Davison, Wilson Give TRG-AMR GS Win while Valiante, Gilsinger take ST Kansas Victory

James Davidson battled throughout the final hour of the Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge race at Kansas Speedway this past Saturday, to take home the win with co-driver Kris Wilson in the No. 07 TRG-AMR Aston Martin Vantage. Wilson started from the pole and led the opening 70 minutes of the two-hour, 30-minute race. As the No. 07 pitted, Matt Plumb inherited the lead after taking over for starting driver Nick Longhi in the No. 13 Rum Bum Racing Porsche 911.

IMSA-KS_06-07-14_GS-P1“It was certainly a competitive race, and I was trying as hard as I could,” Davison stated. “I’m pleased for the whole TRG-AMR team. Kris did a great job putting the car on pole and he gave me the car in a competitive position. That made it easier for me than any other race I’ve had before, not having to come from behind.”

Second place went to Andrew Aquilante in the No. 32 Phoenix American Ford Mustang Boss 302R while Brett Sandberg and Al Carter took home third in the No. 7 Rebel Rock Racing Porsche 911.

John Edwards and Trent Hindman entered the race with a 25-point lead in the GS standings; however the No. 46 Fall-Line Motorsports BMW M3 drivers had a difficult race, finishing 16th and four laps down. “We had a loss of power, and it started on the pace lap,” Edwards said. “That’s why I got swarmed on the opening lap. The power came back, but it went away again. All we could do was stay out and get as many points as we could.”

IMG_0821Michael Valiante came out ahead of Wayne Nonnamaker, earning his first victory of the season in the No. 93 HART Honda Civic Si. The No. 93 HART Honda Civic Si took the lead with 45 minutes remaining from Charles Espenlaub in the No. 87 Rebel Rock Racing Porsche Cayman. Wayne Nonnamaker who took over for his brother Will Nonnamaker in the No. 42 Team Sahlen’s Porsche Cayman made multiple attempts to take the lead over in the final 30 minutes coming up 0.794 seconds short.

IMSA-KS_06-07-14_ST-P1“This was one of the toughest wins I’ve had, with that much pressure and knowing that second and third were coming,” Valiante said. “I knew I couldn’t make any mistakes, particularly when they are on your bumper. I kept telling myself, ‘Hit your marks, hit your marks’ and get good exit shots, and I was able to pull it off.”

Corey Lewis and Espenlaub finished third to give Rebel Rock Racing its second podium finish of the night, with Ryan Eversley and Kyle Gimple in the No. 75 Compass360 Racing Honda Civic Si taking forth.

The next race for the Continental Tire Challenge will be at Watkins Glen International on Saturday, June 28.

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