McCumbee McAleer Racing Secures First IMSA Victory at Road America
Road America, Elkhart Lake, WI – In a pivotal IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge race, McCumbee McAleer Racing (MMR) claimed its first victory during the Road America 120 on Saturday. The team’s #13 Ford Mustang GT4, driven by Nate Cicero and Jenson Altzman, triumphed in the Grand Sport (GS) class following two hours of intense racing characterized by strategic pit stops and five full-course cautions.
Cicero, who turned 20 this week, executed a timely pit stop just before the fourth caution came out 57 minutes into the event, a move that ultimately defined the race. After handing the car to Altzman, the duo subsequently utilized a smart fuel strategy that allowed them to maintain their lead during a predominantly green final segment.
Altzman crossed the finish line 0.467 seconds ahead of the #4 CarBahn BMW M4 GT4 EVO pilot duo, Steve Wetterau and Cameron Shields. MMR co-owner Stevan McAleer finished third alongside Austin Krainz in their #27 BMW.
“This is amazing! Our Mustang was on fire, and we executed a perfect race today,” Cicero stated, referencing the long-standing relationship he has with the McAleer team since karting. Altzman added, “Today, everything lined up. You have to be so perfect to win at this level, and we achieved that.”
The race proved costly for GS championship leaders Jan Heylen and Luca Mars in their #28 RS1 Porsche, who suffered a mechanical failure that relegated them to a 17th-place finish. Their significant points lead has now narrowed to just 90 over Altzman, who has moved into second place.
TCR Race Highlights Bryan Herta Autosport’s Triumph
In the TCR class, Bryson Morris achieved his first Michelin Pilot Challenge victory driving the #33 Bryan Herta Autosport Hyundai Elantra N TCR. Co-driver Mark Wilkins celebrated his 14th victory in the series, marking a significant milestone for both the team and driver. Their car finished 3.252 seconds ahead of Jaden Conwright and Luke Rumburg in the #31 RVA Graphics Motorsports Audi RS3 LMS TCR.
“It’s been a tough season for us, but I’m really happy to finally get a win here,” Morris expressed, while Wilkins noted the mental challenges they’ve faced throughout the year. The victory also set a record for Bryan Herta Autosport as they reached 30 wins in Michelin Pilot Challenge history, trailing only Turner Motorsport.
Amidst the competitive standings, Harry Gottsacker managed a fourth-place finish in the #98 Hyundai, breaking a tie for the championship lead. He leads the standings by 20 points over co-drivers Preston Brown and Denis Dupont, while Karl Wittmer and LP Montour are close behind in third.
Race Results Summary
Grand Sport (GS) Class
- McCumbee McAleer Racing #13 (Cicero/Altzman)
- CarBahn #4 (Wetterau/Shields)
- Auto Technic Racing #27 (McAleer/Krainz)
Touring Car (TCR) Class
- Bryan Herta Autosport #33 (Morris/Wilkins)
- RVA Graphics #31 (Conwright/Rumburg)
- MMG #93 (Wittmer/Montour)
With the races now concluded, teams will shift focus to upcoming events, where strategy and execution will remain paramount as the championship chase intensifies.
