VIRginia International Raceway Report: Noaker Dominates Mustang Challenge
Robert Noaker exhibited dominant form at the Mustang Challenge series’ round at VIRginia International Raceway, securing pole-to-win victories in both races. With these results, Noaker extends his lead in the Dark Horse class championship to 900 points, positioning him to potentially clinch his second title at the upcoming Circuit of the Americas event scheduled for September 5-7.
In Race 1, Devin Anderson (TechSport) and Marcos Vento (McCumbee McAleer Racing) rounded out the top three, with Anderson finishing second and Vento taking third. Race 2 saw Colin Harrison (TechSport) claim second place, followed by Noaker’s teammate Sandy Satullo in third.
In the Dark Horse Legends class, both Zachry Lee (McCumbee McAleer Racing) and Tom Tait (Competition Motors) secured their first season victories, with Lee winning Race 1 and Tait taking Race 2. Notably, Alex Bachoura (Spark Performance), who encountered incidents in both races, saw his DHL championship lead reduced to 150 points over Lee and 160 points over Alfonso Diaz (TechSport), who finished second in Race 1 after a drive-through penalty.
A poignant moment of the weekend occurred when Paolo Salvatore finished third in Race 1, fulfilling a promise to his girlfriend, Michelle, to propose if he reached the podium. Following the race, the couple exchanged vows on the VIR podium in an emotional ceremony.
The podium for Race 2 was completed by Stephen Vajda (NV Autosport) and Joseph Dederichs (Robert Noaker Racing).
Key Results:
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Race 1:
- 1st: Robert Noaker
- 2nd: Devin Anderson (TechSport)
- 3rd: Marcos Vento (McCumbee McAleer Racing)
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Race 2:
- 1st: Robert Noaker
- 2nd: Colin Harrison (TechSport)
- 3rd: Sandy Satullo
Dark Horse Legends Results:
- Race 1:
- 1st: Zachry Lee (McCumbee McAleer Racing)
- 2nd: Alfonso Diaz (TechSport)
- 3rd: Paolo Salvatore
- Race 2:
- 1st: Tom Tait (Competition Motors)
- 2nd: Stephen Vajda (NV Autosport)
- 3rd: Joseph Dederichs
This weekend’s races underscored the competitive spirit of the Mustang Challenge as the championship race intensifies heading into the final rounds.
