New, Returning Drivers in 17-Car Entry for Mid-Ohio

Photo: Wes Duenkel/Ford

This weekend’s third event of the Mustang Challenge North America season at Mid-Ohio will see several new and returning drivers to the IMSA-sanctioned single-make series, which will be back at its birthplace.

A total of 16 Ford Mustang Dark Horse Rs are on the entry list although 17 cars are understood to be taking part, in what will mark the series’ return to the venue of its inaugural event in June 2024.

TechSport Racing has returned to a two-car operation with Colin Harrison back in the No. 21 entry alongside Devin Anderson, while Lou Gigliotti is also set for his second outing of the season in his No. 28 G2 Motorsports Mustang.

Flying Lion Motorsports is also back after missing the last round at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, but with a new driver in Ethan Low, who is set for his Mustang Challenge debut.

While not on the pre-event entry list, Dark Horse Legends class points leader Chris Clarke will be present aboard his No. 9 Paley Motorsport with AAG Racing entry according to team owner Sam Paley.

The sister Paley/AAG entry, however, will be absent as driver Ryan Persing will be attending his high school graduation, while the two Paley-supported Nick Smither Racing Mustangs are also skipping Mid-Ohio due to Nick Smither’s son’s wedding.

Paley told Sportscar365 that all three of the cars will be back for the remainder of the season.

Another absence from the entry list since Laguna Seca is Wheelhouse Motorsports driver Michael Tosi, although Mustang Cup USA graduate David Luaces is set for his series debut in his Birdhouse Racing entry in DHL.

Round 3 Racing’s Cole Loftsgard continues to lead the Dark Horse standings, although reduced to 60 points over Anderson, who broke through for his first career win in Race 2 at Laguna Seca.

Sandy Satullo, of Wheelhouse, sits third in the title race, just 20 points ahead of teammate and reigning Mustang Cup USA champion Will Lucas in fourth.

Clarke, meanwhile, holds a narrow 20-point lead in the DHL standings over Wheelhouse’s Tom Tait after defending class champion Alex Bachoura missed the Laguna Seca weekend due to birth of his child and is expected to be out of action for the remainder of the season.

Track activity kicks off on Friday with a pair of practice sessions, with qualifying (9:40 a.m. EST) and Race 1 (1:55 p.m. EST) set for Saturday and Race 2 (9:05 a.m. EST) on tap for Sunday.

Both 45-minute races will be streamed live on Peacock as well as IMSA and Ford Racing’s YouTube channels.

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