North American Racing – Page 3

Final episode of Pikes Peak on MAVTV premieres Thursday

The fourth and final episode of the 2024 Pikes Peak Hill Climb in Review on MAVTV, presented by Ford Performance, features all the action from the Pikes Peak Open division. Watch as father and son, Dan and Trevor Aweida, battle it out, finishing only half a second apart, while five-time “King of the Mountain” Romain Dumas dominates the overall rankings in the 102nd running of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, setting an incredible pace despite a major delay early in his run.

Others included in the final hour-long episode are YouTube influencer Rob Dahm in his Mazda RX-7, and second generation PPIHC competitor Jimmy Ford. Part 4 premieres Thursday, Aug. 1 at 10pm ET, and replays Friday at 1:00am ET.

Majman sweeps entire JS F4 weekend at New Jersey Motorsports Park

After earning his first-career Ligier JS F4 Series (JS F4) win Saturday afternoon, Brad Majman went back to back at New Jersey Motorsports Park (NJMP), taking the victory in race two on Sunday morning. With another hard-fought battle, Majman (No. 95 Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F4) had to hold off his teammate Kekai Hauanio (No. 29 N.E.Where Transportation / New’T Racing Ligier JS F4) to take the win.

As the race passed the halfway point, Hauanio led Majman by about 0.4s. Facing consistent pressure from his teammate, Hauanio slipped up and dropped a wheel off the racing surface as they exited the chicane, slowing him just enough to allow his competition to get by. With Majman taking the point, Teddy Musella (No. 25 Scuderia Buell Ligier JS F4) slid into second, Harbir Dass (No. 23 Berg DMG Racing Ligier JS F4) into third, and Drew Szuch (No. 28 Szuch Racing Ligier JS F4) moved to fourth, leaving Hauanio all the way back in fifth. Determined to regain lost ground, Hauanio kept his focus forward and started to pick them off one by one. First getting around Szuch and Dass, just under 10 minutes were left on the clock when Hauanio overtook Musella and moved back into second. Still 5.127s behind Majman, Hauanio had quite a bit of ground to make up.

Close racing continued between Musella, Szuch and Dass. As Hauanio got around Musella in Turn 8, Szuch also looked to the inside, darting under Musella to overtake third. Dass followed in his tracks as the three jockeyed for the position. Demitri Nolan (No. 5 Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F4) pulled up to join the fight just as Szuch started to fall off the pace, dropping to seventh before the checkered flag waved.

When they crossed the finish line, Majman led Hauanio by 3.942s. Dass emerged with the third-place position, followed by Nolan in fourth and Musella in fifth.

“It was a very early morning, but nice to have a good track after a warmer track in race one,” said Majman atop the podium. “I got settled into the race after the initial start. Kekai made an amazing move around the outside of me on the safety car restart in Turn 1. Then, I was settling in, just doing what I needed to do, and I was able to capitalize on his mistake out of the chicane. From there, we just brought the car home. I’d like to thank Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport, JND, Kart Class, Nat Pat, Paul Marc Masons, and all my family and supporters that are watching at home.”

Brad Majman sweeps weekend at NJMP, winning race three on Sunday Afternoon

Brad Majman swept the New Jersey Lottery SpeedTour weekend in the Ligier JS F4 Series (JS F4), winning three of three races at New Jersey Motorsports Park (NJMP). Once again holding off a hard-charging Kekai Hauanio (No. 29 N.E.Where Transportation / New’T Racing Ligier JS F4), Majman (No. 95 Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F4) sped off to victory for the third time in two days.

A car stuck in the grass in Turn 2 slowed the pace with a quick safety car period, and the ensuing restart placed Hauanio, Majman, Musella, Dass and Maite Caceres (No. 6 Abitab / Supermatch Ligier JS F4) all nose to gearbox. Contact between Dass and Caceres sent both cars spinning, sending them to the back of the field and allowing the frontrunners to pull ahead. Hauanio had pulled ahead as they raced toward Turn 1, but was side by side with Majman and Musella as they exited Turn 2. Racing through the chicane, Majman emerged with the lead, as Musella took second and Hauanio fell back to third. Not willing to settle, Hauanio kept the pressure on Musella throughout the closing minutes of the race. Diving to the inside, Hauanio made his move in Turn 1, sneaking past Musella, who dropped a wheel off the racing surface as they raced toward the white flag.

When they crossed the finish line, it was Majman with the advantage, with Hauanio in second and Musella in third.

“It’s been an amazing weekend,” said Majman atop the podium. “I made a couple mistakes this season, but it’s nice to be able to head home to friends and family and tell them that I’ve been the first person to clean sweep the JS F4 Series. I’d like to thank Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport, JND, Nat Pat, Kart Class, Paul Marc Masons and everyone that’s watching at home—although there probably isn’t too many people watching at the moment in the middle of the night. Thanks to everyone that’s been following me this weekend, and everyone who supports me.”

With the New Jersey Lottery SpeedTour complete, the Ligier JS F4 Series enters their summer break, returning to action at Circuit of The Americas on October 31-November 3 for their season finale. A live stream of the COTA SpeedTour will be available on YouTube.com/SpeedTourTV with live timing and scoring accessed on the Race Monitor app. Additional news and updates from the Ligier JS F4 Series paddock will be available on the series’ Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

RACE TWO RESULTS

RACE THREE RESULTS

Ambiado, Woods-Toth finish FR Americas weekend strong at NJMP

Nicolas Ambiado secured his first Formula Regional Americas Championship (FR Americas) win in race two at New Jersey Motorsports Park (NJMP). The 16-year-old Chilean driver finished second in the last two rounds, finally breaking through to run away …

With the perfect setup for morning track conditions, Ambiado methodically hit his marks, opening a gap on the field—a full second within the first lap, nearly 6s within the first 10 minutes, and ultimately over 10s by the time the checkered flag waved. Behind him, Titus Sherlock felt the pressure of Patrick Woods-Toth, with less than 0.5s separating the two during the closing laps, but Sherlock was ultimately able to hold off his opponent, crossing the finish line in the same order they ran the majority of the race: Ambiado, Sherlock, Woods-Toth.

“I’m very happy,” said Ambiado atop the podium. “I had a very good setup today—thanks to my team, my dad, Velox USA. I had a good gap over second, and was able to take the victory. I have to thank my sponsors—LIQUI MOLY—and obviously SpeedTour, FR Americas, and SVRA.”

Patrick Woods-Toth wins thrilling Race 3 at NJMP

Patrick Woods-Toth won a nail-biting third race at New Jersey Motorsports Park (NJMP). Racing wheel-to-wheel with Nicolas Ambiado (No. 55 LIQUI MOLY Ligier JS F3) for nearly the entire race, Woods-Toth (No. 27 Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F3) was able to hold off Ambiado’s advances to win the final Formula Regional Americas Championship (FR Americas) race of the New Jersey Lottery SpeedTour weekend.

Woods-Toth maintained the lead when the race resumed from an early yellow after a Turn 1, lap one incident, getting a clean restart as the green flag waved. With Ambiado in his tracks, mere tenths separated the two frontrunners for nearly the first half of the race. Carrying speed down the frontstretch, Ambiado had a few opportunities to try to find a way around Woods-Toth as they raced toward Turn 1, but Woods-Toth stayed on defense and was able to hold off Ambiado’s challenges.

When the checkered flag waved, Woods-Toth led the way, followed by Ambiado in second and Jett Bowling (No. 02 Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F3) in third. Bowling had started the race in fifth, but the Turn 1 incident on the opening lap gave him the perfect opportunity to capitalize on the situation and earn his fourth podium of the season.

“It’s nice to be back [on the top step],” said Woods-Toth from the podium. “We worked pretty hard at the last two races and had a little bit of tough luck, but we just had to put it together. Finally, we had a good race today. Nicolas [Ambiado] was super fast all weekend. When he was out front [in race two], we couldn’t even see him anymore. This race was a tough race. I had to pull all my karting defense moves, but it turned out well for us in the end. I have to thank the team at Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport, Orlando, FSMQ, Ron Fellows, my family, my friends and everybody that supports me.”

FR Americas visits Canadian Tire Motorsport Park for its penultimate round of the 2024 championship, August 29-September 1. Live timing and scoring can be accessed on the Race Monitor app, and additional news and updates about F4 U.S. are available on the series’ Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

RACE TWO RESULTS

RACE THREE RESULTS

Sherlock wins FR Americas Race 1 at NJMP

After missing the races at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course last month when an off during practice put an early end to his weekend, Titus Sherlock found redemption in Formula Regional Americas Championship (FR Americas) at New Jersey Motorsports Park (NJMP) on Saturday afternoon. Looking to regain his footing in the championship battle, Sherlock (No. 31 Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F3) did just that, winning Race 1 of the New Jersey Lottery SpeedTour weekend in a race that stayed green from lights to checkered flag.

After winning the pole during qualifying earlier this morning, Patrick Woods-Toth (No. 27 Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F3) led the field down the starting grid. However, it wasn’t an easy go for the championship contender, as his Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport team had a lot of work to do after Woods-Toth made impact with the barrier during the closing minutes of qualifying, requiring extensive repairs to the car before the lights went out.

Next to him on the starting grid was his teammate, Sherlock. The 19-year-old Texan entered Mid-Ohio third in points, but ranked fifth when the championship arrived in New Jersey after missing the last two rounds. Determined to make up for lost time, Sherlock had a great jump off the starting block and made the pass for the lead as they raced toward Turn 1. While Woods-Toth stayed close on Sherlock’s rear wing during the opening laps, he was unable to make a move on his teammate to regain the lead.

Behind them, third-place starter Nicolas Ambiado (No. 55 LIQUI MOLY Ligier JS F3) was under immediate pressure from Jett Bowling (No. 02 Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F3), who lined up on the grid to his outside. With Bowling getting a solid start, he jumped ahead of Ambiado to claim the third spot. With Ambiado filling Bowling’s mirrors, the Chilean was finally able to complete the pass as they raced through Turn 1 five minutes into the event.

The four drivers raced nose to stern for the next 20 minutes, but as the clock ticked down, Ambiado started to close in on Woods-Toth. While Sherlock maintained a one-to-two second lead, Ambiado was within two tenths of second-place Woods-Toth. Stalking his gearbox and looking for the right opportunity to make his move, Ambiado finally got his chance, pulling side-by-side with Woods-Toth as they raced through Turn 8 on the final lap of the race, and completing the pass when Woods-Toth dropped two wheels off the racing surface.

When they took the checkered flag, it was Sherlock, followed by Ambiado and Woods-Toth.

“This is a hard track to overtake on, so I knew once I got the lead that I had a pretty good chance,” said Sherlock. “I just tried to do the most consistent laps I could and to save my tires.”

FR Americas has back-to-back races on Sunday at NJMP. Race 2 will go green at 9:45 a.m. ET, followed by Race 3 at 2:30 p.m. ET. A live stream of the races from the New Jersey Lottery SpeedTour weekend will be available at YouTube.com/SpeedTourTV, with live timing and scoring accessed on the Race Monitor app. Additional news and updates will be posted on the series’ Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

RESULTS

Crosbie gets first F4 U.S. win in New Jersey

Alex Crosbie won a thrilling race at New Jersey Motorsports Park (NJMP) to earn his first career victory in Formula 4 United States Championship (F4 U.S.) competition. After a highly contested battle with his Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport teammate Nicolas Stati (No. 15 AGI Sport Ligier JS F422), Crosbie (No. 41 Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F422) ultimately emerged the winner in Race 1 of the New Jersey Lottery SpeedTour weekend.

In a two-by-two rolling start, Stati led the field to the green flag. However, as has been the fashion for the 2024 season, the F4 U.S. field showed just how competitive the new Ligier JS F422 chassis and Ligier Storm engine can be, immediately jumping two- and three-wide as they raced toward Turn 1. Stati initially had the point, but by the time they reached Turn 1, fourth-place starter Pablo Benites Jr. (No. 44 Scuderia Buell Ligier JS F422) had pulled to his outside to overtake the lead. Initially pulling away to form a gap, it wasn’t long before Benites Jr. found himself back under pressure from Stati and Crosbie as the handling on his car started to fade. For 10 minutes, the three raced nose to tail, jockeying for position, with Stati and Crosbie eventually prevailing to claim first and second, respectively.

Pulling away from Benites Jr., the battle was on between the Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport teammates. Less than a second separated the two drivers for the final 20 minutes of the race, as they swapped positions back and forth until Crosbie finally emerged the leader and started racing toward the checkered flag. When they took the checkered flag, Crosbie edged Stati by just 0.490 seconds, with Benites Jr. crossing the line in third.

During post-race technical inspection, officials found that the No. 44’s car, and car plus driver, failed to make minimum weight. A post-race Stewards Decision was issued, which relegated Benites Jr. to fifth in the official results. As such, Barrett Wolfe (No. 13 Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F422) was promoted to third place, to earn the final podium position.

“It was definitely a hard race,” said Crosbie from atop the podium. “Nicholas [Stati] made it difficult to get past and I couldn’t run away with it. I just had too much pressure from him, but it was definitely a great, clean race and we had a lot of fun.”

RESULTS

F4 U.S. will feature a doubleheader at NJMP Sunday, with lights out for Race 2 scheduled at 11:05am ET and Race 3 to follow at 4:25pm ET. A live stream of the races from the New Jersey Lottery SpeedTour weekend will be available at YouTube.com/SpeedTourTV, with live timing and scoring accessed on the Race Monitor app. Additional news and updates will be posted on the series’ Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Majman soars to first career JS F4 win in New Jersey

Brad Majman earned his first-career Ligier JS F4 Series (JS F4) win at New Jersey Motorsports Park (NJMP) on Saturday afternoon. Racing his Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport teammate Kekai Hauanio (No. 29 N.E.Where Transportation / New’T Racing Ligier JS F4) nose to tail for most of the afternoon, Majman (No. 95 Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F4) was able to capitalize when Hauanio made a rare mistake, overtaking the lead and sailing off to the checkered flag.

Behind them, third-place starter Drew Szuch (No. 28 Szuch Racing Ligier JS F4) was under pressure from Harbir Dass (No. 23 Berg DMG Racing Ligier JS F4), as Dass looked to climb from his fourth-place starting spot during the opening laps. Teddy Musella (No. 25 Scuderia Buell Ligier JS F4) was on a similar trajectory a little further back in the field, climbing from his eighth-place starting position to fourth during the first five laps. With Musella racing toward Dass’ gearbox, the battle was on for third.

Further ahead, Majman had reached Hauanio’s door as they raced down the front straight. Racing side by side, Hauanio dropped off the racing surface, allowing Majman to overtake the lead and turn his focus forward. Hitting his marks, the Australian was able to continue holding off his teammate as they raced toward the checkered flag.

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When they crossed the finish line, it was Majman, followed by Hauanio and Musella, who had completed the pass on Dass with just minutes left on the clock.

“An amazing race,” said Majman on the podium. “I definitely fell back a little bit at the start. Kekai [Hauanio] was really throwing the car around, so I knew my time would eventually come. I just had to wait for the car to come to me, and then I could just drive to where the car was capable of, and this is the result it brought home. [This win feels] just amazing. I know it’s only the first race, but it’s been a lot of hard work the last eight months transitioning from karts to cars. Hopefully it’s the first win of many. I have to thank my helmet painter, my family and everyone that supports me at home. It’s about 3:30 a.m. back home at the moment. Thanks to JND, Car Class, Nat Pat, Paul Marc Masons, and of course Crosslink Kiwi for the amazing car.”

JS F4 will contest race two at NJMP Sunday morning at 8 a.m. ET, with race three scheduled to go lights-out at 12:45 p.m. ET. A live stream of the races from the New Jersey Lottery SpeedTour weekend will be available at YouTube.com/SpeedTourTV, with live timing and scoring accessed on the Race Monitor app. Additional news and updates will be posted on the series’ Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

RESULTS

Woods-Toth, Stati, Hauanio grab FR, F4, JS F4 poles at NJMP

Patrick Woods-Toth secured the pole for Formula Regional Americas Championship (FR Americas) at New Jersey Motorsports Park (NJMP) on Saturday morning. Woods-Toth (No. 27 Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F3) laid down consistently quick laps all session, but made heavy impact with the Armco barrier in Turn 2 during the closing minutes of qualifying, leaving his Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport team to fight an uphill battle with lights out for race one quickly approaching.

Titus Sherlock (No. 31 Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F3) was second quick in qualifying, followed by Nicolas Ambiado (No. 55 LIQUI MOLY Ligier JS F3) in third.

FR Americas completed two practices Friday, with Woods-Toth leading the first session and Ambiado on top of the leaderboard during the second session.

During the opening practice, Woods-Toth recorded a 1m16.179s lap to hold just a 0.12s advantage over his teammate Jett Bowling (No. 02 Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F3). Ambiado was third quick with a 1m16.423s lap time.

When they went back out for the second and final practice, Ambiado picked up over a second to record a 1m15.175s lap and lead the field. Woods-Toth was just 0.175s behind Ambiado, while Sherlock ranked third.

The lights go out for FR Americas’ race one at NJMP Saturday at 4:05 p.m. ET. A live stream of the races from the New Jersey Lottery SpeedTour weekend will be available at YouTube.com/SpeedTourTV, with live timing and scoring accessed on the Race Monitor app. Additional news and updates will be posted on the series’ Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Nicolas Stati is the class of the field so far in Formula 4 United States Championship (F4 U.S.) at NJMP. Stati (No. 15 AGI Sport Ligier JS F422) held a 0.199s advantage over the competition in qualifying on Saturday morning after recording a 1m18.680s lap at the 2.250-mile NJMP Thunderbolt circuit.

Just like Friday’s two practices, Stati’s Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport teammate Alex Crosbie (No. 41 Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F422) was quick on his heels with a 1m18.879s lap. Just behind them, Daniel Quimby (No. 24 Cruise America / MIR Raceline / FIJI Airways / GalvanizeIns Ligier JS F422) logged a 1m19.264s lap to be just 0.584s off the pace.

F4 U.S. ran two practices Friday to get ready for the New Jersey Lottery SpeedTour event. Stati topped the leaderboard for both sessions with a 1m19.525s in first practice and a 1m18.993s in second practice. With Crosbie trailing him in both sessions, it was fourth-place qualifier Pablo Benites Jr. (No. 44 Scuderia Buell Ligier JS F422) who rounded out the top three in both practices.

The action continues Saturday afternoon when the lights go out for race one at 5:50 p.m. ET at NJMP. A live stream of the races from the New Jersey Lottery SpeedTour weekend will be available at YouTube.com/SpeedTourTV, with live timing and scoring accessed on the Race Monitor app.

Kekai Hauanio has been unstoppable in the Ligier JS F4 Series (JS F4) at NJMP, as the 17 year old secured the pole on Saturday morning after pacing both practice sessions on Friday afternoon. Coming off of back-to-back wins at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course last month, Hauanio (No. 29 N.E.Where Transportation / New’T Racing Ligier JS F4) recorded a 1m20.288s lap to beat his Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport teammate Brad Majman (No. 95 Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F4) by 0.221s in qualifying. Behind them was Szuch Racing owner/driver Drew Szuch (No. 28 Szuch Racing Ligier JS F4), who rounded out the top three.

JS F4 had two practice sessions Friday, with the top three competitors the same in both sessions. Hauanio topped the charts in both practices, with Majman in second and Teddy Musella (No. 25 Scuderia Buell Ligier JS F4) third. In each session, less than a half second separated the three drivers.

The action continues this afternoon when the lights go out for race one at 2:10 p.m. ET at NJMP. A live stream of the races from the New Jersey Lottery SpeedTour weekend will be available at YouTube.com/SpeedTourTV, with live timing and scoring accessed on the Race Monitor app.

FR AMERICAS RESULTS

F4 US RESULTS

JS F4 RESULTS

Deegan joins SpeedTour All-Star Race at Lime Rock Park

With just days until the green flag waves for Saturday’s SpeedTour All-Star Race at Lime Rock Park, even more celebrities have been added to an already star-studded lineup. Parella Motorsports Holdings (PMH) has confirmed modified and NASCAR legend Geoff Bodine as the Grand Marshal for the event, while two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Al Unser Jr. will serve as the color commentator for the national TV broadcast that will air live on MAVTV starting at 12:30pm ET and the SpeedTour TV YouTube Channel. In addition, Hailie Deegan has been confirmed to drive in the race, partnering with All-Star driver Ken Schrader in a Team SLR-M1 Racecars entry.

“I can’t wait to get to Lime Rock Park for this weekend’s SpeedTour All-Star Race,” said Tony Parella, founder and CEO of PMH. “The driver lineup is beyond impressive, both with the All-Star drivers and Trans Am pros. Then, adding in even more legends like Geoff Bodine and Al Unser Jr., this is going to be a once-in-a-lifetime event.”

A three-time champion in the Lucas Oil Off Road Pro Series, Deegan is the only female driver to accomplish the feat, and is also the only youth driver to win the Lucas Oil Off Road Pro Series Driver of the Year award, an honor she took at the age of 15. Since 2018, she has been climbing up the stock car and sports car ladder. Winning in the ARCA Menards Series West, Deegan recorded top fives and top 10s as she moved through the ranks in the ARCA Menards Series and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. She kicked off the 2023 season by leading laps en route to her first sports car podium in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge. By 2024, she moved up to the NASCAR Xfinity Series, where she’s recorded a career-best 12th-place finish at Talladega Superspeedway.

Serving as Grand Marshal for the SpeedTour All-Star Race, Bodine made his name in modified racing before moving to NASCAR’s top-three national series. Recognized as one of NASCAR’s All-Time Top 10 Modified Drivers, he holds a Guinness World Record for the most wins in one season with 55 modified feature wins in 1978. Named as one of NASCAR’s 50 Greatest Drivers, Bodine was the 1982 Cup Series Rookie of The Year and went on to win the 1986 Daytona 500. In 1987, he won the IROC Championship while competing against some of the best racers in the world.

Joining Bodine in the pre-race ceremonies will be Reverend Heidi Truax from nearby Trinity Episcopal Church, delivering the invocation. The Connecticut National Guard will present the Nation’s colors, while local singer Katie Weiser, who also happens to be an ICU nurse, performs the National Anthem.

Unser Jr. will serve as a color commentator for the national television broadcast on MAVTV, as well as for the live stream on YouTube.com/SpeedTourTV. Unser Jr. is a two-time IndyCar champion (1990, 1994), as well as a two-time winner of the renowned Indianapolis 500 (1992, 1994). A versatile racer, he’s stood atop the podium everywhere from the Long Beach Grand Prix (six times), to the Rolex 24 at Daytona (twice), the Pikes Peak Hill Climb, and in World of Outlaws races. In addition to his two IndyCar titles, his championship accolades include the 1981 SCCA Super Vee Gold Cup, 1982 Can-Am Championship and two IROC Championships (1986, 1988).

The SpeedTour All-Star Race takes place this week, July 19-20, with spectator gates open both Friday and Saturday.

Friday’s schedule features two on-track sessions for the All-Stars, with practice at 11:10 a.m., and qualifying at 3:50 p.m. ET. Fans will have a chance to meet their favorite drivers with both an IROC Panel Discussion from 1:30 – 1:45 p.m., and the All-Star Race autograph session at 2:10-3:10 p.m. ET. Both events will be held in the main paddock at the IROC Tent.
On Saturday, fans will have two more opportunities to meet the drivers. The day will kick off with another All-Star Race autograph session at 9-9:30 a.m. at the IROC Tent. Then, fans are invited to come to Pit Lane for a special Pre-Race Fan Walk, where drivers will be signing autographs starting at 12 p.m. ET.

Tickets for the SpeedTour All-Star Race are available at LimeRock.com. Kids 12 and under will be admitted free with the purchase of an adult ticket, and all activity-duty military and veterans with a valid military ID will also gain free admission to the event.

More milestones for EVs among highlights of the 102nd Pikes Peak Hill Climb

The Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb by Gran Turismo, welcomed drivers from around the globe to Pikes Peak for the 102nd running of the “Race to the Clouds” on June 24. After difficult conditions during practice and qualifying, race day brought cloudless skies and saw one record broken, while two others were established on the 12.42-mile race to the summit of “America’s mountain.”

With the results now official, here’s how the race went down in each category:

EXHIBITION

World Rally champion Dani Sordo clocked the fastest time in the Exhibition division, the Spaniard setting the benchmark Electric Modified SUV/Crossover record in his Hyundai IONIQ 5 N TA Spec (pictured above) with a 9m30.852s. Hyundai established a second electric vehicle record for an Electric Production SUV/Crossover of 10m49.267s, with Ron Zaras behind the wheel. PPIHC veteran Randy Pobst rounded out the trio of Hyundai drivers who brought an impressive effort to Pikes Peak with his time of 9m55.551s.

Colorado’s Gardner Nichols beat the Electric Production Truck record he established in 2023. Racing his 2024 Rivian R1T (pictured, top of page), Nichols shaved 30 seconds off the record with his new clocking of 10m53.883s.

PIKES PEAK GT4 TROPHY BY YOKOHAMA
Turbo

In the inaugural year of the new GT4 division, Laura Hayes (pictured above) bested all drivers in her Mobil 1-backed Toyota Supra GT4, taking top honors in the Turbo-designation class. Her impressive time of 10m20.487s, a personal best, makes her the fastest woman ever to race a car to the 14,115-foot summit. Only Germany’s Lucy Glöckner, who raced a motorcycle in 2019 with her jaw-dropping sub-10 minute time of 9m58.878s, has made a faster run.

PIKES PEAK GT4 TROPHY BY YOKOHAMA
Normally Aspirated

Competitors in two other manufacturer-endorsed efforts, Ford and Porsche, competed in the normally aspirated class. Portugal’s Nuno Caetano came out on top in his Porsche 718 GT4 RS Clubsport with a winning time of 10m23.034s, his best time on Pikes Peak. Robb Holland (pictured at left, above, with Caetano) and Chris Becker, both Colorado drivers, took second and third respectively.

TIME ATTACK 1

It was all Porsche in the Time Attack 1 division. Clocking his fifth sub-10-minute run, a 9m49.429s, David Donohue (pictured above) clinched the division win. Donohue also claimed the Bergmeister Award, given by Porsche Colorado Springs and Fred Veitch, for the fastest Porsche in the entire field.

Kathryn Mead returned for her fifth year on the mountain clocking a new personal best in her Porsche Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport, at 10m37.010s.

In third place, Jerome France — a rookie on Pikes Peak — brought in a time of 10m44.501s driving his 2011 Porsche 997 GT3 RS.

OPEN WHEEL

The mountain was not kind to racers in the Open Wheel division. Four contenders, including past champion and division record holder Codie Vahsholtz, were sidelined with mechanical issues on race day. Cole Powelson was forced to change vehicles just days before the race, and the move paid off as he finished fourth overall, and won the division in his 2021 Sierra Alpha (pictured above) with a 9m33.222s, his best time ever.

Rodney O’Maley took the second-place trophy in his 2018 O’Maley Special Spec VIII. Yuri Kouznetsov finished third in his 2014 Apexocet, just four seconds behind O’Maley.

UNLIMITED

Italy’s Christian Merli clocked a 9m04.454s in his 2024 Wolf Aurobay GB08 2.0 HP (pictured above), which was the second-fastest time of the day overall and enough to win him the Unlimited division. Merli was also awarded Rookie of the Year for his impressive accomplishment on America’s Mountain.

Don Wickstrum is now the undisputed “Fastest Pastor” after beating the best time recorded by former PPIHC competitor, also a pastor, Layne Schranz. Wickstrum clocked a 9m40.512s, finishing in the top five overall.

Third place went to the UK’s Duncan Cowper who, in a nod to Wickstrum, bills himself as “The Fastest Plasterer.” This was Cowper’s second consecutive third-place result.

PIKES PEAK OPEN

France’s Romain Dumas, now a five-time “King of the Mountain,” mastered Pikes Peak 156 turns in the Ford Performance all-electric entry, a 2024 Ford F-150 Lightning SuperTruck (pictured above). His division title and the overall win — which came despite a nerve-wracking stall early in his run — were awarded for his run of 8m53.553s.

Claiming second in the division was Coloradan Jimmy Ford in a 2017 Ford Mustang owned by former PPIHC Stock Car division winner Joel Newcomer. Ford qualified in the Fast 15, and on race day, clocked a sub-10-minute time.

In a remarkable third-place finish, rookie Ethan Hunter of Colorado Springs — a late addition from the entry waitlist — finished in 10m47.501s in his 2013 Port City Stock Car.

OFFICIAL RESULTS

Mark Martin reflects on his IROC achievements as he heads to Lime Rock Park

NASCAR legend Mark Martin retired from racing in 2013, but he is getting back behind the wheel. On July 19-20, Martin will pay his first ever visit to Lime Rock Park in Lakeville, Conn., for the return of IROC as part of the SpeedTour All-Star …

While Martin, and other IROC legends such as Greg Biffle, Geoff Brabham and Danny Sullivan, among others, won’t actually be racing, he and they will be driving demonstration laps in an array of historic IROC machinery. It’s all part of a larger exhibition created by new IROC Series owners Ray Evernham and Rob Kaufman.

Martin will drive the 1995 Dodge Avenger that he drove in the final IROC round of that year’s IROC season and is now in his personal collection.

“It’s set up for oval track. I’m not going there to race. I’m going to Lime Rock to support and embrace the fans and support a series that I think is incredibly important, and that I would love to see come back,” says Martin. “The car hadn’t been started until about three weeks ago (May 2024), so over 30 years, I think.

“But she’s ready to go up there. I think there’s going to be over 20 cars. I would assume that they’d all be out there on the track at the same time,” Martin continues. “So, some of them going around there pretty fast and there’s going to be some of them going around there not as fast. I’m certainly not going to be turning right, very fast. I might turn left at a pretty good clip, but I’m not going to turn right very good because the set up hasn’t changed on it.”

Yet while driving any racecar, and most certainly one of that significance is special, there’s something else that Martin is looking forward to when he gets to Lime Rock Park.

“Signing autographs for all the fans,” he says emphatically.

The IROC Series means a great deal to Martin. His fondest memory of the series is simply the first call he received in 1989 inviting him to participate in the following season.

“It was an incredible honor to be invited, to be a part of such an incredible, worldwide group,” Martin recalls. “I got to race with Martin Brundle and Emerson Fittipaldi and all kinds of guys that I never would have got to race with. It was just a great experience being able to rub elbows with so many people from drag racing and dirt like Steve Kinser and so many great road racers.

“Al Unser, Jr and Dale Earnhardt were fierce competitors, and Junior gets lost in the shuffle sometimes. He’s not remembered for winning as many races as Dale Earnhardt did in IROC, which is pretty dang incredible. Granted, he only won two championships and Earnhardt won four. But Junior was incredible.”

While Martin is a NASCAR Hall of Famer, often described as among the best drivers that never won a championship, he is justifiably proud of his IROC record. As holder of the most championships with five and most race wins with 13, he bettered a long list of other racing heroes in equal equipment.

“I don’t like to toot my own horn but, you know, there are detractors out there that say, ‘well, Earnhardt would have had more, if he would have lived longer.’ Whatever. Earnhardt ran more races than I did. He participated in more seasons than I did. Earnhardt was older than me. He was there way before me. So, it’s a real feather in my cap,” he states. “To be able to race in cars that are so identically-prepared as much as possible and taking a random draw – you get the cars picked for you – starting nearly every race in the back because they were always reverse points was just a magical thing above and beyond any other racing in my career.”

Martin is also quick to counter any suggestion that IROC races were merely an exhibition run at 80%.

“Do you think Martin Brundle came from overseas to play around? A.J. Foyt?” he retorts. “You think that Al Unser Jr. would’ve got on a plane while he was at an IndyCar race on Saturday and flew to an IROC race somewhere across the country and then flew back to the IndyCar race for Sunday if it didn’t mean something? It was racers racing, and there ain’t no such thing as 80%.”

Don’t miss out this incredible opportunity to experience IROC again at Lime Rock Park along with slew of other racing headlined by the SpeedTour All-Star Race bringing together an unprecedented gathering of motorsport legends. The All-Star race will pair iconic drivers with competitors from the CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 series to compete as co-drivers in a 60-minute race.

Sixteen legends are already committed to race in a field that includes Daytona 500 and Indianapolis 500 champions, IROC winners and drivers who have stood atop the podium at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Nürburgring, and Daytona. For more information visit LIMEROCK.com.