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Kingsley Claims Podium in First Start at The Glen
HEADLINES:
Jeff Kingsley Takes Over Driving Duties of the #3/Hertz/Byers Porsche
Sean McAlister Continues to Match Race Pace While Running with the Front of the Field
Mark Kvamme Races to Top 6 Finishes in Both Weekend Races
WEEKEND SCOOP:
Kingsley Claims First GT3 Cup USA Podium Finish in Race
#11 McAlister Has The Pace but Can't Overcome Late Race Penalty
Tire Choice Gamble Doesn't Pay Off for Kvamme in Changing Conditions
JEFF KINGSLEY: 📷"I had a very successful debut in the #3/Hertz/Byers Porsche this weekend. I had never been to Watkins Glen before and I didn't get a chance to test here prior to the race but the JDX guys got me up to speed very quickly and I was very comfortable in the car right away. The car was fast in both practice sessions and the red flag shortened qualifying session had me starting further back than I wanted to for the races but I was very happy with my second place finish in Race #1. Dealing with the drying conditions in Race #2 was challenging but fun. If we had just a little more race time, I think I could have gained another position and another podium finish."
"I'm looking forward to going to Road America in few weeks. It's another track I haven't been to but I'm really looking forward to learning it."
SEAN McALISTER: 📷"This was my first trip to Watkins Glen and I felt well prepared for it with lots of time on the simulator, helping me get up to speed right away. A mistake in Practice 2 cost me precious track time but I qualified well for Race #1 & #2. In Race #1, I was running with the leaders until the second half when my tires started to fall off and then I got a penalty call for contact, which I had to accept, and finished seventh. In Race #2, I made a mistake in a braking zone and locked up my left front wheel, ruining the tire. From that point on, I just had to manage the car and I ended up spinning and tapping an outside wall. I was able to continue but finished 14th. Not the way I wanted to end the weekend but overall I'm happy with my first visit to the Glen."
MARK KVAMME: 📷"We had a good weekend leading up to Race #2 on Saturday morning. The early Saturday morning weather brought some rain and we started the race on Yokohama wets. Unfortunately for us, the weather cleared out and the track dried up quickly and I had to pit the #9/JDX Racing/P1 Insurance/FactGem Porsche on Lap Two. Fortunately we caught a yellow flag just right and my guys were able to change tires without going off the lead lap, but I cycled to the back of the field. I drove really hard from that point on and managed to fight my way back to 12th overall and 6th in Platinum Masters"
JEREMY DALE, MANAGING PARTNER/JDX RACING: "There are always curve balls when you come to Watkins Glen. This weekend we moved Jeff into the #3 Hertz car. He did a tremendous job having been his first weekend at The Glen. He finished on the podium in his first race and currently sits 3rd in the Championship standings, which is a very solid accomplishment. Sean's first visit to The Glen was impressively fast, but we didn't get the results we wanted. For Mark, it was frustrating that his tire gamble didn't pay off in Race #2, but he drove well all weekend and had great pace every session. We'll do some testing during our short summer break as we prepare for Road America and are looking forward to the second half of the season."
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