I was back in Austin, Texas, at Circuit of the Americas last week, this time for the next round of the Sprint Challenge season. I was working with a great friend in the early part of the week, helping Daniel Bloom at his Apex Driving Event that preceded the race weekend. We had an extremely productive couple of days, testing in preparation for what was a very hot race week.
Dan went on to qualify during the Sprint Challenge event with a personal-best lap time, and he finished his GT3 race with incredible results, culminating in a top-five finish on Sunday.
As the week unfolded, two more drivers I was coaching in the GT4 division arrived for the race event. Longtime friend Rob Trollinger is campaigning a new-to-him car this season. He continues to make excellent progress and gain confidence every time out, which is a lot of fun to see.
Jim Johnson is also competing in the series this year. He and I got a top-five finish in the Daytona Michelin Pilot race last season, and I’m looking forward to the chance to do some more IMSA racing later this year. Jim had a fantastic weekend at Circuit of the Americas, not only bettering his lap times every session but also his finishing position. He got a top-five result on Sunday to cap off a strong weekend.
Thanks for all the wonderful barbeque recommendations in Austin! We had a chance to visit Terry Black’s, and we were certainly not disappointed by the incredible spread. Austin is such a fun place to visit for food, culture, and racing.
Although it was extremely hot and difficult on the drivers all weekend, it was also a gratifying event, with a lot of camaraderie and success. It’s a weekend we all worked hard for as we got the cars dialed in on the test day, and I even got to do a lot of driving myself, which is always great fun.
Seeing the perseverance of my clients as they continue to gain in speed, results, and skills this season is so rewarding! They’ll all be back in action at my home track of Virginia International Raceway next month. I won’t be able to guarantee any cooler weather, but there will certainly be a continuation of the fun and success.