Yahoo Autos O’Connell and Sherman win again in SRO3 in GT America Race 2 at VIR
The GT America powered by AWS drivers took to the track bright and early on Sunday morning for Race 2 as the fog was lifting around VIRginia International Raceway.
Johnny O’Connell prevailed on this hazy morning, claiming the win in the SRO3 class in his No.3 SKI Autosports Audi R8 LMS GT3. In the GT4 class, Isaac Sherman returned to the top step of the podium with his No. 098 Rotek Racing Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport.
SRO3
It was a clean start from Johnny O’Connell in the No. 3 SKI Autosports Audi R8 LMS GT3, but it was clear from the get-go that it would be a tight battle for the lead between him and Justin Rothberg in the No. 29 Turner Motorsport BMW M4 GT3.
Jason Daskalos was on a mission to make his way through the field in his No. 27 CRP Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3, moving himself up into podium position as he completed an overtake on Jason Bell in the No. 2 Flying Lizard Motorsports Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 EVO in the opening 10 minutes.
A full course caution emerged with 25 minutes remaining on the clock, packing up the field and bringing the frontrunners even closer together. As the green flag running resumed with under 20 minutes to go, the battle between the top three began heating up.
Rothberg tried with all his might to inch close enough to sweep past, but O’Connell held firm all the way to the checkered flag to secure his second win of the season, claiming the championship points lead in the process. It was a drag race to the finish line between the frontrunners, but O’Connell had just enough to stay ahead.
Jason Daskalos brought it home in third place, earning the Super Fuel Hard Charger Award in the process after moving up from ninth to third overall.
“I’m gonna be 62 next week,” said an emotional O’Connell. “I thank God that I can still do this. I thought we were going to get the win yesterday. I really wanted this for the team. This weekend’s been a struggle getting this car right, but we got it really good today. I am grateful to everybody at SKI Autosports. Now we have to get some more wins, it’s going to be a really tight battle with Jason Daskalos and the other guys, and I’m really looking forward to it. I still have goals ahead of me and that championship title is certainly one of them.”
GT4
Isaac Sherman, driver of the No. 098 Rotek Racing Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport, got the jump on Race 1 winner Curt Swearingin in the No. 7 ACI Motorsports Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport as they dove into the first corner. From there, Sherman set sail down the road and began to build a gap.
The full course caution brought them close together again, but Sherman expertly managed the restart and focused on establishing a gap once more. Swearingin’s car began to come alive in the final minutes, but he ran out of laps before being able to launch an attack for first place. Sherman crossed the finish line to clinch his eighth win of the year.
Gray Newell and Damir Hot put on a good show in the fight for third place in their respective No. 25 Heart of Racing Team Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT4 and No. 05 Flying Lizard Motorsports Nissan Z NISMO GT4. The advantage swung in Hot’s direction as he took over the final spot on the podium, securing two consecutive third-place finishes.
“It’s just hard work,” stated Sherman. “Curt (Swearingin) is an amazing driver. It’s been a challenge, but it feels great to be back on the top step here. Curt didn’t make it easy for us yesterday in the rain. It was a hard drive, he put his car in all the right spots. We were on pole today and came out on top, so I’m very happy. From the race in the rain yesterday, to today having success again in this Porsche, it’s a great feeling. Virginia is an amazing facility, it’s definitely one of my new favorite tracks. This is actually my first time here. It’s very fast and technical, and just a lot of fun.”
