Patience Pays as Dyson Closes Trans Am Season with Texas Triumph
November 4, 2024
POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (November 4, 2024) – A calculated and relentless drive brought Chris Dyson and his #16 GYM WEED Ford Mustang victory Sunday at Circuit of the Americas in the final race of the 2024 Trans Am by Pirelli season. The win at the Austin, Texas, circuit, Dyson’s third in a season marked by too much bad racing luck, secured second place in the championship point standing for the three-time and defending champion.
“I'm just full of emotion right now,” Dyson said after being greeted by his wife Joy in the GYM WEED Winners Circle. “Coming down here we had a really good feeling about this weekend. I felt prepared, I felt mentally calm. The team and I came with our winning mentality. We had nothing to lose. Great execution from everyone. It feels good to put a line through the 2024 season. Let’s move on to 2025!”
Dyson started the 100-mile sprint race from third on the grid, but quickly dispatched 2023 COTA race winner Gar Robinson for second place behind newly-crowned TA champion Paul Menard.
“The weather was hot and I knew it would be tough on drivers, cars and tires,” Dyson said. “I was confident the race was going to come down to the last segment and we set the car up for that.”
After Menard dropped out with mechanical problems at the halfway point, the second half of the race came down to a tight duel between Dyson and TA2 regular Thomas Annunziata, who was making his second TA-class start of the season. Dyson hounded Annunziata for five laps before finding his way into the lead for the final third of the race.
“Thomas drove a fine race, but I knew we were just a bit stronger,” Dyson said. “He was driving really hard. I knew all we needed was for him to make a small mistake. He did, and I took my shot. Thomas didn’t give up. He kept attacking until his engine broke. But I knew once I was past him we were in good shape."
"This has been a character-building season," Dyson added. "We've had so many superb races where circumstances just didn't cooperate and a few sure-fire race wins slipped away for unusual reasons. Still, three race wins, four poles and setting fastest race laps at more than half the events underlined our performance this year. Let's just say we didn't lose the championship this year because we weren't fast enough. All that said, results like today's to close out 2024 really energize the whole organization, and we will carry this positive momentum into the off-season."
Matos Takes TA2 Title With 8th-Place Finish
Rafa Matos basically just needed to finish the COTA race with his Concord American Ford Mustang to secure his third season TA2 title. And that’s what Matos, who arrived in Texas with five race wins already and a big point lead, did. In a wild race that saw numerous collisions – one competitor smashed in the driver-side door of Matos’ race car – a heady race to 8th place was more than sufficient to secure the title.
“What a crazy race!” Matos exclaimed afterward. “Everybody had their elbows out. I’ve never seen so much contact in a Trans Am race. Thanks to Concord American Flagpoles for its support and to Chris Dyson for getting us together.”
For more on Chris Dyson Racing.
COTA Rebroadcast Schedule
In addition to the livestream, 60-minute feature produced by Greenlight TV will be broadcast the following Thursday at 9:00 p.m. ET to MAVTV’s 22 million North American linear households and 175 million connected devices.
Additional Broadcast Coverage On MAVTV
In addition to the livestream, highlights of the race will be broadcast the following Thursday at 9:00 p.m. ET to MAVTV’s 22 million North American linear households and 175 million connected devices.
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