DXDT Felt Like “Changing it Up” With Pro Class Mercedes

Photo: Brian Cleary/SRO

David Askew is hoping that DXDT Racing’s first-ever Pro class entry in the Indianapolis 8 Hour presented by AWS will showcase the strengths of his team as well as prove its commitment to Mercedes-AMG.

The North Carolina-based operation, which ran a pair of Pro-Am class entries in Fanatec GT World Challenge America powered by AWS this year, has opted to put its two season-long pro drivers — Dirk Mueller and Bryan Sellers — in a Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo together with Silver-rated Patrick Assenheimer for this weekend’s finale.

It comes in a bid to fight for the overall podium in the joint GTWC America/Intercontinental GT Challenge powered by AWS enduro.

“We’ve won this race twice in Pro-Am and have won the one in Laguna,” Askew told Sportscar365.

“My involvement with AMG continues to get stronger. This year I’ve got Dirk racing with me, which is great.

“We felt like changing it up a little and let’s try to put an effort to get two podiums, which we thought was achievable with the Pro side and Am.

“It’s mainly something different to show AMG that we’re committed to getting their cars on the podium. That’s the main idea behind it.”

Askew, meanwhile, has moved over to the team’s No. 08 Mercedes alongside fellow Bronze-rated drivers Scott Smithson and Valentin Pierburg that will contest the Am class.

While not nominated to score IGTC manufacturer points, Sellers said he’s grateful for the chance to go for overall honors and “show what we’re capable of.”

“It’s really great of Dave and Scott to give us the opportunity,” he told Sportscar365.

“There were a lot of conversations coming to the end of the year and we weren’t in the [Pro-Am] point championship.

“They both kind of said, ‘Hey, we would like to see what the team’s capable of’ and together decided to put this thing together.

“Obviously you want to come in here and show well because you’re up against some of the best in the world.

“This is an opportunity for us to hopefully show what we’re capable of and the alternative of also look and see where we need to improve for the future. I think there’s nothing but positive to come from it.”

Mueller, who is a Multimatic-contracted driver, put the No. 63 Mercedes third quickest in Wednesday afternoon’s test session, which the German ace said bodes well for Saturday.

“Day 1 was really good,” he told Sportscar365. “I was in the mix at the end, just half-a-tenth shy of P1. The car felt good and let’s see.

“The goal is definitely being up there. I know it’s not going to be easy but the goal is to be up on the front and finish on the podium.

“We are coming from a different approach. Over the whole season, it’s like we were not looking for the last final tenth. That is what we’re doing here right now.

“We’re on the toes and have everything we need.”

Askew said he’s been proud of the gains made during the year in the first season as a restructured two-car GTWC America squad.

The team previously operated CrowdStrike Racing’s effort, which has moved over to Riley Motorsports for this year, which has allowed for DXDT to take a more focused approach according to Askew.

“We’ve been working diligently all season long on the cars, the drivers,” he said. “The crew has been working really, really hard.

“Sometimes the results don’t show on the track but the cars have been the best they’ve ever been. I’m going the fastest I’ve ever gone. Scott is going the fastest he’s ever gone.

“Really to get Bronze drivers fast, you need to have cars that are comfortable and that you can have confidence in, which is what we have now.

“Now it’s a lot of little things. How can we eke a little bit more out of this thing?

He added: “Getting three top-level pros in the car and just letting them do their thing is something I’ve always wanted to do. We’ve decided to do it this year.

“I’d like to do more of it.”

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