Weisenberg Wins Race 1 Thriller in Austin

Photo: Fred Hardy/SRO

Lucas Weisenberg converted pole position into a hard-fought third series victory in the opening race of the Toyota GR Cup North America weekend at the Circuit of The Americas.

The Lucas Racing driver passed Jaxon Bell on the final lap following a tense door-to-door battle for the win, after the Copeland Motorsports driver moved to the head of the field early stages and led the majority of the race, including a mid-race restart.

Bell took the checkered flag runner-up in the No. 7 Toyota GR86 Cup car, just 0.684 seconds off the lead, with Legends class winner John Dean claiming the final podium position in his Copeland entry.

RVA Graphics Motorsports by Speed Syndicate’s Spike Kohlbecker finished fourth ahead of fifth-place finisher Ethan Goulart, with both drivers improving their positions in the final laps.

Weisenberg led the 31-car field to green from the pole, facing early pressure from Bell after an initial troubled start that saw the field fall under caution for one lap for multiple incidents.

Will Robusto took the quickly-halted start with smoke billowing from his No. 2 RVA Toyota, taking to pit lane for retirement at the end of the lap.

With yellow flags displayed as cars entered the VP Acceleration Zone, Massimo Sunseri appeared to be involved in contact near the rear of the field, showering debris on the main straight.

Drivers appeared to race up through the opening sector before finally slowing for displayed yellows. However, only Livio Galanti came under investigation for a potential pass under yellow. The race would officially go green one lap later.

In the opening stages, the No. 15 TechSport car of Brett Kowalski and Jackson Tovo’s No. 31 Nitro Motorsports machine also fell by the wayside.

The field fell under yellow again just ahead of the final 15 minutes for a stricken Farran Davis, who pulled off track his Legends class No. 11 RVA Toyota in the second sector, setting up a shootout for the win in the final minutes.

Qualifying 2 for GR Cup North America takes place on Sunday morning at 9:30 a.m. CST ahead of the second race of the weekend that afternoon at 12:15 p.m. CST.

RESULTS: Race 1