Good morning, everyone and welcome to day two of racing action at Sebring as we get underway this morning, with GT America race two action, starting now. It seems like today's schedule has been moved up from where a lot of people thought it would be. It is time to bring the action, we have three races to go. Memo Gidley has 25 points over Jason Daskalos. Ross Chouest, Robb Holland, and Jason Bell will contend for the title. Ryan Myrehn, and Calvin Fish call the action for us and Amanda Busick reporting from the pit lane on this much cooler weekend for racing and it is not scorching hot.
We saw Memo Gidley win race one yesterday. Three races to go. Today at Sebring and two more left at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Ross Chouest may just have to drop his score this weekend as yesterday was not a good race. Elias Sabo was supposed to start this race but instead, he will race only in Pirelli GT4 America later this morning. Jason Bell and Robb Holland will be scrapping. Jason Bell's co-driver Michael Cooper says Bell is extremely consistent. Cooper is Bell's GT4 America co-driver and his driver coach. The engines have fired up and so we are ready to get going.
We thought Memo Gidley was on pole, but he is starting fourth. Maybe he had a penalty, but we still need to know. We'll work out what the deal is and let you know. Memo Gidley starts fourth because of a tech infraction, a tire pressure monitoring sensor. There are passing capabilities at Sebring, but there are also places for defensive driving. The tire pressure situation is a performance advantage for lower tire pressures than what is prescribed by the SRO and by Pirelli. This is the second of two formation laps. Sebring is a legendary place. The bumps are not the only part that make this place a tough track. It is flat being an airfield and turn one and turn 17 are two of the most demanding corners not just on this track but in all of motor racing anywhere.
The GT3 cars have good damper systems. Jason Daskalos is going to do all he can to stay in the fight. He has to beat Memo Gidley to keep his title hopes alive. Adam Adelson will get feisty and put his elbows out in that 992 model Porsche 911. Bell and Holland the protagonists in GT4. We've got a green flag! It's go time! Sebring race two is on! Daskalos gets to the lead and Adelson, Gidley, and Kurtz are all scrapping immediately into Kristensen Corner as George Kurtz moves to second. Kurtz and Adelson are also dueling in Fanatec GT World Challenge America we'll see later today.
Anthony Bartone also coming into the picture. In GT4, good start for Robb Holland right in the wheel tracks of Jason Bell. In cool morning conditions the Porsche Cayman will have an advantage with the normally aspirated flat six motor. Holland has to go for it to stay in the fight. Adelson falling into the clutches of Memo Gidley, the championship leader. Peaks and valleys all over Gidley's season, dominating the first race yesterday.
Adelson slides wide with Gidley on the ideal, preferred line. They give each other a nudge, and Gidley keeps his foot in it. Now, he is chasing George Kurtz. Johnny O'Connell, eight-time winner of the 12 Hours of Sebring has gone around both Todd Treffert and Anthony Bartone. This is the older Audi R8 and SKI Autosport has also run a Ferrari 458 Italia. But in 2024 they have a new GT3 car coming, and we'll see what car they choose. Corvette will release their new GT3 car. Corvette will have a GT3 car in GT World Challenge America and at Indianapolis next time out we shall see who the team is who will race it.
Tony Gaples with the Chevrolet Camaro GT4.R, this is the final year of homologation for that car and so we will not see it next year. I wonder what car Tony Gaples will race in the future. Ray Sorensen leads the Black Dog Speed Shop team and has many former Newman/Haas IndyCar team members there as Scott Blind slides wide and Tim Savage too is going for it in another Aston for The Racer's Group. Tim Savage wants to get to the big enduros in sports car racing soon. Kris Wilson, a former SRO America race winner is Tim Savage's driver coach. Gray Newell, too, is beginning to go for it and he and Elias Sabo had a tangle yesterday.
Jason Bell is disappointed he has no competition from Sabo but glad he will get more points. Ross Chouest, too, is making his move on GT4 veteran Tom Collingwood in another Porsche Cayman. Chouest is the reigning GT4 GT America champion from 2022. Daskalos, Kurtz, Gidley, Adelson. Three Mercedes' and a Porsche. Eight drivers are doing double duty. In GT America, developing drivers can do that and learn how to race in one of the other championships here in SRO America. It is not unheard of, to see drivers racing in this championship and in Fanatec GT World Challenge America.
The 992 Porsche and the 911.II Porsche, they drive completely differently. Adelson is happier ina GT3 car than in a GT4. 2:02.857, CrowdStrike Fastest Lap so far, goes to Memo Gidley. Mirco Schultis in the Callaway Corvette GT3 is out of the race. Will he campaign a C8 GT3 Corvette next year, or not? We'll see. Gidley trying to make his move on Kurtz in the fight for second with championship implications. Gidley wrestling his hands around. I wonder why. He does have the pace but is using his head as an expeirenced driver and not throwing caution to the wind.
Jason Daskalos extends his lead and here comes Adelson joining the party with Kurtz and Gidley. They are having a little party, and they didn't invite me! We'll, I'll invite myself in anyway! The bump sequence under the bridge, you really need to be consistent with where you hit them and you are on your toes all the time, wrestling the car. Hit your marks. Gidley staying in line and Adelson has designs of getting third place back, not in GT America for the title. Ditto for George Kurtz, the reigning champion.
Kurtz has won a lot of championships and big races as 2:02.666 is the new fastest lap for Daskalos and his lead has ballooned to 2.2 seconds. Daskalos has to beat Gidley. George Kurtz was title rival to Daskalos last year but now he must trust Kurtz to keep Gidley behind. 2:02.325, new fastest lap to Daskalos. Well, well, well. Still 25 minutes to go, a lot of meat on the bone as far as race time and distance. Johnny O'Connell has passed by Anthony Bartone. O'Connell is doing all he can but losing time to the rest of the SRO3 field. In GT4, Jason Bell continues to lead Robb Holland and Tony Gaples.
Tim Savage and Scott Blind in a battle of their own as Ross Chouest is now seventh behind Gray Newell. Daskalos still laying down fast lap after fast lap. With two races to go, 15 points would be the difference, 274-259 between Daskalos and Kurtz. Great respect between these two drivers and they had a phenomenal battle at Road America a number of weeks ago. O'Connel far quicker and trying to catch Adelson. We watch Andy Wilzoch in the silver and red Porsche 911 GT3R checking in with Flying Lizard team boss Darren Law. Flying Lizard has been around since 2004 and Andy Wilzoch is racing his final season, and his final race today, because he cannot make the races at Indianapolis.
Memo Gidley makes the pass, through Sunset Bend on George Kurtz. Johnny O'Connell, charging, absolutely going for it. O'Connell won the 12 Hours of Sebring in 1994 in the Clayton Cunningham Nissan 300ZX Turbo in the IMSA championship. O'Connell in the Audi fastest in sector two. Handling, aero, and cornering very important there, but losing time and speed down the straightaways. We have gone past the halfway mark. Daskalos leads Gidley by 4.8 seconds but now, Gidley had cut it down and 2:01.949 new fastest lap for Gidley who has chopped the gap down to 4.1 seconds as Tony Gaples makes a move on Robb Holland.
Wonderful to see Tony Gaples back racing here in SRO, Black Dog Speed Shop based out of Chicago. Gaples in position for his best result of the year and now, Robb Holland is going to go for it and slams the door in his face. Holland is desperate to catch up with Jason Bell before the Indianapolis duo of races that mark the season finale. Don't get scrappy. Jason Bell is at one of his home tracks, out of Tampa Bay, Florida. 269-227, so, 42 points between Holland and Bell. When you drop race scores it is a full race weekend dropped, not an individual race.
The leaders are mired in GT4 traffic. Kurtz still being chased by Adelson. The GT4 cars corner well. Traffic management is a skill in any skilled endurance racer's toolbox. Adelson has a head of steam trying to get by Kurtz and Johnny O'Connell reads it and gets a head of steam passing Adelson! Wow! Now he is going to monster George Kurtz. O'Connell, vastly experienced. He is going for a podium. Tim Savage in the GT4 Aston Martin knew what was coming and moved out of the way. O'Connell is not going to play anymore and makes his move on Kurtz who has Adelson still on his six.
Here comes Todd Treffert too, in the #41 Mercedes-AMG GT3. Treffert could be a champion in GT America if he comes back to this championship in 2024. He was asking a random trivia question on the radio. Who was the butler in "The Munsters"? I have no idea. Gidley is very likely to be in the championship hunt and Jason Daskalos still needs to push hard. Oof! Gidley drops the wheels off in the dirt down the Ulmann straightaway! In SRO3 you cannot drop scores. Scott Blind gets really loose and saves the Aston Martin! That was close! Adelson is off as well, look, as Treffert is closing and fast.
Adelson vulnerable to the vintage racer, Treffert. Oy yoy yoy! This championship has really stepped up, as Gray Newell is now defending from Scott Blind and Andy Wilzoch splits them. That is the SRO3 Flying Lizard Porsche. The GT4 cars corner well but they don't have the horsepower or the speed down the straightaways that the GT3's do. Gidley moving fast and a new fastest lap for Gidley at 2:01.924. 1.4 seconds the gap, with eight and a half minutes left. Don't get into the cadence, the rhythm of the driver ahead of you.
O'Connell has made good his escape over Kurtz and Adelson. Tony Gaples is closing in one Jason Bell. Gaples, if he passes Bell that would help Robb Holland. Bell has everything to lose and Gaples has nothing to lose. Funny because Michael Cooper knows Tony Gaples well, too. Think big picture and don't let Gaples get inside your head. Michael Cooper drove for Black Dog Speed Shop years ago. Bell answers with his own fastest lap. Gaples has caught him. Bell managed the race yesterday but today he has his hands full.
Memo Gidley is moving in on Daskalos for the overall lead of the motor race. Just over five minutes to go. Gaples closing on Bell who is carrying the speed. The Aston Martin is handling the Sebring bumps just fine. Gaples gets stymied by the SRO3 Porsche of Wilzoch who compromises Bell and gives Gaples a bite of the cherry. Daskalos leads Gidley by three seconds. The overall lead remains up for grabs. Memo Gidley coming in a big hurry. It is all about risk vs. reward. It is a massive swing, seven points between first and second, a 14-point swing in total.
Five miles of racing left for Jason Daskalos to hang on. In GT4, Gaples closing again on Jason Bell. The cars are evenly matched up here well. I think the Aston Martin is sharper on direction change than the Camaro. White flag. One lap to go. It is Daskalos vs. Gidley and just two rounds remaining. Gaples off and on and Bell gets passed. Can Jason Bell respond? Bell runs wide and gets loose over the curb. Daskalos stays in the fight if he wins. Gidley wants to do the double. Daskalos hitting his marks perfectly. Time is running out. The Ulmann straight and then Sunset Bend. Gidley flashing the lights.
He sends it to the inside. Daskalos protects. Daskalos wins! We have a championship brawl headed for the finale at Indianapolis! Gidley, O'Connell, Kurtz, Adelson, the top five. In GT4, Tony Gaples gaps Jason Bell who might not have enough left. Tony Gaples a longtime member of the SRO paddock. Tony Gaples is going to win Sebring race two in GT4!
Overall/SRO3: #27 Jason Daskalos CRP Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3
GT4: #5 Tony Gaples Blackdog Speed Shop Chevroler Camaro GT4.R
Newell holds off the challenges from Blind and Chouest in GT4. 2:01.924, fastest lap of the motor race goes to Gidley. Driving offline, get tire pickup for adding weight and ride height to the car for post-race scrutineering. Green to checker win for Daskalos, cue the dance music for the results. Wow. What a motor race that was! Chevrolet back in the winners' circle in GT4 here at Sebring. Ross Chouest with a weekend to forget but has an outside shot at repeating a GT4 championship headed for the finale at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
So, we'll see you for the finale at "The Brickyard" in just two weeks' time. For now, from the orange groves of Sebring International Raceway, so long everybody. More racing still to come on this Sunday. Stay tuned.
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