David Hodge Wins XGT, Lee Saunders Victorious in SGT, Chris Coffey Takes GT Again
WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. (August 25, 2024) ― Chris Dyson was flawless at the Mission Foods Watkins Glen SpeedTour, claiming the pole with a record-breaking lap and leading every single circuit in his No. 16 GYM WEED Ford Mustang. However, TA points leader Paul Menard was never far behind, relentlessly chasing Dyson with less than a car length between them. After a stunning battle, Dyson ultimately drove to GYM WEED Winners Circle, claiming his second victory of the season at Watkins Glen International.
Notes of Interest:
- This was Chris Dyson’s second win of the 2024 season and third-career victory at Watkins Glen
- Dyson earned his 25th-career TA victory. He is currently fourth on the all-time win list for the class.
- The three-time champion led every lap of the race after earning his third pole of the season.
- Dyson hails from New York State, with his CD Racing shop located in Poughkeepsie, and considers Watkins Glen one of his home tracks.
- David Hodge was victorious in his first-career XGT class race.
- Lee Saunders extended his lead as the winningest driver in SGT history with his 24th victory.
- With his 11th GT win, Chris Coffey now holds the second-most wins in the class.
When the green flag waved, Dyson had a skillful start, smoothly sailing out into the lead. Second-place Menard (No. 3 Menards/Masterforce Tools Ford Mustang) was briefly challenged by Adam Andretti (No. 17 Top Liner/Castrol Chevrolet Camaro), but he maintained his spot and immediately closed in on Dyson. Although Menard was mere hundredths of a second behind, he was unable to do more than creep up to Dyson’s rear quarter panel. The two continued to battle while Andretti re-entered the mix on lap 18, closing in on the two leaders and making the fastest laps on the racetrack. Andretti was tight on Menard’s tail on lap 22, poised to challenge for second while making his fastest lap of the race, when his car suddenly jerked off the racing line, thwarted by a cut tire. While Andretti limped to pit road, Tomy Drissi (No. 8 Drissi Motorsports/Lucas/Mission Chevrolet Camaro) took over the third podium spot.
As the laps clicked down, Menard kept peeking to either side of Dyson’s machine, but was unable to set up a pass. The two were so equal in speed, with Dyson best in some sections of the track and Menard fastest in others, that there was no way to gain an advantage. Although Menard fought until the checkered flag, Dyson crossed the finish line to take the victory, followed by Menard and Drissi. Boris Said (No. 2 Ultimate Headers/Weaver Racing Dodge Challenger) scored fourth at the finish, followed by Amy Ruman (No. 23 McNichols Co./Valley Automotive Group Chevrolet Corvette). Ruman had started seventh and engaged in hard-fought battles with Said and Keith Grant (No. 40 Drissi Motorsports/Franklin Road Chevrolet Camaro) to claim the final spot in the top five.
“What an event for us; the car was fantastic,” said Dyson. “We’ve got these new colors on our GYM WEED Ford Mustang here, and it was fast right off the truck. We’ve been away for two months, and it was great to get back here; it’s such a fantastic track. We just had a phenomenal race the whole way. [Paul Menard] never let up once, and we just had to keep pushing. That’s the kind of racing that this series can put on, when it’s head-to-head like that. It is just very memorable. I’m so grateful to have my family up here. Some friends from home came up. I’m just proud to take another win home from here. These wins don’t come easy, and today is no exception. I’m just very grateful. I feel really blessed by the opportunity, and I’m really thankful for the team and the job they did.”
TA Top Five:
1. Chris Dyson, No. 16 GYM WEED Ford Mustang
2. Paul Menard, No. 3 Menards/Masterforce Tools Ford Mustang
3. Tomy Drissi, No. 8 Drissi Motorsports/Lucas/Mission Chevrolet Camaro
4. Boris Said, No. 2 Ultimate Headers/Weaver Racing Dodge Challenger
5. Amy Ruman, No. 23 McNichols Co./Valley Automotive Group Chevrolet Corvette
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