BRASELTON, Ga. — Kellymoss with Riley’s Riley Dickinson took the overall lead Friday (Oct. 11) with a little more than 10 minutes to go when TeamTGM’s Hugh Plumb pitted for fuel. From there, Dickinson held on to win the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge FOX Factory 120 at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta with teammate Michael McCarthy. It is the duo’s second win of the year, having started off the season by winning the season opener at Daytona along with Brady Golan.
Dickinson and McCarthy’s margin of victory was seconds over TeamTGM’s Paul Holton and Matt Plumb. That was more than enough to earn Matt Plumb the Grand Sport championship.
The final margin in the standings was 180 points between Matt Plumb and Rennsport One’s Trent Hindman and Stevan McAleer. The Rennsport One Porsche faded late and finished sixth.
CarBahn Motorsports with Peregrine Racing’s Sean McAlister and Jeff Westphal were third, followed by van der Steur Racing’s Valentin Hasse-Clot and Rory van der Steur. Archangel Motorsports’ Todd Coleman and Aaron Telitz were fifth.
Holton started from pole in his Aston Martin. Sam Paley, a regular in Mustang Challenge who was making his series debut for McCumbee-McAleer Racing, immediately put the pressure on Holton at the front.
At the chicane towards the end of the first lap, Paley made his move and took the lead away. Holton didn’t fight the move.
Unfortunately, Paley’s time at the front was very short-lived. Not even six minutes into the race, a half-shaft broke his in his Mustang, forcing him to pull off the track and giving the lead back to Holton. Paley was done for the day.
Shortly afterwards, Winward Racing’s Bryce Ward and KohR Motorsports’ Bob Michaelian collided exiting turn 7. Michaelian’s Mustang slid off and went into the tires to bring out the first full course caution. Meanwhile, Ward’s car had rear suspension damage and had to limp back to the pits.
McAleer was able to race up to second prior to the caution and ended up right on Holton’s tail. McAleer, who entered Friday second in points, immediately put the pressure on for the lead.
A lap after the restart, McAleer was able to snatch the lead away from Holton at the chicane, similar to how Paley did. Despite the move, McAleer couldn’t get away at first. Van der Steur, Robby Foley and Zach Veach were right there as well.
Veach, in his Michelin Pilot Challenge debut, started his weekend struggling with a seat that…
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