The Camaro Z/28.R may have won multiple races in its inaugural season, but until now, all of them have been from Stevenson Motorsports and their No. 6 and No. 9 cars. CKS Autosport also fields the Z/28.R, and their drivers Eric Curran and Lawson Aschenbach picked up their first win of the season at Road America Saturday in their No. 01 car.
The win marks the fourth consecutive race and fifth time so far this year that the Z/28.R has finished first overall in the Grand Sport class. Stevenson Motorsports’ Robin Liddell and Andrew Davis also finished close behind the winning CKS car, making it a 1-2 finish for Team Chevy.
“Eric Curran, Lawson Aschenbach and the No. 01 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28.R team demonstrated a ‘Never-Give-Up’ attitude throughout the entire race today,” Jim Campbell Vice President of Chevrolet Performance Vehicles and Motorsport, said post-race. “It was great to see that the team’s effort paid off with their first victory of the year. Kirk Spencer and everyone at CKS Autosport have worked hard for this win. ”
After qualifying third, Stevenson Motorsports’ Matt Bell and Andy Lally in the No. 9 Z/28.R had the best chance at bringing home a win for Chevrolet. But Curran, who qualified ninth, immediately went on an aggressive attack, climbing to first position in the first 16 laps. Aschenbach climbed into the car for his stint following a caution period, but fell back to second. He then took advantage of a mistake made by Davis, passing him on the uphill straight heading towards the finish line to win the race.
“It’s been a tough year. We’ve been fast everywhere, just something would happen. We didn’t quite have the fastest car today, but we got it done,” said Aschenbach. “The guys executed well on pit lane. We executed on strategy. You have to execute. That is half the battle sometimes whether you have a fast car or not. I’m just really happy, and thanks to everybody that came out for the race.”
Team Chevy and the Camaro Z/28.R will look to make it five consecutive wins when the next round of the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge kicks off at Virginia International Raceway on Saturday, Aug. 23.
Comment
The boys need to learn to sand bag a bit or they will see a weight penalty soon.
But it is cool seeing them rack up the wins.