AUSTIN, Texas – Scott Smithson snapped Tyler Maxson’s TC America TCR division winning streak with a victory Sunday at Circuit of the Americas.
Victor Gonzalez Jr. led the multi-class field to the green flag. As soon as the race got started the caution flag Olivia Askew spun into the sandtrap at the esses, getting stuck.
The safety crew was able to assist the stranded No. 29 car quickly and the race went back to green with 34 minutes left in the 40 minute event.
Gonzalez Jr. maintained the TCR lead with Tyler Gonzalez leading the TCA field. Maxson would move to third overall at turn one on the restart.
As the field came around to start lap 3, Roy Block would get back around Maxson at turn one Smithson dove to the inside of Gonzalez Jr. for the overall and TCR lead. Smithson would never look back and go on take this third win of the season.
“We had a rough start to the weekend, but the team was able to get my car back together and give me a great machine today. It’s taken me a little time to get used to a front wheel drive car, but we’re going to keep going and thanks to DXDT and Honda for getting me here!” said Smithson.
Back in the TCA field, Mark Pombo would slip stream past Gonzalez for the class lead on the long back straight as Mat Pombo would begin to attack Gonzalez for second.
On the next lap Block would then pull an identical turn one move on Gonzalez Jr. that he did on Maxson to grab second position in TCR.
As the clock approached 25 minutes remaining, Mat Pombo would make a daring pass going into turn 20 on Gonzalez’s Hyundai and claim second position in TCA. Championship leading Kevin Boehm would close in on the third position in class.
With 14 minutes remaining Mat Pombo, while running second in TCA, would catch up to his class-leading brother going into turn 11. The two MINIs would run side by side down the back straight with Mat and the No. 62 taking the inside line to complete the pass and take over the class lead.
At the same time in the TCR field, C.J. Moses would get around Maxson’s Hyundai for fourth overall and in class as the two would play a game of cat and mouse through traffic for the rest of the race.
As the checkered flag flew Smithson grabbed the TCR and overall victory. Block would come home second with Gonzalez Jr. taking the final podium position.
In TCA, Mat Pombo would take the class win ahead of teammate Mark Pombo with Gonzalez in third.
“I can’t thank LAP enough, they are a great crew. I have to thank MINI and my brother Mark, this is great racing and I’m so happy, I love it,” said Mat Pombo.