Lucas Takes Maiden Win as Title Contenders Clash on Sunday

Photo: Wes Duenkel/Ford

Will Lucas claimed his first career Mustang Challenge North America victory after title contenders Cole Loftsgard and Devin Anderson collided in dramatic fashion in Race 2 at Virginia International Raceway.

Lucas, in the No. 34 Wheelhouse Motorsports Ford Mustang Dark Horse R, finished ahead of second-placed Sandy Satullo in the 45-minute race, which ended under full course caution after a late-race accident for Chris Clarke.

There was also drama at the front of the pack early on as the No. 22 TechSport Mustang of Anderson and Loftsgard’s No. 42 Round 3 Racing entry came together while battling for the lead on Lap 5.

Loftsgard spun into the Turn 1 grass as a result, with Anderson handed a drive-through penalty for incident responsibility, which dropped Anderson to eighth at the time.

While Anderson charged back to finish fourth, Loftsgard recovered to third, extending his championship lead despite having his worst finish since Race 2 at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in May.

Ethan Low completed the top-five in the No. 25 Flying Lion Motorsports entry.

Dark Horse Legends class honors went to Oleg Gorshkov, who made it a weekend sweep in the No. 70 Round 3 Mustang and four-for-four in series competition.

Gorshkov got around the No. 9 Paley Motorsport with AAG Racing entry of Chris Clarke with 16 minutes to go after Clarke went wide at Oak Tree Corner.

Clarke then had an off-course excursion in Turn 1 before crashing heavily in the closing minutes, which saw his car shed debris and lead to the race-ending yellow.

He was classified fourth in class, ahead of title rival Tom Tait, who had no fewer than three incidents in the race, including a dramatic spin on the opening lap.

His last incident, in the final 15 minutes, resulted in nose damage to his Wheelhouse entry, and a mechanical black flag.

The No. 58 Mustang of Nick Smither finished second in DHL, with Paolo Salvatore, in a backup car following Saturday’s incident-filled race, completing the class podium in third.

Tait was fifth, ahead of Walter Bobko, who also made a visit to pit lane.

Fourteen of the 15 cars entered took part on Sunday, with damage from an accident in Saturday’s race forcing Joseph Dederichs out of the running for Race 2.

RESULTS: Race 2

Source: Sports Car 365