PF Racing claimed their best IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge finish to date thanks to a stellar driver by James Pesek and Chad McCumbee this past weekend. The duo scored a 4th place during Sunday’s race at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.
It was a busy weekend for the Harrisonville outfit as they disputed two two-hour races this past weekend in Ohio. James Pesek qualified the car ahead of Race 1, setting the 16th time. This result did not reflect Pesek’s determination for the race as the 24 years-old driver quickly made his way up the field, giving the car back to Chad in first place on Lap 44.
McCumbee had a very good stint keeping the Ford Mustang GT4 in the Top 10, but unfortunately with the current Balance of Performance (BoP) it was hard for him to keep up with the leaders. The team had to settle with P9, knowing very well they would fight for a higher position the next day.
As the on-going pandemic shifted many events, IMSA decided on a double-header for the Michelin Pilot Challenge this past weekend. The team geared up for a second race on Sunday morning for which James Pesek set the 14th lap time during Saturday’s evening qualifying session.
Like the previous race, Pesek quickly made his way up the field in the Top 10. Chad McCumbee took over and made his way up to 4th place, where he stayed for the remainder of the race. Although the team would have hoped for a podium finish, they were pleased with this result as this is their best IMSA finish to date.
“This weekend was certainly a hard-fought and rewarding one!” said Chad McCumbee. “Track position was key as passing was a massive challenge with the track layout and current BoP. James did an amazing job moving us up into the Top 10 in each race. We were once again able to battle inside the Top 5 and Top 10. A P4 on Sunday will certainly keep the positivity flowing for everyone moving forward. The PF Racing crew worked very hard and certainly deserved the good result.”
“Looking back at where we were when we started and where we are now, I am very proud of our team effort,” echoed James Pesek. “I am happy with both races, but obviously, a driver wants to go for a win, so I am not fully content until we finish on the podium! I can’t wait to see what Road Atlanta brings, as we were very close to grabbing a podium during the 4-hour race a few weeks ago.”
The team will be headed back to Road Atlanta for the Petit Le Mans weekend starting October 15.
