ALTON, Va. – Johan Schwartz capped a perfect weekend behind the wheel of the West Virginia University-liveried No. 80 Rooster Hall Racing BMW M235iR with his second Touring Car victory at Virginia Int’l Raceway Sunday.
The Danish ace made a daring move into turn one from his second-row grid spot to seize the lead on the opening lap.
He was then chased throughout the 40-minute contest by Chandler Hull, who started from pole in the No. 94 Bimmerworld Racing BMW M240iR after setting the fastest lap during the weekend’s opening race on Saturday.
Hull kept the Rooster Hall car well within his sights but a masterful defensive drive from Schwartz resulted in his third victory in four races this season.
“I saw the opportunity to go on the inside and Chandler – I’ve raced with him before, he’s a good driver and we can trust each other – and I held it on the inside,” Schwartz said. “I couldn’t have done it without these guys from West Virginia University, the whole crew. What an awesome job.”
Despite missing out on the win, Hull’s fine performance saw him pick up his first podium in TC America competition a day after sealing his maiden pole start.
Bimmerworld Racing nearly saw both of its cars reach the podium as Hull’s teammate Cameron Evans came up agonisingly short in a thrilling duel with Moisey Uretsky.
Evans, driving the No. 82 BMW M240iR, got past Uretsky’s orange No. 55 Murillo Racing BMW235iR into the first corner of the last lap but just slipped out onto the grass to enable Uretsky back through.
Robert Nimkoff secured a solid top-five finish in the No. 20 Auto Technic Racing BMW M235iR after holding off Marko Radisic’s No. 28 BMW M240iR.
With both of the weekend’s TC races complete, Schwartz leaves Virginia with a 36-point lead to defend after his main rival Toby Grahovec lost a handful of laps in the pits to finish 11th.