CrowdStrike Racing by Riley Motorsports’ George Kurtz, in his first race back in SRO America competition since last July, dominated to win the GT America powered by AWS opener Saturday (March 29). It is Kurtz’s first victory in the series since Race No. 2 at Circuit of the Americas last May.
Kurtz won by 15.026 seconds over Flying Lizard Motorsports’ Elias Sabo in his BMW. Mishumotors’ Mirco Schultis was third, then R. Ferri Motorsports’ Marc Muzzo in a Ferrari. Turner Motorsport’s Justin Rothberg was fifth.
The race got off to a slow start. Cool weather in Sonoma resulted in an extra pace lap being run (while the clock was running). However, as the field was coming to green, Chouest Povoledo Racing’s Ross Chouest stalled his new Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R in turn 10, forcing officials to keep the field at a reduced pace.
Chouest was able to get his Corvette restarted and resume. However, what was supposed to be a 40-minute race was effectively reduced to a little more than 34 minutes.
In SRO3, CrowdStrike Racing by Riley Motorsports’ George Kurtz started from pole after having qualified nearly 2.3 seconds faster than anyone else. That pace showed early as Kurtz pulled out to a four-second lead on the first lap.
As Kurtz ran off and hid from the rest of the field, Sabo and Schultis, who debuted new sponsorship from Paulaner Sunset (a soda that is a mix of cola and orangeade), battled among themselves for second. Eventually, Sabo was able to use his current-spec BMW to drive away from Schultis’ Callaway Corvette C7 GT3-R.
Kurtz drove off to a lead of over 15 seconds over Sabo before backing off a little and cruising. Meanwhile, Schultis fell into the clutches of Muzzo in the closing laps.
Schultis was able to hold off Muzzo, a Ferrari Challenge veteran. However, no one could prevent Kurtz from taking the win.
In GT4, JTR Motorsports Engineering’s Anthony McIntosh started from pole in his Toyota GR Supra GT4 Evo2. With Isaac Sherman moving up to Fanatec GT World Challenge America powered by AWS in 2025, the class is seemingly wide open this year.
McIntosh led from the start with NOLAsport’s Matt Travis on his tail in a Porsche. Meanwhile, Chouest was unable to catch up to the back of the SRO3 field and came charging through the GT4 field during the first couple of laps under green.
Chouest’s run-through allowed van der Steur Racing’s Max Hewitt to drive his Aston Martin up to second in class. Travis dropped back to fourth.
Hewitt drove up to within a second of McIntosh before falling off of the Toyota. What ended any chance of contention for Hewitt was when Sabo and Schultis ran up on him.
Perhaps in an attempt to avoid the faster SRO3 cars, Hewitt drove off the road at turn 3a. That cost Hewitt several seconds and put Travis back on his tail.
At the front, McIntosh was able to hold on to take a dominant victory, his first in the series. His margin of victory was 10.693 seconds over Hewitt. Travis was right on Hewitt’s tail in third, then ACI Motorsports’ Curt Swearingin. Fast Track Racing’s Denny Stripling was fifth.
GT America powered by AWS: Sonoma Race No. 1 Results
Race No. 2 is scheduled for 12:25 p.m. ET Sunday afternoon. Coverage will start at 12:20 p.m. ET on the GT World YouTube channel.
By virtue of setting the fastest lap of the race at 93.645 mph, Kurtz will start from the overall pole. McIntosh won the GT4 pole for Race No. 2 with a lap at 87.870 mph.
Phil Allaway has three primary roles at Frontstretch. He's the manager of the site's FREE e-mail newsletter that publishes Monday-Friday and occasionally on weekends. He keeps TV broadcasters honest with weekly editions of Couch Potato Tuesday and serves as the site's Sports Car racing editor.
Outside of Frontstretch, Phil is the press officer for Lebanon Valley Speedway in West Lebanon, N.Y. He covers all the action on the high-banked dirt track from regular DIRTcar Modified racing to occasional visits from touring series such as the Super DIRTcar Series.