Racers Edge Acura Dominant in Race 1 at Road America

Photo: Brian Cleary/SRO

Racers Edge Motorsports scored a dominant win in the first GT World Challenge America powered by AWS race of the weekend at Road America.

Trent Hindman took the team’s No. 93 Acura NSX GT3 Evo to a 40.049-second victory over the No. 33 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 of Russell Ward, who had an off-course excursion on the final lap but managed to hold onto second.

Ward’s co-driver Indy Dontje started from pole but lost the position early in the 90-minute race to Shelby Blackstock.

An accident involving the two DXDT Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evos moments after the green flag resulted in an early full-course caution and also shook up the running order in GT3 Pro-Am.

It gave the No. 20 Wright Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R of Max Root and Fred Poordad another overall finish in their Am class entry, ahead of the No. 1 Squadra Corse Ferrari 488 GT3 of Martin Fuentes and Rodrigo Baptista, who suffered a drive-through penalty for a pit lane infringement.

The No. 63 DXDT Mercedes Evo of Askew and Ryan Dalziel completed the top-five after Askew’s spin into the sister No. 04 entry of George Kurtz resulted in rear-end damage to the CrowdStrike-sponsored machine.

Kurtz and Colin Braun completed 34 laps before parking their machine five minutes from the end.

Fuentes and Baptista, who claimed maximum points with their first place finish in class, provisionally take over the Pro-Am championship lead.

RESULTS: Race 1

Photo: Fabian Lagunas/SRO

Gates Continues Dominance in GT Sports Club America… and Proposes

Ryan Gates has remained undefeated in GT2 competition by taking his fifth GT Sports Club America victory in as many races.

The 311RS Motorsport driver finished 9.355 seconds ahead of the No, 31 TR3 Racing Ferrari of Mark Issa, which was a late addition to the grid with his GT3-spec entry.

Gates ran as high as fifth overall prior to the checkered flag, due to the early race collision between the two DXDT Mercedes.

Gates proposed to his girlfriend, Christa, in victory lane during the post-race interview, in which she said yes.

The newly engaged couple, along with their dog, posed for pictures afterwards.

Jason Bell finished third in his No. 2 GMG Racing Porsche 911 GT2 RS Clubsport, while Stu Frederick took Iron class honors in the sister GMG entry.

Race 2 is set for Sunday at 1:15 p.m. CT.

RESULTS: Race 1

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