Morris to Replace Smithson in DXDT Corvette at Road America

Photo: Mike Levitt/IMSA

Bryson Morris will take the place of Scott Smithson in the No. 08 DXDT Racing Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R in next weekend’s Fanatec GT World Challenge America round at Road America, it has been confirmed.

The 19-year-old rising star, who drives for Bryan Herta Autosport in IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge, will make his Fanatec GT America debut in the No. 08 Corvette alongside Bryan Sellers next weekend in the pair of 90-minute races.

Sellers said the decision to part ways with longtime driver Smithson was not an easy one but was made with a long-term view into the program.

“It’s definitely not an easy decision but it just seemed like with the team’s goals for the future, it was a good business decision at the time,” he told Sportscar365.

“It was something we were prepared for and that we prepped for with Bryson.

“David [Askew, team owner] has always been about opportunity and giving people opportunities and it just seemed like the right time to do this with our new relationship with Corvette and Pratt Miller.

“We’re not in a position to chase for points. The opportunity just came around and presented itself for us to move forward.

“We’re all excited about bringing in a young kid and giving him a chance.”

Morris turned his first laps in the team’s Corvette during a test at Road America last week.

“We were really impressed with his maturity level when he came in and tested with us,” said Sellers. “How he handled the situation, how he came in and did what he was asked, which is ultimately what becomes the most important thing in this type of racing.”

Sellers said the deal with Morris is currently for Road America-only, although the team has no specific goals in mind for the weekend in the Pro-Am class entry.

“It’s not a tryout or anything like that. It’s just where we’re at in terms of planning,” he said. “It’s not one of those things where, ‘If he does a good job, he’ll be in for the rest of the season.’

“We just aren’t 100 percent sure what the layout for the rest of the year looks. We just had an opportunity for this upcoming weekend.

“You never know what happens. You’re constantly trying to evaluate young talent, whether that young talent is for full season entries, whether it’s for endurance roles, you just always have your eyes on people.

“Bryson has been working with Nic Jonsson as his manager for quite a while now. We’ve all known Nic for a lot of years and his results paired with his recommendation and how Bryson tested with us made him a pretty natural option.”

Sellers said one of the deciding factors in making the driver change was for the No. 08 Corvette to make some gains in terms of performance to the sister No. 63 entry of Tommy Milner and Alec Udell, which has been undefeated in Pro class competition since their debut at Circuit of The Americas in May.

“You can see that the team is growing and maturing at a very quick rate,” he said. “We want to make sure that both cars continue to progress at that level.

“We feel like Bryson gives us the opportunity to do that.”

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