RSR Motorsports’ Trinkler and Congleton Third at Barber; First Podium for the Honda LEEDS, Ala.—Saturday’s GRAND-AM Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge race at Barber Motorsports Park saw a number of firsts for RSR Motorsports. Mark Congleton and Owen Trinkler finished third in the ST class with the No. 197 Honda Civic SI. It was the first podium for the team’s new Honda, Congleton’s first GRAND-AM podium, and Trinkler’s first podium at his home track. RSR Motorsports debuted the Cruise America/Thor Motor Coach Honda during round one at Daytona International Speedway, adding it to their stable of MINI Coopers. The team took delivery of the Honda the week of that race, and they have now put it on the podium after owning the car for only two months. Trinkler was running in sixth when the final restart of the day came late in the race. He used his knowledge of his home track to move up to third in the final laps, crossing the finish line just 0.272-second behind second place. “We only made one pit stop, and the Honda was awesome on old tires, even when they were two hours old,†Trinkler says. “Mark never put a wheel wrong during his stint, and we had stores we’d been conserving for the final push at the end.†Both drivers are quick to credit the RSR Motorsports crew with the podium finish. “Working on getting the Honda up to speed, both in the test and during practice, really showed the RSR team can take a new car and quickly bring it up to speed and make it competitive,†Congleton says. “That was probably the most rewarding part of the race: showing what the team can do.†“It’s a real testament to our crew,†agrees Trinkler. “They’re applying all that we have learned with the MINIs to the Honda, and it’s working for us.†See the RSR Motorsports Honda race to the podium during the SPEED broadcast of the race at Barber Motorsports Park. It airs on Sunday, April 8, at noon ET. Fans can also keep up with the team online at RSR Motorsport / RSR Racing. RSR Motorsports is sponsored by Cruise America, Thor Motor Coach, US LED, MINI USA, Pilot/Flying J Travel Centers, OS Giken Racing Clutches and Limited Slip Differentials, Eibach Springs, Midway Ford Truck Sales, DBA USA, MINI North Scottsdale, Performance Speed Tech, and Carbotech Pads.
Secondary Spoiler Alert -- more info below: Based on what I saw on live timing and reported elsewhere during the race, the first half hour or so might not be too thrilling unless you like crashes and clean up. If I remember right they had more caution periods than full green laps for quite a while. Many tried to blame the crowded field but they start the GS and ST cars in separate groups and from what I could tell the carnage was almost all in the GS field, and long before they had a chance to catch up with the ST field. After that the remaining drivers seemed to settle down and lots of green plus lots of cars still running meant plenty of racing. I have my DVR set.
32 of the 68 race laps were under caution - including 18 of the first 19. Mark in the 197 and Kyle in the 198 got no laps under green. :incazzato: Dicky in the 195 and Ron in the 196 got 3 or 4 at most. :frown2: The first 28 ST cars and the first 14 GS cars finished on the lead lap [the GS cars were doing most of the "wrecking"]
Watching it now. Crazy GS drivers! Just watched an interview with someone after the second scene of carnage blaming the speed differential of the 2-class field. Idiot. Both of the first two smash-ups have been among GS drivers over-driving themselves and their cars at start and restart with the entire ST field on the opposite side of the track!
Yea.....those GS guys need to learn where the brake pedal is, especially that Mustang team WOW Looked like a very exiting race, at least the last half, what with the weather warning and such. So is RSR going to go with the Hondas next year.....( or maybe the Kia's :biggrin5?