Kuhlman Records Two More Masters' Victories At Watkins Glen

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Wright Motorsports' Kasey Kuhlman posted his fifth- and sixth-straight Platinum class Masters division victories over the weekend at Watkins Glen International in IMSA Porsche GT3 Cup action. The Cincinnati-based driver of the Kuhlsport #15 now has a 39-point lead in the division's point standings at the halfway point of the season, 134 to 95.

Kuhlman recorded a fourth- and a third-place finish overall at the Glen too, and he's now in fourth place in the Platinum class' overall point standings. The Platinum Cup is for 2014 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup cars and the Masters division is for drivers age 45 and older.

Another Wright Motorsports driver, Michael Schein of New York City, placed seventh in the first 45-minute race on Friday and ninth in the second half of the doubleheader on Saturday.

Another teammate, Santiago Creel of Mexico City, Mexico, was right behind Schein in eighth place in the first race. He had a problem in the second race while running 11th and placed 17th in class on Saturday with his #60, which is sponsored by Hotbook and Under Armour

The Batavia, Ohio-based team was represented by two women in the Gold Cup division, which is for 2010-2013 model Porsches. Kristin Treager of Tulsa, Okla., posted a podium finish on Friday when she finished third in that class with her #52, which is sponsored by the Sheehan Racing Team, Women's Sports Foundation, Women in the Winner's Circle Foundation and Boston Avenue Law PLLC. She was a strong fourth in class on Saturday.

Melanie Snow of Lehi, Utah, the class champion in 2009, made her first start of the year and got right back into the swing of things with a fifth and a seventh-place finish in the Universal Industrial Sales #57.

Kuhlman started second in Friday's race after qualifying just 0.193 of a second off Angel Benitez Jr.'s new track record of 1:52.065 (109.222 miles per hour) for the challenging, 3.4-mile, 11-turn road course. Michael Lewis got by him on the first lap but Kuhlman stayed in third place until Colin Thompson passed him working lap five. Thompson went on to win the 24-lap, non-stop race over Benitez, Lewis, Kuhlman and Christina Nielsen. 

Schein started seventh and finished in that position, taking the checkered flag behind Sloan Urry. Creel started ninth but he finished right behind Schein in eighth place after Jesse Lazare encountered a problem working lap 11.

Snow qualified fifth and Treager qualified sixth in Gold Cup for Friday's race. Treager got a fabulous start, vaulting into third place by passing Snow, Patrick-Otto Madsen and Fred Poordad. She stayed in that position the rest of the way to secure the podium finish despite the challenges of the driver who finished fourth, Madsen. Meanwhile, Snow passed William Peluchiwski working lap three to regain fifth place, and she took the checkered in that position.

Kuhlman started third in Saturday's race, which had a full-course caution before one lap was even in the books. Kuhlman passed Lazare before the yellow waved to move into second place behind Benitez. He stayed in second until Thompson passed him working lap 17. Thompson passed Benitez on the last lap to post his second victory of the weekend. Benitez was second and Kuhlman was third, although Lewis was nipping at his back bumper at the line.

Schein started fifth and ended up ninth, while Creel was 17th. Six of the 19 laps were run under two full-course cautions for contact, although none of the Wright Motorsports Porsches were involved.

Treager qualified fourth in Gold Cup for Saturday's race with Snow fifth, just 0.031 of a second behind. Treager remained in fourth throughout the race. Snow lost one spot to Poordad at the start and Peluchiwski got around her on lap five, but she took the checkered for a seventh-place finish in class with no incidents. She and Treager both posted their fastest laps of the race near the end.

The next event on the series' schedule is another doubleheader at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park in Bowmanville, Ontario July 12-13.

The team's Web site is at WrightMotorsports.com and it also posts updates on its Facebook page.