Random Vandals Racing’s Connor de Phillippi took the lead away from Regulator Racing’s Jeff Burton with 33 minutes to go Saturday (Sept. 6). From there, he was able to pull away to win GT World Challenge America powered by AWS Race No. 1 at Barber Motorsports Park with teammate Kenton Koch. It is the duo’s fourth overall win of the year and the fifth Pro class win of 2025.
“I think we were a little worried for the long run, but we made some changes during qualifying that really put us a step forward,” de Phillippi told SRO America’s Amanda Busick in victory lane. “We went in a new direction that’s been really good for us.”
De Phillippi and Koch won by 4.288 seconds over JMF Motorsports’ Mikael Grenier and Michai Stephens. Bill Auberlen and Varun Choksey in the second Random Vandals BMW were third, then Rennsport One’s Jan Heylen and Alex Sedgwick. Turner Motorsport’s Robby Foley and Justin Rothberg were fifth.
Regulator Racing’s Philip Ellis started from the pole in his Mercedes and managed to keep ahead of the Pro class teams. His goal was to get as far away from the other Pro-Am teams as possible.
Further back, Chouest Povoledo Racing’s Ross Chouest spun exiting turn 3 in his Corvette. He was unable to get back underway, resulting in the race’s first full course yellow.
The safety crew was able to get Chouest back underway, but not before he lost a lap to the field. It’s a far cry from the GT America race earlier in the afternoon, where he went to victory lane.
The day didn’t get any better for Chouest. A second spin brought out another caution 20 minutes in. This time, he went behind the wall.
The cautions significantly hampered Regulator Racing’s strategy, which is dependent on minimal interruption during the first half of Race No. 1. Once the race resumed, he was able to open up a five-second lead overall and 16 seconds over DXDT Racing’s Blake McDonald.
In Pro, Koch started from the class pole in second overall. He was not able to keep up with Ellis, but he was able to easily keep himself in front of Auberlen and Stephens.
Once the pit stops were complete, Burton ended up in the overall lead, but his advantage of five seconds over de Phillippi was rapidly decreasing. It did not take long for de Phillippi to get the overall lead.
Once out front, de Phillippi was able to open up a five-second lead over Grenier. Burton dropped down the order, resulting in Pro cars taking the top-four overall positions.
Burton was able to maintain a 15-second lead in Pro-Am after his pit stop, but this time over Foley. That advantage was maintained as the Pro teams made their way past the Burton Lumber Mercedes.
However, once the Pro teams were through, Burton gradually lost pace. It appeared that a braking issue had struck.
With 22 minutes to go, Burton slid off the road at turn 5. That was more than enough for Foley to get through and take the class lead. A lap later, Burton shot off into the dirt at the entrance of turn 7, allowing DXDT Racing’s Matt Bell into second in Pro-Am.
The Heart of Racing’s Darren Turner tried to get himself up into third. However, he was too aggressive with his move going into turn 1. Contact was made and he spun out.
Once he was out front, Foley was able to drive at a relaxed pace to the finish to take the class win with teammate Justin Rothberg. It is their fifth class win of the year.
The margin of victory was 1.883 seconds over Bell and McDonald. GMG Racing’s Tom Sargent and Kyle Washington were third, then Turner and Gray Newell. Archangel Motorsports’ Todd Coleman and Aaron Telitz were fifth.
Dollahite Racing owner/driver Scott Dollahite started from the class pole and had the measure of AF Corse’s Jay Schreibman early on. However, it was the pit stop that truly separated the team.
What was a margin of a couple of seconds exploded to over 15. With that advantage, Eric Powell was easily able to hold on to take the class win. The margin of victory was 16.523 seconds over Schreibman and Oswaldo Negri Jr.
GT World Challenge America powered by AWS: Barber Park Race No. 1 Results
Race No. 2 for GT World Challenge America powered by AWS is scheduled for 2:45 p.m. ET Sunday afternoon. The race will air live on RACER Network and on the GT World YouTube channel.
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.