Jones Honors Legendary Grandfather with Mid-Ohio Win

Jagger Jones knew that there was only one way to honor his legendary grandfather. He did so by winning Saturday’s IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge race in dominant fashion, much the way the great Parnelli Jones did so many times in a stellar career.

In his first race since Parnelli Jones died Tuesday at age 90, Jagger Jones led from the drop of the green flag in the 45-minute sprint, taking the checkered flag in the No. 87 FastMD Racing with Remstar Duqueine D08 Nissan by 7.567 seconds.

The victory was the third straight for Jagger Jones in the VP Racing Challenge, following a weekend sweep at St. Petersburg, Fla., in March.

Steven Aghakhani (No. 6 MLT Motorsports Ligier JS P320 Nissan) finished second overall and in the LMP3 class, with Miguel Villagomez (No. 23 Escuderia ABRO Ligier) placing third.

Aghakhani unofficially extended his points lead to 310 over Villagomez.

With the win, Jones jumped from seventh to fourth in the P3 standings, but because he missed the opening doubleheader round at Daytona International Speedway, still trails Aghakhani by 440 points.

Fittingly, Jones’ triumph on Saturday came 54 years and a day after his grandfather won a Trans-Am race at the same Mid-Ohio circuit. It’s a fact the 21-year-old was unaware of but pleased to learn.

Mars Capitalizes to Win Third GSX Race of Season

Luca Mars started third Saturday in the GSX class for GT4 spec cars but benefitted from a coming together of the cars ahead and a drive-through penalty for the pole-sitter to cruise to the GSX victory in the No. 59 KohR Motorsports Ford Mustang GT4.

It’s also Mars’ third win of the season following his sweep of the opening round at Daytona International Speedway in January.

Polesitter Jesse Lazare (No. 21 Motorsports In Action McLaren Artura GT4) and second-place starter Josh Green (No. 78 Thaze Competition Mercedes-AMG GT GT4) made light contact with each other on the opening lap, allowing Mars to slip past Green into second place.

Soon after, Lazare was ordered to make the pit-lane drive-through for lining up in the wrong lane at the start.

That opened the door for Mars to take the lead, which he took to the finish, 5.606 seconds ahead of Green. Lazare charged from seventh in class after the penalty to snare the final podium position.

Race 2 of the Mid-Ohio weekend streams live on Peacock starting at 9:40 a.m. ET Sunday.

RESULTS: Race 1