Stephens Makes Last-Lap Pass for Sunday Win at NOLA

Photo: Brian Cleary/SRO

An impressive last-lap pass by Michai Stephens on John Capestro-Dubets kept Conquest Racing/JMF Racing’s undefeated Silver class streak alive in Pirelli GT4 America competition following a photo finish to Sunday’s race at NOLA Motorsports Park.

Stephens, in the No. 34 Mercedes-AMG GT4, edged out Capestro-Dubets’ No. 51 Auto Technic Racing BMW M4 GT4 by a mere 0.004 seconds at the checkered flag, with Chandler Hull’s No. 88 STR38 Motorsports BMW crossing the line just 0.088 seconds further behind in third.

While having held command for the majority of the 60-minute race, a restart with eight minutes to go saw Stephens close the gap to Capestro-Dubets and put heavy pressure on the BMW in the final laps until making a lunge down the inside into a braking zone with just a few corners to go.

It then set up a drag race to the finish, with the top three cars all finishing in the matter of a tenth of a second.

Stephens’ co-driver Jesse Webb started on pole but quickly lost the position to Capestro-Dubets’ co-driver Anderson, who drove into a narrow lead following the race’s first caution for a three-car pileup on the opening lap.

A second yellow for the beached No. 09 Zotz Racing Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport of Chris Ruppel led to a restart with 33 minutes left that saw the majority of cars pit for the mandatory pit stop and optional single-tire change, which was permitted for this weekend only.

With the Pro-Am class-leading No. 7 ACI Motorsports Porsche of Kay van Berlo having received a drive-through penalty for jumping the restart, and a subsequent penalty for Jason Hart’s No. 47 Nolasport Porsche for not meeting the minimum pit stop time, it gave clear sailing to Roman De Angelis to take the Pro-Am class win.

De Angelis, in his first GT4 America start with The Heart of Racing, finished fifth overall with co-driver Gray Newell in the No. 24 Aston Martin Vantage GT4, behind the No. 74 Copeland Motorsports Toyota GR Supra GT4 EVO of Tyler Maxon and Tyler Gonzalez, another of the Silver class entries.

Aaron Povoledo and John Geesbreght completed the Pro-Am class podium for Chouest Povoledo Racing and Smooge Racing, respectively.

Am class honors went to the No. 36 BimmerWorld BMW of Charlie Postins and James Clay, who finished 11th overall.

Saturday’s scheduled third round of the season was postponed to Sunday due to heavy rains that delayed track action by more than two hours. It led to officials to push back Round 4 to a yet-to-be-determined date and venue later in the season.

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