Freedom Autosport Retakes ST Points Lead at Virginia International Raceway

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During round eight of the IMSA Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge Series at Virginia International Raceway, Freedom Autosport proved that even when things do not go according to plan, the outcome can still be something to celebrate.

 

As the team was en route to VIR last week, word came that (Retired) U.S. Marine Staff Sgt. Liam Dwyer would be unable to race due to a minor medical issue. While Dwyer will be back in action for round nine, his absence meant that there was suddenly a seat to be filled in the No. 26 Mazda MX-5, which Dwyer co-drives with Andrew Carbonell.

 

Coming into the race at VIR, the No. 26 sat just two points outside the ST team championship lead, so any substitute for Dwyer would have to be carefully selected. Freedom Autosport made the decision to have Mazda Prototype driver Tom Long, who was already slated to drive the No. 25 ClothingShopOnline.com/Oscar Mike Mazda MX-5 with Britt Casey, Jr., pull double duty.

 

Long qualified sixth in the No. 26 MX-5 and ran in the top three during his stint. Meanwhile, Casey started from seventh in the No. 25 MX-5. He was running in the top ten, but fell back to 21st when he ran off track to avoid contact with another car. Casey worked hard to make up the positions, and was back in the top ten before his stint came to a close.

 

Just as Freedom Autosport was preparing to pit, a well-timed caution allowed both MX-5s to come in under yellow. Long climbed out of the No. 26, hopped over the pit wall per IMSA rules, then climbed into the No. 25.

 

Carbonell took over in the No. 26 MX-5 and caught up to the front of the ST pack, where he had to balance staying competitive with managing brakes. At the checkered flag, the No. 26 Mazda MX-5 was fourth and the No. 25 MX-5 was sixth. The race was dedicated to U.S. Army 1 SGT Drew McKenna, who was killed in action in Kabul earlier this month.

 

The finish moved the No. 26 Freedom Autosport Mazda MX-5 into the ST team championship lead by a narrow three points. It also edged Carbonell into a three-point lead for the driver championship.

 

“I really missed having my co-driver Liam there, but Tom did a great job and the team gave us an outstanding car,” said Carbonell. As for the points battle, he added, “This is the tightest points battle I’ve seen in a while, and it’s fun at the same time because it’s against another Mazda. It’s putting both teams at the top of their game, and we both have to perform flawlessly. It’s going to take a huge team effort for every person involved.”

 

Long said, “We really missed Liam this weekend – it wasn’t the same in the Freedom Autosport paddock without him, but we tried to make both him and Mazda proud. Personally, I had so much fun this weekend. I was extremely lucky to be involved with Freedom Autosport at my home track. I just love the Continental Series style of racing and got my fair share of it, having had the opportunity to drive the full 2.5 hours!”

 

Casey had to miss the first two days of his senior year of high school in order to race at VIR. When talking about his efforts to make up lost positions, the 17-year-old said, “It was fun for sure. I’ve never been in that situation with so many cars and such a big gap to make up. Luckily the cautions played into my hands the right way and the team called a great strategy for us.”

 

Fans can watch the race replay during the Fox Sports 1 broadcast on Sunday, September 6, at 9:00 a.m. ET.

 

Adam Sinclair
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