Wagner, Gonzalez Triumph in Barber Race 2 for RAFA

Gresham Wagner and Tyler Gonzalez triumphed in the second Pirelli GT4 America race of the weekend on Sunday at Barber Motorsports Park for RAFA Racing.

Wagner emerged from the pit cycle in the overall race lead after the No. 33 Blackdog Racing McLaren Artura GT4 of Michael Cooper and Tony Gaples, which led comfortably early on, tumbled down the order after their stop due to the timing of the race’s only yellow.

The No. 68 RAFA Toyota GR Supra GT4 EVO2 ran second overall at the head of the Silver class in the early stages of the race in the hands of Gonzalez.

P1 Groupe’s Matt Bell made up significant ground after a late restart, bringing the No. 43 McLaren up the order from 13th overall and sixth in Pro-Am to second overall, 4.533 seconds behind Wagner by the checkered flag to take the team’s first podium of the season and the win in class.

James Webb was also on the move once racing resumed, with just over 17 minutes remaining, bringing his No. 3 JMF Motorsports Aston Martin Vantage GT4 Evo he shares with Jonathan Neudorf up to third overall and second in the Silver class from sixth in the closing stages.

Just behind, the sister No. 4 Aston Martin finished in fourth overall and third in Silver with Mike David Ortmann at the wheel. Both JMF entries made use of an undercut at the beginning of the pit cycle to stay at the sharp end of the field.

Race 1 winners Riley Dickinson and Curt Swearingin came home second in Pro-Am with a fifth-place overall finish in the No. 7 ACI Motorsports Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport.

Thunder Bunny Racing broke through to win in Am for the first time this season, with Laura Hayes winning a drag race to the line over BimmerWorld Racing’s James Clay to take the class win alongside Allen Patten in ninth overall.

The full-course caution came out with under half an hour remaining, as the pit cycle was finishing following a front right puncture for Loek Hartog in the No. 9 ACI Motorsports Porsche.

Hartog was able to pull his Porsche off the track, ending the team’s day.

Nicolai Elghanayan fell from contention despite taking the race’s restart in third after contact from Kevin Boehm’s No. 97 Random Vandals Racing entry behind, resulting in left-front damage for the BMW M4 GT4 EVO.

Both drivers took to pit lane for assessment before retiring, eliminating Boehm and Kenton Koch’s chances of clinching the Silver class title in Alabama.

The No. 77 VPX Motorsport Porsche of Danny Dyszelski and Alex Ellis was withdrawn before the race following a late collision in Saturday’s race. The team was set to start Race 2 in seventh.

RESULTS: Race 2