Lone Star Set for Five-Race Sprint Cup Program

Photo: Lone Star Racing

Lone Star Racing is a set for a five-race IMSA WeatherTech Sprint Cup program in GT Daytona, having confirmed details of its partial-season effort with a Mercedes-AMG GT3.

As reported by Sportscar365 earlier this week, Gar Robinson and Lawson Aschenbach will make their debut in next weekend’s Acura Sports Car Challenge at Mid-Ohio.

It will be followed by outings at Detroit, Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, Road America and Virginia International Raceway, encompassing all but two of the seven races on the new-for-2019 Sprint Cup schedule.

The deal marks the joining of forces between the Texas-based team and Texan Robinson, who is set for his IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship debut.

“Texas is in my blood, it’s my family and history,” Robinson said. “To work with Lone Star Racing in Texas feels right at home.

“We have the same mindset and way of doing things.

“For example, in 1992 my Dad always ran ‘Don’t Mess with Texas,’ which was an anti-littering campaign, on his cars. When I showed up to the LSR shop the first decal I noticed was ‘Don’t Mess with Texas.’

“I’ll just say we all know what proper barbecue and tacos are!”

Lone Star Racing is based the greater Dallas-Fort Worth area in Cresson, Texas, while Robinson grew up in San Antonio.

“Gar fits right in with Lone Star Racing and we are going to have a lot of fun together both on and off the track,” said team manager AJ Petersen.

“We all appreciate the ongoing efforts and commitment of Lone Star Racing team owner Dan Knox with our 2019 program.”

Lone Star returns to IMSA competition for the first time since 2017 and after a successful season in Blancpain GT World Challenge America last year that produced five podium finishes in eight races, including a win at VIR.

Robinson has previous competition experience with the Mercedes-AMG GT platform and scored a second-place Pirelli GT4 America finish last year in a GT4-spec version of the car at CTMP.

Both he and the well-experienced Aschenbach, however, will be making their first race starts in the GT3 car at Mid-Ohio.

“Although we’ve had limited testing, I think our chances are great for a solid start to the sprint season with the Mercedes AMG GT3 at Mid-Ohio,” Aschenbach said.

“I was extremely impressed with the feel of this hot rod and was blown away by the braking, handling, and electronics.

“It gives you a lot of confidence to push yourself and the car to the limits!”

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John