Tyler Maxson put on a clinic in Race 1 of the weekend for the Porsche Carrera Cup North America at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.
Maxson lead the field into Turn 1 and was quite unbothered for the duration of the 40-minute race. Further back, Dan Drohan went off at Turn 1 toward the barrier but was able to get going. At ten minutes in, Joel Johnson would spin at the Fox Bridge in his #70 Porsche.
During the race’s second half, the highlight was the three-way battle for second. Janne Stiak, Callum Hedge and Aaron Jeansonne would have a tight battle approaching the race’s final ten minutes. Stiak put his wheels off on the frontstretch, pushing to stay ahead and at the time maintained his position. With seven minutes remaining, Jeansonne finally made his move catapulting himself from fourth to second on Lap 25. Edge would then pass Stiak to maintain third place. Following the battle, Stiak would get more bad news. Race control handed the German a ten-second post-race time penalty for blocking. Subsequently, the penalty would push Stiak from fourth to seventh in the final standings.
One last moment of drama came on the final lap when Joel Johsnon and Kevin Stadtlander were beached at the Turn 6 gravel trap.
Maxson would take the checkered flag by eight seconds to increase his championship to 17 with three races to go. Patrick Mulcahy would win the unopposed Pro-Am class. Matt Cirone would hold off Richard Edge and Scott Blind to take victory in Masters.
Race 2 is scheduled for Friday at 3:55pm local time.
Headline Photo: Tyler Maxson in the #77 Porsche – Photo Courtesy: Porsche Motorsport North America
