for Mazda Motorsports. The series has been operated by Andersen Promotions since 2017 and is currently sanctioned by IMSA. Mazda-powered grassroots champions can earn Mazda scholarships for this pro-level series. The Idemitsu Mazda MX-5 Cup champion is awarded $250,000 as the top rookie nets $80,000.

Find out more at http://www.mx-5cup.com.

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