Last weekend, the World Racing League roared back to life at the iconic Barber Motorsports Park, setting the stage for an electrifying spectacle. This year, the series has continued to rewrite the record book with an unprecedented surge in GTU entries, the fastest class on the circuit. The track was a sea of Sebeco NP01-EVOs, capturing the attention of every spectator.
The lineup was bolstered by the return of Dawn Motorsports, showcasing their newly wrapped blue #95, and the debut of RMI’s #185. These teams joined forces with the Eagles Canyon contingent, forming a formidable 11-car field.
This weekend, WRL unveiled a new qualifying format that received rave reviews from drivers and teams alike. The intense mid-day session saw a razor-thin margin of just 1.1 seconds separating 2nd through 10th place, with Ben Waddell setting the bar for Stratus Racing in their #59 car, clocking a blistering 1:29.966 on the Bridgestone RE-71RS.
Saturday’s race kicked off with newcomer RMI’s driver and team owner Shane Roberts taking an early lead. As the front runners navigated the challenging traffic at Barber, the real battle ignited. The track’s signature long, sweeping corners became the stage for daring overtakes.
Stratus Racing’s seasoned expertise shone through as the race progressed. Their strategy focused on managing risky overtakes, avoiding penalties, and capitalizing on code 35’s. With Barber’s short pit lane, minimizing time loss during fuel stops under yellow was crucial and recovering from infractions for other teams would prove challenging.
After an intense 8-hour showdown, Stratus clinched a 1-2 finish, with a razor-thin victory margin of .047 for the #60 over the #58. Both cars finished four laps ahead of third place, the #739, and Round 3 Racing narrowly missing the podium in their Penske Porsche-inspired #1 Sebeco NP01-EVO.
As night fell, teams undertook the familiar ritual of brake pad and rotor overhauls, nut and bolt checks, and thorough cleaning and inspection in preparation for Sunday’s early start. Morning temperatures had dropped significantly, prompting WRL officials to make a last-minute safety call, starting the GTO ahead of the GTU field. Yet, it wasn’t long before the high-downforce GTU cars caught up, overtaking the more powerful GTO’s at the hairpin on lap 1. Capstone Motorsports’ #7, with team owner Wren Keith at the helm, showcased impressive speed and confidence, slicing through the GTO pack.
Sunday’s shorter 7-hour race featured a traditional 1-hour quiet period, and when racing resumed, Stratus was back in the lead. Despite the cool temperatures, Dakota Dickerson was able to fire up the rubber underneath him and shattered the previous lap record with a 1:28.953, just shy of his best practice lap from Friday.
As the race clock ticked down, the battle for the final podium spot intensified. The #909 from Automatic Racing, RMI’s #185, and Round 3 Racing’s #10 all vied for glory. The pressure was palpable, but the #739 held firm, avoiding costly mistakes to secure their second consecutive podium finish.
At the finish line, Stratus celebrated another commanding 1-2 victory, finishing seven laps ahead of their closest rival, the Ligier JSP4 from Racing by Rapscallion. Now, the teams regroup and prepare for the upcoming Mid-Ohio event, where the cold weather promises to add another layer of excitement to the competition.
