Kendall wins Saudi-American Race of Heroes

Sports car champion Tommy Kendall earned his first post-retirement win Friday night in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The Californian led the American team to victory over their Saudi counterparts in a Race of Champions-style competition with Camaro SS, Lotus Exige S, KTM X-Bow and Polaris Slingshot stages in front of an estimated 6,000 fans.

Using a knockout format that pitted four American drivers (1996 CART IndyCar champion Jimmy Vasser, IndyCar's Townsend Bell, young sports car driver Gustavo Menezes and Kendall) until one remained, the Trans-Am champ faced the best of the four Saudi drivers and came away as the event's inaugural winner.

"A mega fun event and a real challenge," Kendall told RACER. "Only getting a couple laps practice in each car made it a real mental challenge to switch cars each round. It wasn't without a little off track drama though. The quarter final against T. Bell in the Slingshots was the pivotal race. The decisive moment came at the end of Lap 2 when I beat him to the crossover line by inches. He played hardball though, as I would have, and wouldn't yield, which forced the judges to make the tough call. Townsend was already in the car for the semi when I reminded them of their rule.

"Then I had to get past Gustavo in the Exiges which was no small feat. In the final against the Saudi finalist, I felt the pressure of racing for the USA for the first time. It was a best of three races and I was able to close it out with the first two. What a whirlwind!"

Although there was hope President Donald Trump would be able to witness the event in person as part of his first trip to the Middle East, he was not in attendance. Saudi Arabian authorities are planning to show the race broadcast to Mr. Trump during his visit to the kingdom.

"Two weeks ago, I was twiddling my thumbs in Cali and now I have perhaps the coolest trophy I've ever won!" Kendall added after enduring 108-degree temperatures. "Big thanks to the General Entertainment Authority of Saudi Arabia for committing, Blink Experience for pulling off the impossible creating the actual event and Mark Coughlin for assembling a great U.S. team. It was all first class."