Udell, Milner, DXDT Racing Sweep Road America FANATEC GT World Challenge America
(Photo credit: Fabian Lagunas/SRO)
It was a huge day, Sunday, for DXDT Racing in the FANATEC GT World Challenge America powered by AWS. Not only did Alec Udell and Tommy Milner repeat Saturday’s overall and Pro class win in the caution free 90-minute race, but teammates Bryan Sellers and Bryson Morris finished second overall and first in the Pro-Am class.
Since joining the series at Circuit of the Americas, Udell and Milner are now a perfect six-for-six in the Pro class in their DXDT Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3 R.
“Yeah, the crew did a great job with the car,” said Udell. “There's limited dry running time this week with all the weather that's been going through. So, happy to be here. And the Corvette performed beautifully here at Road America. Really happy with the platform.
“Tommy had a great first stint. Maybe got caught in some traffic and dirty air there, but we had a little bit of a battle with Adam (Adelson, Wright Motorsports Porsche 992 GT3 R). He drove great in the opening laps of stint, and then some cars coming out of pit lane. There's a bit of a traffic jam, if you will. Able to take advantage of that and just run clean basically to the finish.
“Really happy for Bryson and Brian as well. Great to see that car up front. So happy for the team. Really great team effort.”
(Photo credit: Fabien Lagunas/SRO)
Much like Udell, Morris had work to do in his stint after the mandatory mid-race pit stop in order to score the first win for the No. 08 DXDT Racing Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3 R in the Pro-Am class.
“It was a pretty difficult stint, but luckily, Brian Sellers got me out in the lead, so I just had to pass one car and was able to hold it from there.
“For sure I was getting read the gaps,” Morris continued. “And yeah, I heard it coming down a few times. So I knew that she (Samantha Tan, STR BMW M4 GT3) was definitely clicking on it. But yeah, we were able to take it away. So super, super grateful for that.”
(Photo credit: Fabian Lagunas/SRO)
Now a bronze-rated driver, veteran Oswaldo Negri and Jay Schreibman took top honors in the Am class in their AF Corse Ferrari 296 GT3 in their debut race of the season.
“I'm so glad to be back and be back with AF Corse,” said a delighted Negri. “Jay Schreibman, IMBRANDED, Ferrari, at (age) 60. What else can I ask a win? I thought it was going to be a little rusty on the start, but, you know, it's just like riding a bike. It comes back to you. And I went for it. Unfortunately, we had that (drive-through) penalty (for leaving tire blankets on the car on the way to the grid), but we came through as a team, and I can't thank enough the hard work that the guys did at the pits and to give us a fast car that we could keep that quick pace and win the race today.”
Sofronas Holds Off Rothberg for GT America Win
(Photo credit: SRO)
Running a partial schedule this season, James Sofronas was desperate to get a win in the GT America powered by AWS season. Saturday, in Race 1, Sofronas was penalized for changing from slick to rain tires on his GMG Racing Audi R8 LMS GT3 outside of the prescribed time limit. In Sunday’s Race 2, there would be no such mistakes.
Sofronas took the lead from the start and held off Justin Rothberg to win by 0.379-seconds. Driving the Turner Motorsports BMW M4 GT3, Rothberg shadowed Sofronas the entire 40-minute sprint, never trailing by more than one-second. Rothberg made several lunges late in the race, but Sofronas used all his experience to keep the GT America rookie behind him.
“You know, I've been coming here since ’94, so this feels good,” said a happy Sofronas. “We've had the pace, we've gotten polls, we've led laps. And I'm like, Wow, this year's really bit us. The team's done well, and that's what really matters. I race when I can, when it makes sense for the business, but to get a win here today - I mean, Rothberg, that guy's just coming like a freight train. The Audi in sector two is amazing. So I just got to hold him off through the kink and then just pray, he doesn't get too good of a run. So hats off. He drove great. But the GMG guys did a great job.”
Championship leader Johnny O’Connell finished third in the SKI Autosports Audi R8 LMS GT3 followed by Jason Daskalos in the CRP Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3. Mirko Shultis rounded out the top five in his MISHUMOTORS CALLAWAY CORVETTE Z06.R GTS
(Photo credit: SRO)
In GT4, the Rotek Racing Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport of Isaac Sherman steadily pulled away from Curt Swearingin’s ACI Motorsports Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport to win his ninth of 12 races this season. The former Legends car racer has had a phenomenal rookie season, winning his first seven races in the category.
“It's been an amazing time here,” commented Sherman. “The weather, it was a little rainy, but we didn't get too many laps in, but at the end, like we just kind felt at home at the track and took home the win today, so I’m super excited”.
Another reason for Sherman to feel excited is extending his GT4 class championship lead over Swearingin.
“Yeah, yeah, I'm excited. I mean, we lost a little points yesterday, sadly, but just trying to capitalize on whatever we can, and tried to maintain the lead.”