Rain Deluges Grand AM Cup in Virginia

April 22 - The all-Canadian team of David Empringham and Valerie Limoges led eleven laps at the end to take the checkered flag in the Grand Am Cup race today at Virginia International Raceway. However, a pass under caution would penalize the car and leave it in tenth spot in the official results.

Their #4 Blackforest Motorsports car had started from 5th place, in a race that was significantly hamstrung by precipitation. Earlier in the day, the qualifying sessions were cancelled and the starting grid was set according to team points.

During the practice sessions that did run, Mustangs were posting very fast laps. The No. 2 Mustang was quickest in second practice with a lap time of 2:05.596 (93.729 mph). In the first session, the No. 4 Mustang was fastest of the session with a lap time of 2:05.648 (93.690 mph), followed by the No. 15 Mustang at 2:06.488 (93.068 mph).


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Weather conditions in the afternoon delayed the race start until 3:40 p.m. The starting grid represented one of the largest fields in American professional racing history, included 54 entries in the GS class and 45 entries in the ST class. A total of 17 Mustangs were on the grid.

The first of many yellow flags came out just a few minutes into the race and remained until lap 16. The yellow came out two laps later when the Porsche 996 of Race Prep Motorsports collected a tire wall. Lap 23 saw the green return, only to sink again less than two minutes later.

Weather cells continued to pass through the area, slowing traffic to 50 mph under the caution flag. On lap 33, the green returned - with 38 minutes remaining for the race to be completed. By lap 35, the #4 Mustang had climbed to 13th spot and continued a relentless pace to the top, despite yet another extended yellow flag.

With four minutes remaining, #4 set fast lap of the race with a 2:05.001 time at 93.44 mph. The Synergy Racing Porsche 997 stayed close on their heels, but was unable to maneuver past. At the end, Empringham and Limoges stood atop the podium, with Blackforest team mates Nastasi and James in second place.

The Playboy Racing Nissan 350Z crossed the finish line in third. Due to outstanding penalties, both Mustangs were moved out of the order and the Playboy Racing car took first.

The Bosler Racing #77 Mustang GT placed second and a Marcus Motorsports Porsche 997 took the last podium spot. The next Grand Am Cup event is the U.S. Sports Car Invitational at Laguna Seca Raceway, May 5 - 7.

CP