PWC: Buford takes GTS Round 5 win at Barber

Jade Buford won Round 5 Pirelli World Challenge Series GTS race at Barber Motorsports Park as weather threw a wrench in the Grand Prix of Birmingham presented by Porsche, cutting the race to 14 laps.

Rain began to fall as Buford took the green flag and jumped to the lead, creating a .675 gap over Scott Dollahite, who took second away from Lawson Aschenbach.

Having gone to caution, then red with 46 minutes remaining to allow teams to switch tires, the race resumed with just under 30 minutes on the clock. Buford held the lead and drove to a 1.8-second lead. Lightning eventually led race officials to wave the checked flag due to dangerous conditions with just under 12 minutes remaining, giving Buford his first win.

"We just had to make the best of the situation with the rain and red flag," Buford said. "Track conditions were changing so I just made the best of it. This is my first time with the new [No. 45 Racer's Edge SIN Car R1 GT4] car and my first Pirelli World Challenge race. I couldn't ask for anything better with the pole and the win. I'm learning to drive the car now.

"I thought I had a good idea where to go on the track with the rain. That helped me get the most out of my car. Today's race was our first real long run on the car, so we can go back and check the data for Saturday's race. Saturday's race will be quicker and more predictable."

Buford, who earned his first win off his first pole in his rookie PWC season, will also start on the pole for Round 2 after setting a fast lap of 1:31.759.

Aschenbach overcame his sluggish start at the green flag to finish second in his Chevy Camaro Z-28.

"We felt this was going to be a tough race for us," Aschenbach said. "This track is not the best for the Camaro. A lot of GT4 cars are quite fast here with the twisty fits. I was looking forward to the rain. It's the great equalizer and that was our benefit today. I'm not sure I could held up with these guys in the draft today. Hats off to Jade. He did a fabulous job. It would have been nice to have a couple of more laps in the rain before the lightning came. I thought we would have been able to battle him there. I hope all of the fans are safe and we'll have another good race on Saturday."

Dollahite, Scott Heckert, who was named to drive for Racers Edge Motorsport on April 18, and Jack Roush Jr. rounded out the top five. Points leader Brett Sandberg finished 13th. Alline Cipriani, making her PWC debut, finished 15th.

Fifteen-year-old Parker Chase was the big mover, jumping seven spots to finish sixth.

Full results:

1. Jade Buford, Freeland WA, SIN R1 GT4, 14
2. Lawson Aschenbach, Palm Beach Gardens FL, Chevrolet Camaro, 14
3. Scott Dollahite, Austin TX, Lotus Evora, 14
4. Scott Heckert, Ridgefield CT, SIN R1 GT4, 14
5. Jack Roush Jr, Livonia MI, Ford Boss 302, 14
6. Parker Chase, New Braunfels TX, Ginetta GT4, 14
7. Anthony Mantella, Toronto Canada, KTM XBow GT4, 14
8. Ernie Francis Jr., Miami FL, Ford Mustang, 14
9. Mark Klenin, Lone Tree CO, MASERATI GranTurismo MC Trofeo, 14
10. Harry Gottsacker, San Antonio TX, Ginetta GT4, 14
11. Martin Barkey, Huntsville Canada, KTM XBow GT4, 14
12. Nate Stacy, Owasso OK, Ford Boss 302, 14
13. Brett Sandberg, Allendale NJ, KTM XBow GT4, 14
14. Tony Gaples, Libertyville IL, Chevrolet Camaro, 14
15. Alline Cipriani, Sao Paulo Brazil, Ginetta GT4, 14
16. John Allen, Denver CO, Porsche Cayman, 14
17. Derek DeBoer, Novato CA, Aston Martin Vantage GT4, 14
18. Kevin Marshall, Incline Village NV, Lotus GT4, 14
19. Dave Ricci, Palm Beach FL, Chevrolet Camaro, 14
20. Dore Chaponick Jr., Miami FL, KTM XBow GT4, 14
21. Clint Guthrie, Birmingham AL, MASERATI GranTurismo MC Trofeo, 14
22. Jeff Courtney, Milwaukee WI, MASERATI GranTurismo MC Trofeo, 5