Sargent Breaks Through for First Career Victory in Race 1

Photo: Bob Chapman/Autosport Image

Tom Sargent has earned his first career Porsche Deluxe Carrera Cup North America win in the opening race of the weekend at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca as part of Porsche Rennsport Reunion 7.

The McElrea Racing driver controlled Sunday morning’s race after a second-lap incident between pole-sitter Will Martin and champion-elect Riley Dickinson.

Dickinson, who started third on the grid, attempted to take the lead on the first flying lap through the Corkscrew before making contact with the No. 9 JDX Racing Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car, which ultimately knocked both drivers out of the race.

It resulted in a full course caution to retrieve Martin’s damaged car, while Dickinson drove his No. 53 Kellymoss Porsche to the pits before ending his race.

Sargent took the restart with 25 minutes remaining on the clock and drove to a commanding 6.668-second win over the No. 2 Kellymoss Porsche of Sean Varwig.

It came after both the second and third-placed entries, the No. 7 Kellymoss Porsche of Michael McCarthy and Alex Sedgwick’s No. 98 JDX Racing entry, went off course while battling for second in the closing moments of the 40-minute contest.

Dan Clarke finished third, with Jason Hart and Ryan Yardley completing the top-five.

Pro-Am honors went to Efrin Castro, who has also provisionally locked up the class title by virtue of starting the race.

Castro, in the No. 65 Kellymoss Porsche, finished 14th overall ahead of the No. 68 MDK Motorsports entry of Chris Bellomo and Kyle Washington’s GMG Racing Porsche.

Scott Noble, meanwhile, claimed the win in the Am categorty over his teammate Mark Kvamme, in another MDK 1-2 class finish.

Race 2 gets underway at 3:35 p.m. PDT (6:35 p.m. EDT) with live coverage on PorscheCarreraCup.us, Peacock and IMSA.tv, featuring commentary from John Hindhaugh and Porsche factory driver Nick Tandy.

RESULTS: Race 1

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