ROAD AMERICA RACE RECAP: A PODIUM FOR THE 46 AND A TIGHTER BRONZE CHAMPIONSHIP

Road America finally gave the No. 46 car the result it had been working toward all season. The No. 64 had a more difficult afternoon.

We arrived at Road America encouraged by the progress we had made with both cars. The handling was improving, the setups were beginning to transfer more effectively between the 46 and the 64, and for the first time this year, we felt like we were developing a clearer direction across the team.

Then the weather changed.

Heavy rain fell overnight and continued into race morning, leaving the track wet and forcing nearly the entire field to start on wet-weather tires. Road America is demanding in good conditions. In the wet, every braking zone, corner entry, and throttle application becomes a different calculation.

Some drivers adapted better than others. That difference shaped the race for both Team TGM cars.

THE NO. 46 QUALIFIES P5

Paul Holton handled the wet conditions well and qualified the No. 46 in fifth position. That gave the car a strong starting point, but qualifying was only the beginning.

The track continued to evolve, and the drivers had to judge where the grip was, how quickly the surface was changing, and how much risk they could afford to take.

Paul drove a very strong opening stint. He kept the 46 in contention and remained competitive as the race developed. His stint also carried the car deep enough into the race to benefit from the timing of the later yellow-flag period.

After the pit stop and driver change, Matt Plumb emerged in an excellent position.

For a significant portion of the race, the No. 46 led the field. That was an encouraging sight after the challenges the car had faced earlier in the season. The team had continued working on the setup, searching for improvements, and trying to give the drivers a car they could use consistently.

At Road America, that work began to show.

THE 46 EARNS ITS BEST FINISH OF THE YEAR

Matt held the lead for a good portion of his stint before the second-place car eventually found a way past. He stayed in the fight, but a late yellow flag brought the race to an end before he had another opportunity to respond.

The No. 46 finished second.

It was the car’s best result of the season and a well-earned podium for Paul, Matt, and the entire crew.

The result was important for more than the finishing position. The car performed well. The setup showed progress. The drivers were able to compete at the front. After a difficult start to the season, the 46 finally received some of the payoff the team had been working toward.

Bravo, 46!

A MORE DIFFICULT RACE FOR THE NO. 64

The No. 64 experienced a very different race.

I did not adapt to the wet conditions as well as I needed to. There is no point dressing that up. Wet-weather racing requires confidence, feel, and the ability to adjust quickly as the grip changes. I was not able to find enough pace during my stint.

At that point, the primary responsibility was to avoid damaging the car and give Hugh Plumb something he could work with. I accomplished that part, but I turned the car over to Hugh one lap down.

Hugh drove a very good stint. The team also continued looking for strategic opportunities that might allow us to recover the lost lap.

We tried. The opportunity never came. Without the right yellow-flag timing or another way to regain track position, the No. 64 remained a lap down and finished second in the Bronze class.

THE BRONZE CHAMPIONSHIP GETS TIGHTER

A second-place Bronze finish is still a podium, but the championship consequences were not what we wanted.

After two difficult races in a row, our Bronze Championship lead has been reduced to 10 points. That is close enough to get everyone’s attention.

Championships rarely stay comfortable for long. A lead that once looked healthy can shrink quickly after a few difficult weekends, especially when competitors continue collecting points.

The job now is straightforward. We have to improve. We have to execute better. And we have to stop giving away opportunities.

The No. 64 remains in front of the Bronze Championship, but the margin is small and the work ahead is clear.

TWO VERY DIFFERENT RESULTS AT ROAD AMERICA

Road America gave Team TGM both sides of racing in one weekend.

The No. 46 produced its strongest finish of the season, showed meaningful setup progress, and proved it can compete near the front. The No. 64 survived a difficult wet-weather race, finished second in Bronze, and retained the championship lead, although only by 10 points.

One side of the garage had plenty to celebrate. The other side left knowing it has work to do.

That is racing.

Progress does not always arrive evenly. Sometimes one car takes a step forward while the other spends the weekend limiting the damage. The important thing is to learn from both.

The 46 is moving in the right direction. The 64 has to respond. And apparently, we have decided to make the Bronze Championship interesting.