LEXINGTON, Ohio – In race one of the weekend at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Paolo Salvatore stood on the top step of the Mustang Challenge podium for the first time. Despite a green flag delayed by a major storm front that swept through the Lexington, Ohio-area track, Salvatore took the Dark Horse Legends checkered flag for the first time under sunny skies.
In the Dark Horse class, Nolan Allaer took the lead from polesitter Cole Loftsgard early in the race. Loftsgard fought hard to regain the lead and was able to do so after Allaer went wide. From there, Loftsgard led the remainder of the race, fending off second-place finisher Devin Anderson.
Salvatore inherited the Dark Horse Legends lead after Dave Luaces was unable to take the green flag. Salvatore led comfortably the whole time in what was his first-ever race at Mid-Ohio.
UNOFFICIAL DH CLASS TOP-FIVE FINISHERS:
- Cole Loftsgard – No. 42 Round 3 Racing
- Devin Anderson – No. 22 TechSport Racing
- Sandy Satullo – No. 7 Wheelhouse Motorsports
- Will Lucas – No. 34 Wheelhouse Motorsports
- Nolan Allaer – No. 3 Spark Performance
UNOFFICIAL DHL CLASS TOP-FIVE FINISHERS:
- Paolo Salvatore – No. 84 Torre Racing
- Joseph Dederichs – No. 63 Wheelhouse Motorsports
- Joe Koenig – No. 70 Round 3 Racing
- Tom Tait – No. 8 Wheelhouse Motorsports
- Chris Clarke – No. 9 Paley Motorsport with AAG Racing
COLE LOFTSGARD, No. 42 Round 3 Racing Ford Mustang Dark Horse R (DH) – “The start didn’t go very well, and then I was just trying to maintain position for the first couple of laps. The plan was to try to take care of the tires and let the race come to me, and it did. I’m happy to come home with the win. My Dark Horse R was really good, and Round 3 Racing did an amazing job.”
PAOLO SALVATORE, No. 84 Torre Racing Ford Mustang Dark Horse R (DHL) – “This is my first time [at Mid-Ohio] so I went out there and was just figuring out what I needed to do. I drove and did what I could and stayed clean. I’m pretty proud of myself and my team for this accomplishment. It’s still unbelievable to me.”