Dickinson Defends Against Kingsley for Race 2 Win

After starting first in both Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama races at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, Riley Dickinson finally finished first on Sunday morning during the second and final round of the weekend.

In the No. 53 Moorespeed Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car, Dickinson qualified on pole for Saturday’s Race 1, but was overtaken midrace by Jeff Kingsley in the No. 16 Kelly-Moss Road and Race Porsche, who went on to victory.

On Sunday, it was a different story.

Dickinson charged forward at the drop of the green flag in Race 2 and while the 18-year-old led flag to flag, Kingsley loomed large in his mirror for the entire 45 minutes with unrelenting pressure.

At one point, Kingsley was able to pull alongside Dickinson’s Porsche in Turn 10A – identical to his pass for the win on Saturday – but Dickinson held him off and the No. 16 was not able to pull closer afterwards.

Dickinson went on to win by 0.602 seconds.

With Dickinson’s second win of the year, he moves into second place in the Platinum Cup point standings for current generation Porsche 911 GT3 Cup cars.

Entering the next round at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, the IMSA Hurley Haywood GT3 Cup Scholarship recipient will be nine points behind Kingsley in the points, 201-192.

Continuing to lead the Platinum Masters class for drivers 45 years and older, Alan Metni swept the weekend once again in the No. 99 Kelly-Moss/AM Motorsports Porsche. He finished fourth overall in both Rounds 5 and 6.

In the Gold Cup class for Porsche 911 GT3 Cup cars built between 2014-2016, there was drama midway through the race that would ultimately impact the final results.

Driving the No. 17 ACI Motorsports Porsche, Curt Swearingin took advantage of slower traffic to make a pass for the lead on Efrin Castro, who started first-in-class after winning Race 1. Swearingin sailed away and seemed poised for the win until he attempted to make a pass on a slower contender, but both cars made contact and spun in Turn 3.

Castro sped past in his No. 65 TPC Racing Porsche and collected his third victory of the season, tying Swearingin’s number of wins as well. Castro is now within two points, 197-195, of Swearingin in the point standings.

Finishing second in Gold Cup was Bart Collins, who also scored the Yokohama Hard Charger Award for gaining the most positions in the class throughout the race. The result was an improvement from Saturday’s finish when Collins finished third in the No. 22 MCR Racing Porsche.

RESULTS: Race 2