Mustang Challenge heads to Austin, Texas for the penultimate event of its 12-race season. This weekend at Circuit of The Americas (COTA) will be the second time this season Mustang Challenge races during an FIA World Endurance Championship event this season, with the first being the Le Mans Invitational in June.
A total of 46 Mustangs will be racing around the globe with Ford Performance, with 16 of them in Mustang Challenge.
Texas-Based Salvatores Ready to Race as Husband and Wife
Last time out at Virginia International Raceway, one Mustang Challenge driver proved that Virginia is indeed for lovers after marrying his girlfriend. Paolo Salvatore, driver of the No. 84 Ford Mustang Dark Horse R, had a deal with his girlfriend, Michelle, where when he got a podium finish, they would get married at the racetrack. As a key part of the team, it was an easy agreement for Michelle to make. On Saturday, Salvatore finished third in the Dark Horse Legends class, and on Sunday, the couple tied the knot, with Mustang Challenge Series Director Glenn Long officiating. This weekend, in their home state, the Salvatores will take on their first race weekend as a married couple.
Will Lucas to Compete in His Second Mustang Challenge Event
For the second time this season, Mustang Cup competitor Will Lucas will make the step up to the Mustang Challenge series. Lucas made his series debut during the Le Mans Invitational, where he finished in the top-ten in both races. Lucas will be driving for Paley Motorsport this weekend as he competes in his first points-paying event in the Mustang Challenge series. Lucas is the current Dark Horse leader in both the Miles Cup and Parnelli Cup Mustang Cup championships, and he’s already found success in the Lone Star State this year. When Mustang Cup raced at COTA in May, Lucas won both races of the weekend.
ORDER OF EVENTS
Friday September 5
10:45 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.: Practice 1
2:15 pm. – 2:45 p.m.: Practice 2
Saturday September 6
9:45 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.: Qualifying
4:40 p.m. – 5:25 p.m.: Race 1
Sunday September 7
9:50 a.m. – 10:35 a.m.: Race 2
CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS
Top-10 Dark Horse: 1. Robert Noaker, 2,960; 2. Marcos Vento, 2,060; 3. Devin Anderson, 2,040; 4. Alex Bachoura, 2,020; 5. Sandy Satullo, 1,980; 6. Tate Pritt, 1,820; 7. Zachry Lee, 1,790; 8. Alfonso Diaz, 1,720; 9. Doug Peterson, 1,610; 10. Tom Tait, 1,590.
Top-10 Dark Horse Legends: 1. Alex Bachoura, 2,560; 2. Zachry Lee, 2,410; 3. Alfonso Diaz, 2,400; 4. Tom Tait, 2,210; 5. Paolo Salvatore, 2,140; 6. Stephen Vajda, 2,070; 7. Joseph Dederichs, 1,950; 8. Drew Neubauer, 1,540; 9. Nicholas Smither, 1,440; 10. Scott Thomson, 1,330.
Top-10 Teams: 1. Robert Noaker Racing, 2,960; 2. TechSport, 2,390; 3. McCumbee McAleer Racing, 2,320; 4. Spark Performance, 2,200; 5. Automatic Racing, 2,040; 6. Peterson Racing Group LLC, 1,910; 7. Competition Motors, 1,900; 8. NV Autosport, 1,880; 9. Torre Racing, 1,860; 10. LAP Motorsports, 1,270.