The number 39 Audi R8 GT4 driven by Tyler McQuarrie was the pole-sitter, and next to him was the number 60 Aston Martin Vantage GT4 driven by Nate Stacy was next to him.
A traffic jam occurred at turn three that led to the number 35 Mercedes-AMG GT4 car driven by Jim Cox being hit from the outside by the number four Mercedes-AMG GT4 car driven by Russell Ward. Both cars spun in the process as other cars slowed down to get by them. Tyler McQuarrie was still leading the race when the red flag was waved for severe weather in the area. IMSA officials stopped the clock with an hour and ten minutes left in the race. After an hour and fifteen-minute delay, the race resumed at 4:09 pm.
With under 55 minutes left, the battle for first heated up with McQuarrie still in the lead as Foley, Stacy, McCumbee, and Maxwell were chasing him. In the TCR class, Ryan Norman had a 1.915-second lead over Ben Waddell. Nate Stanley challenged Robby Foley for the second position as he tried to make a move on the outside lane but could not finish as he remained in third. Stanley would get the second position from Foley with under 50 minutes left going to the inside lane of turn five.
Cars began to schedule their green-flag pit stops with under 45 minutes left. McQuarrie and Chad McCumbee had not yet pitted. McCumbee pitted, and a driver change occurred with James Pesek taking over the ride. Tyler McQuarrie headed to pit road as Jeff Westphal took over the ride of the number 39 Audi R8 GT4 car.
There was trouble for Robby Foley’s car as he slowed down in the backstretch in between turns 16 and 17, and came to a complete stop. The crews were able to pull the car in and avoid the caution flag with under 30 minutes left.
The caution would come out again with 16 minutes left for weather in the area. Lightning could be seen in the distance as the race ended under the yellow flag with Jeff Westphal and the number 39 Audi R8 GT4 taking the win in the GT class and Mark Wilkins in the number 21 Hyundai Veloster N taking the win the TCR class.
The rest of the top ten finishers in the GT class were Kyle Marcelli second, Trent Hindman third, Indy Dontje fourth, Bill Auberlen fifth, Eric Foss sixth, Dillon Machavern seventh, Seb Priaulx eighth, Dylan Murry ninth, and Devin Jones tenth.
For the TCR class, the rest of the top ten finishers were Michael Lewis second, Alex Papadopulos third, James Vance fourth, Mikey Taylor fifth, Tim Lewis sixth, Gabby Chaves seventh, Jon Morley eighth, Stephan Simpson ninth, and Mathew Pombo tenth.
The next race for the Michelin Challenge will be Road America on Saturday, August 1st, at 4:45 pm on NBC Sports Gold Track Pass.
