Anderson Sweeps COTA Weekend; Loftsgard Takes Title

Photo: Wes Duenkel/Ford

Devin Anderson completed a sweep of the Mustang Challenge North America weekend at Circuit of The Americas, with another second-place result in Race 2 more than enough for Cole Loftsgard to win the Dark Horse championship.

The TechSport Racing driver, who started alongside Loftsgard on the front row, jumped into an early lead, passing the No. 42 Round 3 Racing Ford Mustang Dark Horse R in the first complex of corners.

Anderson then held control for the remainder of the 45-minute season finale, finishing 3.372 seconds ahead of Loftsgard.

It marked the first weekend sweep for Anderson, who finished runner-up in the Dark Horse championship to the Round 3 driver, who scored seven wins in 12 races.

The No. 34 Wheelhouse Motorsports Mustang of Will Lucas completed the podium on Sunday in third, with Ethan Low and Sandy Satullo completing the overall top-five.

Low bounced back from an alternator issue in Race 1 in his No. 25 Flying Lion Motorsports entry to finish fourth.

Justin Gravett, in his series debut weekend finished sixth in his TechSport entry, while Tate Pritt made a late-race call to the pits and ended up as a retirement.

Tait Provisionally Wins Race 2; Claims Dark Horse Legends Title

Tom Tait provisionally won Race 2 in Dark Horse Legends after last-lap contact with the No. 9 Paley Motorsport with AAG Racing entry of Chris Clarke while battling for the class lead.

Clarke’s Mustang ended up in the barriers with significant damage after the two had contact.

The incident was placed under review by race control, although Tait looks set to win the DHL championship either way.

Clarke, in the No. 9 Paley Motorsport with AAG Racing entry, led the majority of the race and appeared to be en route to his second career class win until the late-race battle with Tait’s No. 8 Wheelhouse entry.

Tait, who failed to finish Race 1, saw his points lead to Clarke in the No. 9 Paley Motorsport with AAG Racing entry reduced to 70 points entering the season finale.

However, with Tait’s team owner Dan McKeever not starting Race 2 due to accident damage from Saturday’s round, he essentially sealed the title with relative ease with a second place class result.

The No. 70 Round 3 Mustang of Brad McCall was elevated to second in class, with Paolo Salvatore completing the class podium in third.

Ryan Persing, whose Paley with AAG Mustang stopped on track in Race 1, returned to action on Sunday morning after an overnight repair but slowed in the final 20 minutes of the race and pitted after running solidly in the top-ten overall.

The No. 63 Wheelhouse Mustang of Joseph Dederichs was the race’s only other retirement.

RESULTS: Race 2

Source: Sports Car 365