Dyson, Zilisch Earn Motul Pole Awards at World Wide Technology Raceway

September 23, 2023

Grant Fastest in SGT Qualifying

MADISON, Ill. (September 23, 2023) – Practice and qualifying are complete for the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli at World Wide Technology Raceway. Chris Dyson in the No. 16 GYM WEED Ford Mustang took the Motul Pole Award for the TA class with the fastest time overall (57.459). Connor Zilisch in the No. 7 Silver Hare Racing Chevrolet Camaro earned the pole for the Big Machine Vodka SPIKED Coolers TA2 Series with a time of 59.057, and Milton Grant in the No. 55 Springhill Suites/Sentry Self Storage Porsche 991.1 GT3 Cup was fastest in the SGT class with a 1:05.730.

Both Dyson and Zilisch offered their thoughts on the new racetrack.

“This track is really demanding, physically,” said Dyson. “There’s no letup anywhere. The infield has a completely different surface than the oval, so the infield is much more aggressive, much bumpier. It’s got a different type of aggregate than the banking does. I think finding a balance of where you can get around the slower corners quickly and still have the car under you on the banking is probably the biggest technical challenge. I think from a driving challenge, with the mixed classes, it’s really going to be about staying out of trouble and giving everybody a little bit of room. 63 laps around here is definitely going to be a long road, especially in this heat. I’m pleased with where the GYM WEED Ford Mustang is and where we’ve been all weekend. Most importantly, we’ve run without issue. Hopefully we can keep it where it starts.”

“This place is super abrasive and tough on long runs, so qualifying is really important,” said Zilisch. “It’s going to be tough to pass in the race. I think the leader is really going to set the pace for the entire race. I just need to go out there and make sure I save my stuff and do a good job making sure I have a piece for the long run, so I’ll be able to race at the end. I’m looking forward to it; we’ve got a really fast Silver Hare Racing Chevrolet Camaro; I’ve just got to do my best and keep it out front.”

TA Qualifying:
1. Chris Dyson, No. 16 GYM WEED Ford Mustang (57.459)
2. AJ Henrikson, No. 79 ECC/Anchor Bolt & Screw Dodge (57.676)
3. Tomy Drissi, No. 8 Lucas Oil Ford Mustang (58.633)

Big Machine Vodka SPIKED Coolers TA2 Series Qualifying Top Five:
1. Connor Zilisch, No. 7 Silver Hare Racing Chevrolet Camaro (59.057)
2. Austin Green, No. 89 3-Dimensional Services Group Ford Mustang (59.086)
3. Taylor Gray, No. 60 Nitro Motorsports Ford Mustang (59.429)
4. Jade Buford, No. 48 Big Machine Vodka SPIKED Coolers Ford Mustang (59.494)
5. Brent Crews, No. 70 Franklin Road/Mobil 1/Nitro Motorsports Ford Mustang (59.527)

SGT Qualifying:
1. Milton Grant, No. 55 Springhill Suites/Sentry Self Storage Porsche 991.1 GT3 Cup (1:05.730)
2. Richard Forsythe, No. 58 Sambuca Restaurant/GSpeed Chevrolet Corvette (1:10.705)

Full qualifying results can be found here.

TA Practice 1:
1. Chris Dyson, No. 16 GYM WEED Ford Mustang (57.968)
2. AJ Henrikson, No. 79 ECC/Anchor Bolt & Screw Dodge (58.912)
3. Tomy Drissi, No. 8 Lucas Oil Ford Mustang (1:03.530)

Big Machine Vodka SPIKED Coolers TA2 Series Practice 1 Top Five:
1. Austin Green, No. 89 3-Dimensional Services Group Ford Mustang (59.808)
2. Connor Zilisch, No. 7 Silver Hare Racing Chevrolet Camaro (59.921)
3. Nathan Herne, No. 29 CUBE 3/Berryman Ford Mustang (1:00.246)
4. Brent Crews, No. 70 Franklin Road/Mobil 1/Nitro Motorsports Ford Mustang (1:00.259)
5. Thomas Merrill, No. 26 Bennett/HP Tuners/Cope Race Cars Ford Mustang (1:00.594)

SGT Practice 1:
1. Milton Grant, No. 55 Springhill Suites/Sentry Self Storage Porsche 991.1 GT3 Cup (1:07.322)
2. Richard Forsythe, No. 58 Sambuca Restaurant/GSpeed Chevrolet Corvette (1:07.489)

Full Practice 1 results can be found here.

TA Practice 2:
1. Tomy Drissi, No. 8 Lucas Oil Ford Mustang (58:938)

Big Machine Vodka SPIKED Coolers TA2 Series Practice 2 Top Five:
1. Connor Zilisch, No. 7 Silver Hare Racing Chevrolet Camaro (59.375)
2. Austin Green, No. 89 3-Dimensional Services Group Ford Mustang (59.485)
3. Brent Crews, No. 70 Franklin Road/Mobil 1/Nitro Motorsports Ford Mustang (59.534)
4. Nathan Herne, No. 29 CUBE 3/Berryman Ford Mustang (59.721)
5. Jade Buford, No. 48 Big Machine Vodka SPIKED Coolers Ford Mustang (59.753)

SGT Practice 2:
1. Milton Grant, No. 55 Springhill Suites/Sentry Self Storage Porsche 991.1 GT3 Cup (1:07.095)
2. Richard Forsythe, No. 58 Sambuca Restaurant/GSpeed Chevrolet Corvette (1:08.188)

Full Practice 2 results can be found here.

The combination TA/XGT/SGT/GT and Big Machine Vodka SPIKED Coolers TA2 Series race will be contested today at 1:10 p.m. CT. The race will be streamed live here and broadcast live on MAVTV Select, with additional same-day coverage at 5:00 p.m. on MAVTV. The TV broadcast replay of the race will air on MAVTV on Thursday, September 28 at 8:00 p.m. ET.