SKI Autosports’ Memo Gidley started from pole and led flag-to-flag Saturday (March 28) to win the GT America powered by AWS season opener at Sonoma Raceway. It is his 14th career victory in the series.
Gidley’s margin of victory was 5.922 seconds over R. Ferri Motorsports’ Marc Muzzo. Ruckus Racing’s Scott Blind was third, then Chouest-Povoledo Motorsports’ Ross Chouest and GMG Racing’s Kyle Washington.
in his Audi and managed to get a decent jump over Muzzo. That jump eventually became a two-second lead.
A couple of laps into the race, Rennsport One’s Joel Cortes and Mishumotors’ Mirco Schultis collided in turn 2 and spun. Both drivers were able to pull away under their own power, but both had suspension damage. They were eventually able to go beyond turn 4 and pull off exiting turn 4a on the NASCAR circuit, preventing a full course caution.
Behind Gidley and Muzzo, there was a four-way fight for third between Blind, Wright Motorsports’ Dave Musial, Chouest and Washington.
Eventually, Blind and Musial pulled away to settle the fight among themselves. The two ran each other hard, but it was a mistake by Musial that ended the battle.
Exiting turn 6, Musial went wide and got into the grass. This being a wetter time of year in Sonoma than when the NASCAR Cup Series races there, the grass was still fairly green and the soil moist. It completely covered up Musial’s grille, forcing him to pit to have the grass and soil removed. He would eventually finish seventh.
Musial’s issues moved Chouest up to fourth and he was also able to put the pressure on Blind for third. However, Blind was able to hold off Chouest.
Up front, Gidley was fairly lonely up front as he was able to maintain a six-second lead. Other drivers, such as Washington, were trying to put down their best laps in order to get a good starting spot for Sunday. Gidley responded in kind on his way to victory.
In the Cup class, RacingSupport’s David Lecko started from pole in his Ginetta GTP8, making his series debut. His victory was effectively clinched when Yousuf Nabi pitted his Ferrari in the opening laps with a mechanical issue.
GT America powered by AWS: Sonoma Race No. 1 Results
With two laps to go, Gidley set a lap at 93.748 mph. This held up as the fastest lap of the race and gives him the pole for Race No. 2 on Sunday.
Race No. 2 for GT America is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET Sunday afternoon (11 a.m. PT). The race will stream live on the GT World YouTube channel.
