The rule of thumb in endurance racing is to be ready for anything. That was certainly the case in the opening laps of the final three-hour enduro of 2024 at Buttonwillow in October.
Not long after the green flag flew, a wheel broke on race leader Lang Racing Development’s Norma prototype in the Sweeper turn. The caution turned into a red flag. When the race resumed, Lang Racing Development did not rejoin the race and Team Codrus Racing moved into the lead.
The only car in the ESR class, Team Lang Racing Development still finished first and last in class. Here’s how the rest of the race played out.
E0
After getting towed in from the afternoon qualifying session, Team Turn One Automotive started from the sixth row. Driving a Ligier JS2 R, the team had climbed to first in class and second overall by the end of the first hour of racing.
By the time the second hour had ticked by, the team still had first in class over its only E0 competitor, Team Four Brothers Motorworks, but had fallen back to fifth overall, which is where they stayed till the end of the race. They finished one lap ahead of Team Four Brothers.
“I had fun learning the car during the race. I had seven laps earlier in the day,” said driver Paul Filsinger, who shared driving duties with Kevin Madsen. “Just slow and steady, workining, keep the passes clean, avoid trouble spots. Just wait for the right opportunities.”
E1
No. 256 Team Codrus Racing was coming fresh off a third-place finish in Super Touring 4 at the 2024 NASA Championships, and started from fourth on grid for the Buttonwillow three-hour.
In what seemed like no time at all, Team Codrus Racing had advanced to first in class and the overall lead. At the end of the first hour, they had the lead, which they maintained through hour two. Even at the end of the third hour, the team was still on the lead lap. They finished first in class ahead of two other cars and took second overall.
“We had TC Design there to help us out. Joe Colicchio was running the crew as chief, and the car ran smoothly,” said driver Ian McCloghrie, who started the race. “I was driving with the first, when we had the red flag. That was a little confusing for a while because it wasn’t clear when we were restarting where we were going, all that stuff, but it worked out.”
Team Jackson Racing finished second and Team Land Yacht Racing finished third in E1.
E2
The largest class in the enduro, E2 was dominated by Team Lucas Racing. Starting from seventh of 19 on grid, Team Lucas Racing got through the red flag and the restart, and leaped to first in class and third overall before the end of the first hour of racing.
Lucas Weisenberg qualified the car Saturday afternoon, and driver Ford Koch drove the entire three hours. At the end of the second hour, a full-course caution came out and at the end of the third hour, Koch had first in class and third overall, a great finish for an E2 car.
“I decided it was an option for me that if I wanted to keep going at the halfway mark that I just let everybody know,” said Koch. “We were able to conserve enough fuel. We had a gallon and a half left at the end. The yellow flag saved us and yeah, we were able to do a one-stop strategy and it was awesome.”
Team Perisse Racing finished second and Team Divebombers finished third in E2.
E3
Driving a Honda Fit, E3 Team MARRS Racing had what it calls the fastest car in the slow sections of the track and the slowest car in the fastest segments.
By the end of the first hour, they had the class lead and were only one lap behind the race leader and had sixth overall. They tossed in a splash of fuel at the halfway point, maintained the class lead for all three hours and got through the full-course caution just after the two-hour mark.
“NASA safety did a great job and we appreciate all the workers for getting us through that,” said driver and team owner JF Martin, who also talked about the challenges of the infamous Buttonwillow dust. “When your lights hit it, you can’t see through it. You’d always underestimate the capability of those lights when they’re full, bright. And then the dust is really dense, so you got to play it safe, and then keep your distance.”
Team Buzzbomb finished second in E3.
E3S
Two of the three cars in E3S dropped out after just three laps. That left the class win to Team R&R Racing, which kept hammering away for 62 laps, and finished first in E3S and 10th overall.
“I was just trying to be consistent, not trying to click off the fastest time ever, but really just make sure I’m hitting the line, knowing the braking zones ,” said driver Royce VanHoove. “And anytime we had those plumes of dust, I mean, it was just try to navigate through it and come out the other side as smooth as you can.”
Team GBP Racing finished second and Team Chief Mold USA/Inc. finished third in E3S.
GT
Team Prototype Development looked to be in a good position to take the overall win after the Lang Racing Development broke a wheel in the early part of the race. However, they were fighting troubles of their own as the two-hour mark drew near. Driver Ken Kurtz was having issues with a long brake pedal — he suspected pad knock-back — so he was having to tap the brakes in preparation for braking at the end of the long straightaways.
However, after the track’s shortest straightaway headed toward the Off Ramp turn, Kurtz went for the brakes, and the pedal wasn’t there. As a result, Kurtz piled into the tire wall off track, ending his chances to take the overall lead and a potential overall win. The only car in GT, he still took first in class.
“What I’d do is tap the brakes, get it instantly, and then I’d have a pedal again. But that short straight into a turn. I wasn’t expecting it there,” Kurtz said. “And when I put my foot in the pedal, it went all the way down for a sec and had to quickly do that. But by the time I recovered it was too late.”
