We are set to go for the second and final TC America event of the weekend here at Sebring International Raceway. After this race, just two remain, for the finale, in two weeks, from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, "The Brickyard". It is time for the tin tops to tackle Sebring again. Who will conquer the famous bumps of Sebring? We'll find out soon. Ryan Myrehn and Calvin Fish calling the action topside, with Amanda Busick in pit lane, as always. In TCX, the battle is on between Colin Garrett and Lucas Catania, in the scrap for the championship. It is cool by Florida standards which is great for these touring cars, production-based vehicles, that can heat soak if they run closer together too often. In TCX it is a mix between BMW M2's and Honda Civic's. Mini, Hyundai, and Honda battling for the TC class honors. Jeff Ricca vs. Clay Williams and Cristian Perocarpi. Turbo trouble for Jeff Ricca yesterday and some uncertainty about it.
If Clay Williams finishes second in the last three races he can get the championship but can't have a cushion that is too big. The manufacturer's cup battle between Mini and Hyundai is one to watch. Spencer Bucknum in the clear after Devin Anderson failed to score yesterday. He is in damage limitation mode after an electrical issue yesterday. A 20-car field for today's race. Cristian Perocarpi has to be wondering how his car will work and Clay Williams, his teammate is also in the fight. So, we've set the stage and should see cooperation from the Mini's.
As we have talked about, Sebring is one of a kind and all about the bumps. All over the runways developed here in the 1940s before and during WW. II. The track opened in 1950, first race held New Year's Eve of 1950, the Sam Collier 6 Hours memorial race. The first 12 Hours of Sebring came in 1952 and the United States Formula 1 Grand Prix in 1959. OK. Green flag for the TCX cars with Colin Garret on pole and we're off! Garrett a good start, and now, the TC field are away as well. Jeff Ricca leading.
Perocarpi goes for it early doors. In TCA, Spencer Bucknum leads as Lambros and Che make contact! Shaoyi Che tried a gpa that was not there and Joe Pizzuto makes a move on Lucas Catania. The tire temperature is just not there. Lucas Catania has to beat Colin Garrett to keep the championship alive heading for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Meanwhile in TC, Jeff Ricca wants to go for the sweep, breaking out the broom. Cristian Perocarpi is going for it trying to help teammate Clay Williams for the championship.
Perocarpi is piling the pressure on Ricca. The rear wing on the Mini, over the Sebring bumps, moving and flexing. There is a shimmy in that car it looks like. LAP Motorsports runs the Mini's, based in Brownsburg, Indiana. This weekend they have Mini technicians from Orlando, Florida, Dallas, Texas, and Arizona. Colin Garrett being kept honest by debutant Joe Pizzuto, a local Sebring native who knows this track like the back of his hand. Will Lambros being told to move behind P.J. Groenke and Shaoyi Che. Meanwhile, he has gone to the tail end of the field. He got roughed up into turn one.
Spencer Bucknum now being chased down by Devin Anderson who remains second in the Subaru BRZ. Bucknum in the Honda Civic Si FE1. Kenny Schmied tagged out of fifth spot as Maddie Aust tries to pass Joe Catania. This is in TCX and a late lunge by Catania on Kenny Schmied. Colin Garrett on the defense. Lambros all over Shaoyi Che now. Spencer Bucknum still leading Devin Anderson. Oh no! Clay Williams has stopped on the road and looks like he is restarting. He had to recycle the electronics, and this costs him dearly.
50% of the race distance must be covered to earn points. Colin Garrett sets the Crowdstrike Fastest Lap of the motor race in the 2:19 range. The Mini team does not know why the cars lose power and have to recycle the car. They have had turbocharger and turbo boost issues. They don't have enough for Jeff Ricca and the Hyundai Elantra as Williams passes Jeremiah Burton. Williams' car is running correctly once again. Kenny Schmied in recovery mode and poor old Clay Williams has gone a lap down and is in damage limitation mode.
Lucas Catania resets CrowdStrike Fastest Lap at 2:19.610. Rooster Hall Racing running in both TC America and in Pirelli GT4 America as well. Joe Pizzuto is hanging tough, and Colin Garrett really has to push. Pizzuto is taking the fight to Garrett. Trouble for Shaoyi Che in the Subaru BRZ, off the road and trying to make the safe haven on the inside. Something is wrong with the car. Garrett exrending his lead over Pizzuto and Catania but who are staying right in it. These two do not know how Pizzuto races and what his style of driving is.
The case of the missing lap for Clay Williams, the team believes he did not lose a lap and that he should be scored behind Sally McNulty. So, he can make up places on the road to try and salvage the day in race two with a healthy lead in the drivers' championship. He has caught Sally McNulty in the GenRacer car. McNulty will be going for it, running with GenRacer. McNulty races in another championship as well. Be fast but be likable too and Sally McNulty has a likable, bubbly personality. We do not know the full extent of the timing and scoring issue as Jeremiah Burton is in the pit lane and we don't know yet why.
Colin Garrett still leading and Celso Neto, the Brazilian, having another strong run but yet to hit victory lane. Catania keeping Pizzuto close. Colin Garrett making no mistakes. He is getting the job done as we'd expect. The TCA fight rages between Spencer Bucknum and Devin Anderson. Bucknum will extend his lead if he wins the race today. Devin Anderson needs to take risks before the final doubleheader of races at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in just two weeks. Anderson behind Bucknum, filling the mirrors of the race leader.
Clay Williams has passed Sally McNulty doing damage limitation to the points gap between he and Ricca in TC. He has work to do to catch Celso Neto. McNulty is going for it again and Clay Williams is having trouble again with the power loss and the reset. Williams now back in the fight. That's strange. Coming up on the halfway mark in the motor race. Williams runs 13 points ahead of Jeff Ricca, 222-209. Ricca on the back foot after not racing at Circuit of the Americas due to running the 24 Hours of the Nurburgring and also, had a horrible weekend at Virginia International Raceway in June. Spencer Bucknum, a third-generation racer, father Jeff, and Grandfather Ronnie.
Devin Anderson is 17 points behind Spencer Bucknum in the championship 230-213. He can see the championship trophy. Colin Garrett will wrap up the title today if he wins over Lucas Catania. The margin is 64 points, 249-185. Colin Garrett had a great year of racing in 2022 in TCX. Spencer Bucknum, meanwhile, is being chased down by Devin Anderson and more trouble for Jeremiah Burton. Bucknum and Anderson continue their battle as we will see them fighting for the title at Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the final pair of races in two weeks.
Anderson coming in a hurry. L.A. Honda World in Los Angeles, California, and Techsport based at Virginia International Raceway in Alton, Virginia. Anderson really, really has to push. No room for Anderson. Bucknum being proactive. Bucknum taking a wide line. The driver behind the wheel knows what works best. Joseph Pizzuto has had a fabulous debut for Extreme Velocity Motorsports battling with Lucas Catania who has won this year finally. Pizzuti, at 2:19.523, sets CrowdStrike Fastest Lap. A great effort at Rigid Speed, who are not full-time racers. P.J. Groenke has the lone TCA spec Mini in the race this weekend as Pizzuto runs wide.
Colin Garrett is a second and a half to the good over Pizzuto and as they run he would be in the fight for the title. Christopher DeFreitas battling Kenny Schmied in TCX. Schmied's spin will be analyzed after the race ends. Clay Williams has been able to charge up to third place and pass Celso Neto. Anderson has loose bodywork and Bucknum runs wide. Anderson tries through Sunset Bend but no dice. That was very, very close to contact! Holy cow! Great respect between these two drivers, who are early in their careers, and we could be talking about them for a long time to come.
Inside the final ten minutes of this motor race. Anderson pogoing over the bumps in Sunset Bend. The overall leader, Colin Garrett is catching this battle and Anderson tries the inside but no dice. Bucknum slams the door in his face. Garrett pops out to the outside. Anderson gets stymied by Bucknum. Bucknum's line compro,ised on corner entry to Sunset Bend. Anderson gets the door slammed on him again and here comes Pizzuto and Catania. This is the tight stuff right here. Anderson gets the door opened and are side by side. Bucknum squeezes him. Anderson pushing hard for the lead and makes the pass!
Bucknum has pace and Anderson slides wide. Pizzuto and Catania scrapping for second and Anderson gets passed by Yoshihara. Anderson and Bucknum side by side in Collier corner. Bucknum takes the lead again! This is sensational racing! Unbelievable! Great racing! Garrett stretching the lead out with less than five minutes on the board. Bucknum and Anderson scrapping in TCA still. Joe Pizzuto on the podium in TCX as we hear from the owner of the team. Bucknum and Anderson into the hairpin, Anderson tries to send it and nails Bucknum who goes off the road and back on! Yikes!
Maddie Aust entering the picture in TCX and now, Catania clears Bucknum. Devin Anderson really fast on corner entry to Sunset Bend and Bucknum checks up. Anderson warned for incident responsibility. Anderson dives to the inside sending it and goes for the lead. Bucknum returns the favor! Side by side, wheel to wheel! Still side by side! Great driving! Anderson inside to the hairpin. Bucknum deep on the brakes but no and Anderson stays in front! Bucknum again to the inside! He puts his nose in front. Anderson over the curbs!
The Honda has more midrange torque than the Subaru BRZ does. Each time a pass is made the points swing by seven and Anderson tries the outside. White flag for the overall leaders. They bang wheels again. The body panels flying! Anderson sending it into Sunsert Bend, tucking it to the inside and not this time. Bucknum still in the lead! Schmied tries the pitsude and Anderson dives inside Kenny Schmied in the TCX BMW. Bucknum slides and is off the road! Anderson is through and Bucknum loses the spot! Anderson's Subaru, wounded, tires fading.
Rear damage to the muffler on Bucknum's Honda who has a healthy margin over Will Lambros in third spot. Colin Garrett leads as Pizzuto and Catania fight for second. Colin Garrett wins the race and clinches the 2023 SRO America TC America TCX championship! Pizxzuto on the podium just behind Lucas Catania. In TCA, Bucknum has caught Anderson back up. Anderson not done yet. Bucknum is going to settle for second and Devin Anderson and TechSport Racing win the TCA class. In TC it will be a clean sweep of the weekend for Jeff Ricca, GenRacer and Hyundai!
Cristian Perocarpi has dropped to third and Clay Williams will score second place points. This helps his buffer in the driver's championship with the final two races to come at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in two weeks. The new TCX champion, Colin Garrett. Pizzuto at 2:19.523 earns the CrowdStrike Fastest Lap of the race and ends up on the podium on debut! Cue the synthesizer dance music for the results sheet.
Overall/TCX: #44 Colin Garrett Rooster Hall Racing BMW M2 CS (Cup)
TC: #78 Jeff Ricca Genracer/Ricca Autosport Hyundai Elantra N TC
TCA: #22 Devin Anderson TechSport Racing Subaru BRZ
So, the TC America second race at Sebring is done and dusted and we now have just two more races left to go at "The Brickyard", at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the world's most famous racetrack, coming up in two weeks. Excited about that. Jeff Ricca and Clay Williams will be battling for the TC title. It'll be a fight to the finish. Devin Anderson did what he needed to do and "wore out" Spencer Bucknum. We'll see you at Indianapolis for the finale in two weeks. Take care, everybody. Bye bye.
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