Yelloly Claims Pole Position in Detroit, Aims to End Porsche’s Dominance
Nick Yelloly of Acura Meyer Shank Racing secured the pole position for the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship race in Detroit, breaking a four-race streak held by BMW’s Dries Vanthoor. This marks Yelloly’s first career pole in the series and sets the stage for a potential upset against the dominant Porsche Penske Motorsport in Saturday’s race.
Yelloly and co-driver Renger van der Zande will start the race in their #93 Acura ARX-06, alongside teammate Tom Blomqvist and Colin Braun in the second-placed #60 Acura, achieving an all-Acura front row. This is the first time Meyer Shank Racing has locked out an overall front row since the 2008 Rolex 24 At Daytona.
Reflecting on his achievement, Yelloly stated, "It’s the best place to start, definitely, on any street circuit. We’ve been working hard to make sure we get everything right… I’m super happy to get my first pole in IMSA."
During the 15-minute GTP qualifying session, Yelloly consistently improved his lap times despite close encounters with the track barriers, including a brief disruption from an Aston Martin incident. He emphasized the importance of good positioning and strategy, particularly regarding pit stops and tire management.
Yelloly noted, "It’s going to be important to try and get a bit of a gap… The people starting further back will maybe roll the dice more than the people at the front, with track position at such a premium."
As Acura Meyer Shank Racing looks to capitalize on this momentum, the team’s performance in Saturday’s race could redefine the competitive landscape ahead of Le Mans. With strong qualifying results and emerging talents, they are poised to challenge Porsche’s dominance in the GTP category.
End of Report
