Hello, and welcome, everyone, to the penultimate race of the 2024 season for SRO Pirelli GT4 America here at "The Brickyard", Indianapolis Motor Speedway. This is the warmup act, the warmup event, before we see the main race, the Indianapolis 8 Hours endurance finale for the SRO Intercontinental GT Challenge and Fanatec GT World Challenge America championships, for the GT3 cars. We are in the final weekend of the season, and all three classes, based on driver ratings of course, are up for grabs. Our mates Ryan Myrehn and Calvin Fish in the booth, and Amanda Busick in the pit lane, are ready and willing to call the racing action on SRO GTWorld on YouTube. We have a bumper grid of GT4 cars ready to race.
Two championships are separated by just a handful of points and of course there is a chance to kiss the bricks winning here at Indianapolis. Five and three points respectively separate two of the championships. Pirelli GT4 America teams and drivers have been waiting around for their races. The drivers have been a bit nervous. Stay steady. It is an early start here on Saturday morning. Overcast skies and 59 degrees Fahrenheit ambient temperature, 15 degrees Celsius. We are looking now at the green and white #7 Porsche Cayman, one of the championship contenders in the Pro-Am class, the ACI Motorsports car of Curt Swearingin and Kay van Berlo. They are on the outside of the front row and van Berlo starts the race. He has 30 points in hand over his closest rivals, the #24 Heart of Racing Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT4 being shared by Roman De Angelis, the Canadian, and American racer Gray Newell.
Look back on row four of the grid. There is another points standings battle we are going to be having a Captain Cook at all race long today and for the season finale race here at "The Brickyard" tomorrow. In the Silver division look at the #97 Random Vandals Racing BMW M4 GT4 of Kenton Koch and Kevin Boehm, and the #28 RS1 Porsche Cayman of John Capestro-Dubets and Eric Filgueiras. The BMW had a double podium weekend including a win last time out at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama. There is an outside shot for the #51 AutoTechnic Racing BMW M4 GT4 (G82) of Zac Anderson and Colin Garrett to go for the crown in the Silver division.
The trouble the Anderson/Garrett duo is going to have is that they suffered an avoidable contact penalty at Barber Motorsports Park and that has put them on the back foot for a wee while as we get into the racing action at Indianapolis. They are starting caboose on the field and need to gain 39 points maximum. In the Am class, Kris Wilson has a three-point lead all by his lonesome over Jaden Lander and Robb Holland. Wilson is sharing the Random Vandals Racing BMW M4 GT4 #98 this weekend, with Michael Kanisczak. Nick Shanny who has also had multiple teammates, is 21 points down. Shanny is sharing the #20 Carrus Callas Raceteam BMW M4 GT4 (G82) with Chris Walsh. Of course, we have seen Chris Walsh's success in the touring car ranks and now he is breaking into GT4 racing, too.
The cars are out on their two formation laps on this cool morning. Former IndyCar driver Mattheus Leist, the Brazilian, has the pole, aboard the #89 RENNtech Motorsports Mercedes-AMG GT4 he shares with Michael Auriemma. We have some drivers joining or rejoining the championship and we'll talk about a lot of the drivers as they compete. Terry Borcheller is back. We have some new names you should keep an eye on as well such as Canadian Cayden Goodridge who joins Danny Dyszelski in the #77 VPX Motorsports Porsche Cayman, and in the first of the two Rotek Racing Porsche Cayman's, the #098 has Isaac Sherman sharing with open wheel racer Myles Rowe. Alex Garcia is also making his first GT4 start. We know Alex Garcia from the touring car ranks in SRO America. Garcia sharing the #16 Skip Barber Racing Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT4 with Michael Garcia. Not sure if there is a relation there.
The Anderson/Garrett BMW M4 GT4 is starting from pit lane due to the aforementioned penalty. 30 cars starting this race. We will see loads of action as the drivers are working over their Pirelli tires. Try and survive the first turn and then get into a rhythm. There is an interesting mix between drivers in the championship fight and other drivers who want to snag a win at the greatest raceway in the world for pride and for their CV. The two-and-a-half-mile oval at the speedway has been here since 1909. The infield road course debuted here at the speedway in 2000 to host Formula 1. It has been tweaked on in subsequent years. 14 corners and just under two and a half miles. The apex curbs are very usable.
Safety Car lights off. We're set to go for the penultimate GT4 race of SRO America 2024. Former winner of the Indy Lights/Indy Next Freedom 100 here at the speedway, Mattheus Leist, is the pole man. Kay van Berlo, the Dutchman, who is also racing in the Indianapolis 8 Hours later today, on the outside of the front row. Flagman Tom Hansing gives us the green flag! Pirelli GT4 America Indianapolis race one is go! John Capestro-Dubets already poking his nose into the fight in the #28 RS1 Porsche Cayman. Side by side as it's the squeeze, the accordion effect into turn one! Leist leads van Berlo and the rest of the field follows through.
Three cars in a sandwich. Romain De Angelis getting jostled around. Michai Stephens, too, in the JMF Motorsports Mercedes-AMG GT4 is back there. Stephens sharing with Jesse Webb. Garcia in the Skip Barber Racing Aston Martin is shoved off wide into the grass and has to find his footing again. Through turns three and four they go thundering towards the chicane for the first time of asking. JCD in the RS1 Porsche Cayman has a good start while Kevin Boehm in the Random Vandals BMW M4 GT4, one of the two Random Vandals cars in the race, drops back one spot. Kay van Berlo has powered his way to the top of the shop and is being harried by both Mattheus Leist and now, Tyler Gonzalez in the #68 Smooge Racing Toyota GR Supra GT4 he shares with Corey Lewis.
The Supra is all over the back of the red Mercedes and Kay van Berlo in the Porsche Cayman has pushed the bye bye button. He needs a solid race, no win necessary, to sign, seal, and deliver the championship. Mattheus Leist on the defensive. Kay van Berlo going for the Pro-Am championship title. Gonzalez has a head of steam through turn 14 and onto the frontstretch. This is the dyno run back to the first turn while Mattheus Leist is going defensive, definitely. The door is open as I think Gonzalez in the Supra is bringing more power at least briefly. 4-liter turbo V8 in the Mercedes and the Supra is using a BMW derived straight six with a turbo.
Gonzalez to the inside grabbing second from Mattheus Leist! A superb move! This isn't over. Leist not giving up. Here comes Kevin Boehm as he has his eyes on making the pass on Terry Borcheller. GT4 racing is hot, especially Pirelli GT4 America. Great to see Terry Borcheller back racing teamed up in the #07 Precision Racing L.A. Supra alongside Ryan Eversley this weekend for the doubleheader finale in Pirelli GT4 America. Oh dear. We have a car off the pace in the background, look. One of the BMW's is beginning to slow down. The tire temperatures are hot and the grip in the Pirelli P Zeroes is kicking in.
Oh dear, oh dear, oh drat. It's James Clay in the #36 BimmerWorld car he shares with Charlie Postins. They have been unstoppable and champions in the Am class in the past, but they have had a star crossed 2024 Pirelli GT4 America campaign. They were going for a third consecutive title and fortune has not smiled on the two-time defending champions this year. Michai Stephens is the fifth car in line making his return to SRO competition with JMF Motorsports. I think they have dipped their toe into the water in the GT4 ranks in the IMSA championship as well which runs to the same GT4 rules but for longer races and with a different tire brand. Stephens back up to speed after being involved in the contact, the argy bargy, the shemozzle, on the opening lap.
The Porsche excels in the cooler conditions whereas the BMW excels in the heat. John Capestro-Dubets has moved up to sixth place while Kevin Boehm has lost places and is in ninth spot. Kenton Koch too is doing double duty. Track time never hurts and gets drivers into the rhythm. We have a handful of GT4 America drivers who will be stepping up to GT3 for the Indianapolis 8 Hours brought in as third drivers within the 23-car strong GT3 field for the Indianapolis 8 Hours. Don't go far, and grab your snacks, beverages of choice, and so forth because we will have a full eight hours of SRO America and Intercontinental GT Challenge racing coming your way on the blog later on this afternoon and evening.
Anthony Geraci in one of the Toyota Supra's makes a pass on Colin Harrison in one of the two Techsport Nissan Z cars. Geraci at the wheel of the #72 Krugspeed Toyota GR Supra GT4 EVO he shares with Lance Bergstein, and the #22 TechSport Racing Nissan Z NISMO GT4 has Colin Harrison sharing alongside Elivan Goulart. Right inbetween these two is the #51 AutoTechnic Racing BMW M4 GT4, the car we talked about that started this event from the pit lane, being driven by Colin Garrett and Zac Anderson. Colin Garrett, the former NASCAR and stock car racer, and a former track champion at South Boston Speedway in South Boston, Virginia, one of the great short tracks we have around the country.
Yes, we talk about sports car racing here. But, trust me, if you have not been to see races for the stock cars at your local short track, you don't know what you are missing. It's fun. I can attest to that having seen many at my home track of Elko Speedway. Garrett and Anderson have had four podiums and two wins in 2024 and are just 39 points out of the lead. Up front, Gonzalez in the Supra has closed in a little bit on van Berlo. These are two cars from two different classes, again, based on driver rating, with all cars being GT4 spec. This is a battle between Pro-Am and Silver ranked drivers. Kay van Berlo is fighting with other drivers, not Gonzalez.
van Berlo is setting the tone for co-driver Curt Swearingin. There's 50 points on offer this weekend between this race and the Sunday finale. Fastest Lap of the race so far is turned by Tyler Gonzalez in the #68 Smooge Racing Toyota Supra at 1:30.385. Pit stops happen between the 25- and 35-minute mark of this 60-minute race. Before we get back to talking strategy, let's run down the top three in points and do som number crunching.
1. #7 Swearingin/van Berlo ACI Motorsports Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport 219 points
2. #24 Newell/De Angelis Heart of Racing Team Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT4 179 points
-40
3. #82 Walker Jr./McQuarrie BimmerWorld BMW M4 GT4 G82 136 points -83
Think of the big picture. The Aston Martin of Roman De Angelis is just behind. That is the car that is chasing Porsche #7 in the points. Oh dear. Trouble in paradise for Johann Schwartz in the #23, the second of the two TechSport Racing Nissan Z NISMO GT4's and the car he is sharing with Jonathan Neudorf, in the pairing of the Dane and the Canadian. Schwartz is stranded in turn one but now he has is back up and running. No yellow. In this replay, three into one doesn't go and it was not a wise move. I don't think Johann Schwartz saw his rival on the outside. Turn one at Indianapolis on the road course looks inviting but it narrows to nothing very quickly.
Johann Schwartz is in recovery mode, getting drafted into the TechSport Nissan lineup midway through the season. TechSport developing the GT4 version of the Z car as Kay van Berlo stabilizes the gap to Gonzalez and Leist is looking good as well. Terry Borcheller is fifth in the Pro-Am class chasing Isaac Sherman who put together a dominant season in the GT4 section of the GT America division in SRO America. It has been one of the breakout performances we've seen. This is Sherman's first foray into Pirelli GT4 America competition. Sherman sharing with Myles Rowe, the 2023 U.S. Formula 2000 champion making his sports car debut.
Trouble for Damir Hot who ran extremely well in GT America competition on Friday. He is at the wheel of the #5 Flying Lizard Motorsports Nissan Z NISMO GT4. The Canadian is sharing with Brazilian GT racing and SRO veteran Rodrigo Baptista. That was a quick spit and Hot is back underway and looped it out of turn ten. Kay van Berlo has opened a gap to Tyler Gonzalez. It was Michael Garcia, who is indeed Alex Garcia's brother, who tagged Johann Schwartz into a spin. I erroneously blamed Alex Garcia for that incident. I apologize.
Michael Garcia is given a drive through penalty for incident responsibility. Myles Rowe, making his sports car debut, he is getting up to speed. He says it is fun and there is so much about the car to learn but he is having a wonderful time learning as much as possible about a GT4 car. He is adapting to different disciplines outside of the Road to Indy. He is learning the nuances of sports car races and hopes it will help him in the future. He was fourth in class and ninth overall in qualifying for race two tomorrow. He finished 11th in the Indy Next points including fifth here at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course. He is part of NXG Youth Motorsports under racer Rod Reed looking at STEM (Science, Technology, Math etc.), using go karting as part of the initiative under Roger Penske's Race for Equality & Change.
Whoops! We have a spin for the #80 Orlando Motorsports Services McLaren Artura GT4 with Nick Longhi at the wheel of it. Now, that chicane should not be a problem with the grip available in a GT4 car. Apologies again as it was Kaia Teo who started the #80 McLaren, not Nick Longhi. At the front, Tyler Gonzalez can carve thr corners in the Toyota Supra but Kay van Berlo in the Porsche Cayman has more straightaway speed and of course we see Mattheus Leist in the Mercedes back there, too. Robb Holland is tenth overall and top of the shop in the Am class in the sister #099 Rotek Racing Porsche Cayman that he shares with Jaden Lander. They are teammates to the aforementioned #098 entry for Isaac Sherman and Myles Rowe.
Holland is going for an Am class championship in tenth overall. Michael Kanisczak is second in class in the Random Vandals BMW M4 GT4 sharing with Kris Wilson who is part of the championship fight. Right now we see a battle for fourth place in Pro-Am with Isaac Sherman in the Porsche being chased down by Terry Borcheller in the #07 Toyota Supra that he is sharing with Ryan Eversley, the Precision Racing L.A. Toyota GR Supra GT4 Evo. Eversley and Borcheller have raced against each other over the years. The Supra can carve the corners but the Porsche Cayman has a wee bit more power and a wee bit more straightaway speed.
Kevin Boehm in the #92 Random Vandals BMW M4 GT4 is inching closer after a qualifying effort that didn't work well for him. We still have 45 minutes to go and yet to see driver changes. No change in position for the lead and Kay van Berlo has his hands full with an ill handling Porsche Cayman and with Tyler Gonzalez pouring on the steam aboard a very competitive Toyota Supra, the #68 Smooge Racing entry. van Berlo, the talented Dutchman, who is also going to be a part of the Indianapolis 8 Hours. van Berlo got a degree from University of Miami in Florida and pursuing a graduate degree at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. He has his hands full right now with Tyler Gonzalez who was the 2023 Toyota GR Cup champion. That one-make championship of course runs under the SRO umbrella.
Gonzalez is strong in sector three. Watch for pushing it down to the inside through the turn so the front tires don't wash away. We are almost 1/3rd of the way through. van Berlo has a chance to inch away with debris offline here. van Berlo nearly slides into the path of another car through traffic! Oy yoy yoy! That was a scary moment! Anthony Geraci in the Krugspeed #72 Toyota Supra thankfully made the turn and now the #51 BMW M4 GT4 of Colin Garrett is a wee bit off the road and Michael Kanisczak is also in this scrap! Kanisczak sharing with Kris Wilson, the Am class points leader.
A driving standards warning issued for Anthony Geraci. The grip level is different offline in all the dust. There is this huge battle from 15th-19th place. So, this battle pack includes Austin Krainz, Anthony Geraci, Michael Kanisczak, Colin Harrison, and Colin Garrett, in 15th-20th. Porsche, Toyota, BMW, Nissan, BMW. All the Toyota Supra's are right in their sweet spot, completely dialed in on handling around the Indianapolis road course. This is what Balance of Performance does to equalize cars over the lap. Robb Holland leads the Am division points standings.
1. #099 Holland/Lander Rotek Racing Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport 192 points
2. #98 Wilson/Kanisczak Random Vandals Racing BMW M4 GT4 (G82) 185 points -7
3. #98 Paul Sparta Random Vandals Racing BMW M4 GT4 (G82) `162 points -30
Of course, Sparta in third, is not driving, so his points total will not change, and he is essentially in the same car driven by Wilson and Kanisczak. So in the Am class it is without doubt a two-horse race. All of the Toyota Supra's though, as we said, they are looking very good through the road course at Indianapolis. That is Balance of Performance, trying to equalize the cars over the lap as they obtain lap time in different ways. Robb Holland is the points leader but we have 40 minutes to go today and a whole hour of racing tomorrow.
Harrison squeezes the inside of Geraci in turn one! Another tight squeeze! Right in front of Kanisczakl well, Michael Kanisczak, Kris Wilson's co-driver, is not fazed at all by this. He goes by and so does Colin Garrett in the #51 Auto Technic Racing BMW M4 GT4. Kanisczak wonders, "why me?!" 20 minutes of racing gone by. 1/3rd distance. In four minutes, we will see pit stops for driver changes but of course with stint lengths, no prescribed pit window. Mattheus Leist has reeled the leaders back in, chasing Gonzalez and van Berlo, keeping them honest. Leist would lpve to get back to the front.
Colin Garrett working his way to the front of the pack but these cars ahead have their own battles including Kanisczak and Geraci. Geraci has another Porsche Cayman ahead of him, but I cannot identify who it is or catch the number. Kanisczak is doing well keeping pace with the veteran drivers as he only made his Pirelli GT4 America debut a few short weekends ago in the penultimate rounds of the championship at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama. He is a former NASA Spec E46 BMW champion. NASA = National Autosports Association, not to be confused with the space program.
The most places gained so far on Race Vision powered by AWS has Tyler Stone up seven, both Tony Gaples and Anthony Geraci up eight, Sam Craven gaining nine spots, and Colin Garrett at the top having gained a dozen. He came from the pit lane of course. Garrett has a good run onto the frontstretch and his fellow BMW driver, his rival, Kanisczak will not roll over and have his tummy scratched. He is not going to give this up without a fight. He is trying to help his co-driver Kris Wilson to a championship. Wow! A side draft between the two BMW's down the 5/8ths mile front straightaway here at Indianapolis.
This isn't done. Kanisczak hanging tough, as Garrett, the short track stock car ace gives him a wide berth. Anthony Geraci makes a bold move through turn four on Austin Krainz in the #18 RS1 Porsche Cayman which is shared by the father and son team of Austin and Roland Krainz. This is not for class position as Austin Krainz is a Pro-Am car. Last year and much of this year that car was an Am class automobile. Garrett to the inside of Krainz and clears the traffic. Krainz hung out to dry on the wide, dirty part of the road towards turn 12 and he gets eaten up like a piece of cake!
The pit window is open. Colin Garrett brings the #51 Auto Technic Racing BMW M4 GT4 to pit lane to hand over to Zac Anderson who has quite the mountain to climb in the second half of this motor race. It is not always the leaders who get the first opportunity. Make sure you are not over 35 minutes maximum drive time when you leave the pit lane. Pardon me. That was the sister Auto Technic BMW M4 GT4 in the pit lane, car #53, with Tyler Stone at the controls, who is set to hand over to his co-driver Matt Million. Austin and Roland Krainz making their driver change in the Porsche of Naples Porsche Cayman. Nick Shanny readying for his stint, as Chris Walsh will finish his stint. A long pit lane here at Indianapolis means a long minimum pit stop time of 108 seconds, 1 minute and 48 seconds. It seems like an eternity.
John Capestro-Dubets has finished his driving in GT4. He hands off the #28 RS1 Porsche Cayman to Eric Filgueiras who is seeking his third consecutive SRO America championship. Two years ago, he was the 2022 Pirelli GT4 America champion. Last year in 2023, Filgueiras alongside Stevan McAleer won the GT World Challenge America championship for GT3 cars. Now he is back in GT4, and another championship may beckon for Eric Filgueiras. They are in great position trying to beat the #98 BMW. van Berlo stays on track to maximize his drive time.
Meanwhile, drivers down the order are coming in such as Tyler Gonzalez, Mattheus Leist, Roman De Angelis, Michai Stephens, and more. We will see wholesale driver changes but with the high minimum stop time you are at risk of going a lap down even if you are the leader. Here is the driver change at Smooge Racing. Meanwhile, there is lapped traffic as the battle for the lead is well and truly on between Kay van Berlo in the Porsche and Mattheus Leist in the Mercedes! van Berlo under pressure. This is for the Pro-Am lead and Roman De Angelis has run down these two. Maybe that is the sister car fresh out of the pit lane, the #26 of Hannah Grisham and Hannah Greenmeier.
With the Pro-Am driver combinations, they will try keeping their Pro driver out as long as possible and they could be on track for another seven minutes at minimum. Yikes! Traffic merging from pit lane onto the racing line and Kay van Berlo caught it better than Mattheus Leist did. No tire changes in Pirelli GT4 America racing. Kay van Berlo has led from the green flag but it has not come easy. Robb Holland brings the #099 Rotek Racing Porsche Cayman to the pit lane and is ready to hand the car over to Jaden Lander for the rest of the race today. The only penalty we have seen was a drive through for pit lane speeding for either Michael Cooper or Tony Gaples aboard the #9 Blackdog Speed Shop Nissan Z NISMO GT4.
Holland and Lander look to vault into the points lead if they finish well. No tire changes but bleed the air out and keep track of the tire pressures. van Berlo has efficiently cut through traffic with Mattheus Leist trying to follow him through. The cars eat up these curbs. Watch for the big curbs in turn one and two but for the majority of the curbs here at Indianapolis are more usable and flatter. The behavior of the GT3 and GT4 cars are similar over the curbs as far as driving. Maybe there is more spring rate in a GT3 car with more aerodynamics. The leaders should hit pit lane soon and hand over to their respective co-drivers. Curt Swearingin will take over the #7 ACI Motorsports Porsche Cayman. Michael Auriemma will take over the #89 RENNtech Motorsports Mercedes-AMG GT4.
By staying out you have gained a full lap on the field who have made their pit stop. The top five drivers still owe us pit stops yet and everyone from Corey Lewis on back is fine. We await pit stops from Kay van Berlo, Mattheus Leist, Roman De Angelis, Cayden Goodridge, and Matt Bell. Eric Filgueiras and John Capestro-Dubets came into this weekend with a five-point buffer only in the points standings in the Silver division. Kevin Boehm and Kenton Koch are now chasing the Filgueiras/Capestro-Dubets Porsche both on the track in the standings. Kenton Koch now looks to make a move on Jesse Webb in order to run down Filgueiras!
Good move down the inside. That was very well controlled as Jesse Webb gives him racing room. Kevin Boehm recognizes the championship is right in front of him. Kenton Koch has taken over from Kevin Boehm and Koch is doing double duty racing in the Indianapolis 8 Hours later on. He will have a great chance at the race in the GT3 BMW M4 GT3 for Random Vandals Racing. With the early start time to this first race on Saturday with cooler weather, the BMW boys realized they would be more vulnerable to the Porsche's. Tomorrow, the season finale and race two of the weekend for Pirelli GT4 America begins at 11:35 A.M. local time, so in the middle of the morning. The BMW's can handle the temperature sensitivities better than the Porsche's.
Just past the halfway mark. 27 minutes to go. Leist and van Berlo run nose to tail and were 3/10ths of a second apart at the start/finish line across the yard of bricks. Roman De Angelis has pitted. We have not yet seen Cayden Goodridge make his pit stop to hand over to Dylan Dyszelski yet. 26 minutes and change on the board as van Berlo and Leist pit. No need to take risks at ACI Motorsports with the championship on the line. It comes down to execution on the driver changes compared to RENNtech and ACI. Curt Swearingin getting into the #7 Porsche Cayman, ready for his stint. Michael Auriemma likewise in the #89 Mercedes. ACI Motorsports had some good finishes but they really just hit their stride last time out at Barber Motorsports Park.
Possible trouble in paradise for Gray Newell and Heart of Racing going for the title because it could be that the pit stop where De Angelis handed the car to Gray Newell, was under the required minimum stop time prescribed by SRO. The minimum is 1:48 and they are well under that, 1.1 seconds down. The trouble is I don't think a penalty can be served until the stewards adjudicate it. This could put Heart of Racing deeper in a hole. Plus, they have smoke coming from the rear of the Aston Martin which looks puzzling to me.
With 24 minutes left on the board, this could hand Swearingin and van Berlo the championship. They are already in the catbird seat as it is. Swearingin leads overall over Michael Auriemma. Corey Lewis in third leading in the Silver class with Eric Filgueiras and Kenton Koch behind as the Silver class championship will come down to the wire. In the Am class, after a great stint from Robb Holland, Jaden Lander has the #099 Rotek Racing Porsche Cayman in the lead and admittedly, there is work to do for Kris Wilson aboard the #98 Random Vandals Racing BMW M4 GT4. ACI Motorsports have to be giving Curt Swearingin information on their closest contender, the #24 Heart of Racing Aston Martin.
He is being told on the radio, "no risk. No need to fight." The pit stop, for Heart of Racing had a situation where the valve stem of the Pirelli P Zero stuck open! This is a double whammy for Heart of Racing. I wonder if they didn't bleed down the tire and valve stuck open, and the air came out of the tire. They'll take it on the chin. They are 30 points behind with one race to go. Swearingin doing all he can and he twitched and Auriemma tried chasing the throttle. Mattheus Leist was completely on the sidelines after his IndyCar career fizzled out. Auriemma has had a solid year, and the two of them, won a GT4 race at Sonoma, California, earlier in the year.
Leist had not raced since his IndyCar career hit the skids. If you don't reinvent yourself as a driver if you lose a big opportunity, you can become invisible. 2/3rds of the race almost complete as Corey Lewis now leads in the Silver division over Eric Filgueiras as the two of them run third and fourth in the overall. Lewis is eight and a half seconds ahead and Kenton Koch is in fifth behind Eric Filgueiras. The points lead is increased to eight going into the season finale tomorrow. Lest we forget, the Am class. Robb Holland has been chasing an SRO championship for many years in GT4. In Pirelli GT4 America, he and Jaden Lander have been consistent and picked up a lot of points.
It is a ten-point swing first to third so the advantage on the points table becomes seven going into the finale tomorrow. Keep digging, stay focused. The Heart of Racing have served their drive through penalty so their day has gotten even more pear shaped than it was already. If tye'd been leading or had the advantage over the #7, that was going to be a heartbeaker. Corey Lewis takes second from Michael Auriemma in the overall. Corey Lewis looking for an overall win. Corey Lewis was drafted in at Smooge Racing after John Geesbreght decided to step away from being a driver. He and Tyler Gonzalez have been very close to winning a race and have had several poles.
They are in control, looking for the cherry on the cake, looking for the overall win with 17 minutes left on the board. Swearingin's previous lap was 1:33.7, Lewis at a 1:32.6. Lewis is only 1.8 seconds behind. In the Silver division, Eric Filgueiras has lost a second to Kenton Koch. It is definitely game on in that championship chase. Out of turn six, the Random Vandals BMW s chasing Filgueiras and has to pass to gain points on his rivals. Kenton Koch has had great pace and Kevin Boehm ran well, too. Koch right on Filgueiras' six as Filgueiras protects the line, trying to fight off the challenge. Swearingin leads the motor race and might not put up much of a fight.
Corey Lewis, though, does not quite have the braking performance to match the Porsche. The Porsche has the straightaway speed. Swearingin should let him go. Don't fight it and don't damage the race car going for the title with less than 15 minutes to go. Swearingin does not need to throw himself into a scrap. In the backdrop, look, Filgueiras is keeping Kenton Koch at bay. These two blokes have been sparring all year long as Michael Auriemma allows Chris Walsh by. This is not for position. Filgueiras protecting the inside line through turn 13 in his battle with Kenton Koch.
Koch trying to figure out a solution to Filgueiras' puzzle. The Porsche has good pace. Two of the best in the business in GT4 cars. What will Kenton do? Traffic ahead with Michael Auriemma. With compression in traffic, Kenton Koch will do all he knows to get through the traffic. Eight points in it in the battle in the Silver division, 236 points to 228 points. Into the traffic, Filgueiras moves inside Auriemma and Auriemma blocks Koch. Koch will be aggressive and easily makes the move. Auriemma opened the door and Kenton Koch went right through. John Capestro-Dubets tells us how things are going with the battles between the Porsche and the BMW.
Kevin and Kenton are quite the airing and JCD says the BMW drivers have been keeping the Porsche boys honest. Kenton Koch saw an opportunity, threw it to the inside, after Filgueiras ran wide and dropped the left side wheels and now, Filgueiras keeps the pressure on. The Porsche has the straightaway speed. Keep it tidy because Koch will go on defense down Hulman Boulevard. This is to tbe braking zone in turn seven with traffic ahead. These are the top two in points, just a two-point margin for the #28 over the #97, 233-231. We could see a tie. Filgueiras runs wide through turn ten. Temperatures down in the low 60s with the sun peaking through the clouds.
The teams have to go back on data through previous years to find cold weather data. Koch defending against Filgueiras to turn one and they scrape and lean on each other into the corner! Koch comes out ahead of Filgueiras! Koch is doing all he knows to keep track position. So easy to cut down a tire. Chris Walsh just ahead leading Pro-Am. The Silver class leaders have to contend with traffic. Filgueiras sends it! Turn ten, Filgueiras keeps it together, looking for opportunity through traffic. Koch and Filgueiras, two aces behind the wheel.
Koch inside Walsh who gives him a wide berth. Filgueiras' run is stymied. Swearingin is quick in a straight line and Koch goes ahead. Meanwhile, Jesse Webb has spun and slid across the road! I think that car is dead in the water, the #34 JMF Motorsports Mercedes-AMG GT4. Corey Lewis is a long way down the road leading overall and in the Silver class. Only two points in it headed for the finale on Sunday. So much clean and fierce racing throughout the Pirelli GT4 America season in 2024. If there's one advantage for the #28 Porsche team it is victories. They have five wins while the #97 Random Vandals Racing BMW M4 GT4 team of Kenton Koch and Kevin Boehm only have three to their credit.
Six minutes and change left on the board. Kenton Koch knows the Porsche can make a lunge and has the speed. Eric Filgueiras needs the best five minutes of driving in his career to make his move. You know he is going to push, push, push. Back-to-back championships in GT4 and GT3 and wants another GT4 title. Kevin Boehm has multiple touring car championships in SRO, but he has been a quick study in a GT4 car and has a great teacher in the form of Kenton Koch, his co-driver. Filgueiras using all the road. Koch might have too much of a gap.
Curt Swearingin and Kay van Berlo can clinch the Pro-Am title with a victory here today and in Am, Jaden Lander and Robb Holland lead the points and could take the lead over Kris Wilson to settle things on Sunday morning. Swearingin does not want to let the BMW go because he has one hand on the championship trophy already. Koch gained a second on Eric Filgueiras. Swearingin lets Walsh through. Smart move. Only 25 points remaining for the race tomorrow and the points gap in the title fight between ACI Porsche and Heart of Racing Aston Martin remains at 55 points, 219-164.
Curt Swearingin is a former Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Gold class champion in 2020. For Kay van Berlo, he has not won a full season title. He won an Endurance Cup championship in IMSA. but he has not won a full season title yet. He was twice a runner up in Porsche Carrera Cup North America. Swearingin in survival mode. The team at ACI reminds him that the Heart of Racing car he passes is of no consequence but the one they are fighting has had a litany of woes and is out of contention. It is also game on for the Pro-Am class win because Curt Swearingin, while we've been yapping about permutations and points tables, Ryan Eversley in the #07 Precision Racing L.A. Toyota Supra has been reeling in Curt Swearingin hand over fist.
Swearingin looking at the championship but wants a win. Swearingin is shoved wide by Hannah Grisham in the #26 Heart of Racing Aston Martin which opens the door for Ryan Eversley and the Toyota to make a pass! There is a stranded automobile to the inside of the road. No yellow. We stay green with less than two minutes remaining. Eversley to the top of the shop. A massive run for Eversley teaming up with Terry Borcheller for the first time. A surprise to not see a local yellow in that corner. Two laps remaining. Corey Lewis is 6.1 seconds ahead of Kenton Koch.
Ryan Eversley has driven his Toyota Supra to the front for Precision Racing L.A. Toyota could be in a great spot leading all three classes with a Supra in each. Toyota has won the Indianapolis 500 as an engine manufacturer before. 40 seconds to go as Corey Lewis leads and is still pushing hard, braking hard with the ABS kicking in. He might need to do one more lap. It is an elongated victory lap. White flag.
You know what they say about Corey.
Singing.
He's a Smooge operator
Tee hee! (Laughing). That was funny! Calvin and I have been waiting all year to pull that off and of course that is reference to the 1984 hit song by Sade from their bossa nova and smooth jazz record "Diamond Life". Credit to Sade Adu and Ray St. John, the songwriters, for those lyrics. Credit to Calvin, too, for thinking that one up on the fly! That was good! Corey Lewis grew up in Nazareth, Pennsylvania, and was helped by the Andretti's trying to break into IndyCars, but has the opportunity for a win on the road course at Indianapolis in a sports car.
We are on the last lap. Onto the south short chute for the last time and through turn 12 back to the infield. Corey Lewis and Tyler Gonzalez started on the front row and seal the deal in race one for Pirelli GT4 America at Indianapolis Motor Speedway! Kenton Koch and Kevin Boehm in the Silver class finish second so the championship battle will come down to the wire. Pro-Am honors go to the #07 Precision Racing L.A. Toyota Supra of Terry Borcheller and Ryan Eversley. Curt Swearingin and Kay van Berlo win the title!
Rotek Racing will have one car on the podium in Pro-Am and Jaden Lander and Robb Holland are going to take control of the championship standings winning in the Am class taking the points lead into the Sunday finale!
Overall/Silver: #68 Lewis/Gonzlez Smooge Racing Toyota Toyota GR Supra GT4 Evo
Pro-Am: #07 Borcheller/Eversley Precision Racing L.A. Toyota GR Supra GT4 Evo
Am: #099 Holland/Lander Rotek Racing Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport
Pro-Am class champions: #7 Swearingin/van Berlo
ACI Motorsports Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport
The win for Ryan Eversley was a long time coming. What a place to break through for the win at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and it ramps up headed for the finale, tomorrow. We could end up with a tiebreaker in the Silver division for tomorrow's race. Smooge Racing had a wonderful drive today with Tyler Gonzalez and Corey Lewis. They have been on the pace since they began teaming up at Road America back in August. They didn't have the same straightaway speed as the Porsche's but they really didn't need it.
Corey Lewis will be racing the Indianapolis 8 Hours later on this morning. By golly, so do we. So many greats have raced and won at Indianapolis and now Ryan Eversley and Terry Borcheller along with Corey Lewis and Tyler Gonzalez, and Robb Holland and Jaden Lander can all add their names to the roll of honor. Now, we cue the dance music for the results of race one in Pirelli GT4 America. Robb Holland and Jaden Lander will be pushing tomorrow in race two, too. Well done, and comigrations to the winners and the champions elect in Pro-Am. The other two championships will go to the wire tomorrow.
That sets the table for Sunday's finale. Kay van Berlo and Curt Swearingin are the champs! Congratulations! Curt Swearingin is so happy about Kay van Berlo and his team at ACI Motorsports. He has been made a better driver by racing his rivals as well. Kay van Berlo is satisfied with Curt Swearingin's growth as a driver as well. Hey, folks. Don't go anyplace, because we have a full day of racing coming up. We'll see you soon for the Indianapolis 8 Hours. You won't want to miss it. Grab your television, your mobile device, tune in to SRO GTWorld on YouTube, grab some snacks and your beverage of choice, and settle in with us for the Indianapolis 8 Hours!
Trust me. You will not want to miss a moment of it. Take care, everybody. See you soon!
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