Dwyer Ruled Out of VIR with Minor Medical Issue

Liam Dwyer has been ruled out of this weekend’s Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge round at Virginia International Raceway due to a minor medical issue.

A Mazda spokesperson confirmed Dwyer’s doctor requested him to rest this weekend to heal the undisclosed issue. Dwyer is expected to recover fully for the final two races.

“I’m frustrated and disappointed that I can’t be at VIR, but we’ve got Circuit of the Americas and Road Atlanta ahead of us,” Dwyer said.

“Liam continues to be an inspiration to all of us with his strength and tenacity, and this is just a brief rest for him before he is back on the track with Freedom Autosport,” added Freedom Autosport co-owner Rhett O’Doski.

“We’ll miss having him vying for the championship with us this weekend, but we look forward to his return for the next round.”

It will take Dwyer out of ST class championship contention in his first full-time season, as he and Andrew Carbonell sit just two points behind fellow Mazda MX-5 drivers Chad McCumbee and Stevan McAleer heading into VIR.

Tom Long will sub for Dwyer in the championship-contending No. 26 Mazda this weekend, as the Mazda factory driver will pull double-duty between both of the team’s entries in the two-hour and 30-minute race.

Long will start the No. 26 car and will finish the race in the No. 25 Mazda, which will be started by Britt Casey Jr.