Rayhall Takes First TOTAL Qualifying Award for Today’s PC Race

Sean Rayhall grabbed bragging rights in the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship paddock on Saturday morning, capturing the pole for today’s Prototype Challenge (PC) opening 45-minute race.

The first of two segments takes the green flag at 5:15 p.m. ET, and will be streamed live on IMSA.com.

It was the first TOTAL Pole Award for Rayhall, driving a lap of 1:41.447 (116.041 mph) in the No. 25 8Star Motorsports Takis/Speedsters ORECA FLM09 co-driven by Luis Diaz.

“The key today was that the Takis crew gave me the fastest car,” Rayhall said. “They’ve been working hard all season and have been nipping at the pole in just about every race. I’m glad to final get it for them. Actually, I made a big mistake on what proved to be my fastest lap at the Oak Tree turn, but it still worked out. I’m happy, because this is not a qualifying car. It just gets better and better in the race.”

Frankie Montecalvo qualified for the outside of the front row with a lap of 1:42.552 (114.791 mph) in the No. 52 PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports Camp Boggy Creek/Bayshore Family of Companies ORECA FLM09 co-driven by Gunnar Jeannette, followed by Duncan Ende, 1:42.610 (114.726 mph) in the No. 09 RSR Linospresso USA entry co-driven by Bruno Junqueira.

Today’s race will set the field for Sunday’s race, set for 10:45 a.m. (live on IMSA.com). Points will be scored for both segments, with the added total determining the official finish.

The PC competitors will share the track in both segments with the IMSA Cooper Tires Prototype Lites powered by Mazda drivers. Andrew Novich won the Lites pole for the opening round in a separate qualifying session with a lap of 1:45.678 (111.395 mph) in the No. 61 Comprent Motor Sports Elan DP02/Mazda.