There is a resounding sense of excitement and anticipation as the next stop on the calendar approaches and SRO America returns to Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta for the first time in over a decade. While the series has not visited since 2011 and many competitors will be turning their first laps at the Georgia circuit this year, this will hardly be unknown territory for Atlanta local Spencer Pumpelly.
For him, Road Atlanta has stood out as one of the defining circuits in his life, both from a professional and personal standpoint. Though originally from Virginia, Pumpelly’s connection to racing began through his family. His father was also a racer, exposing him to the sport from an early age despite growing up far from a traditional motorsports hub.
“There was no karting, no real racing in the area,” Pumpelly recalled of his childhood years. “It really wasn’t something that was in the culture there.”
That changed once he began traveling with his father to tracks around the country, including Road Atlanta. Once he got exposed to the world of motorsports, he was immediately hooked. Over time, Road Atlanta evolved from a fascination into one of the cornerstones of Pumpelly’s career. He has raced there countless times and claimed two illustrious endurance wins at the legendary circuit.
Even so, Pumpelly was quick to point out that familiarity alone is never enough in sports car racing.
“As much as Road Atlanta is a home track, I probably spend twice as much time in Sebring every year than I do at Road Atlanta,” he said. “I follow where the racing world goes, not necessarily what’s close by. Even though I still do some coaching and occasional racing at Road Atlanta, a lot more time is spent in Florida, especially during the winter months. I love it here and I'm really close by, but it's no more familiar to me than any other track on the SRO circuit.”
The results further reinforce this, as Pumpelly is fresh off a clean sweep of the weekend in the prior event at Sebring International Raceway. He and teammate Luca Mars were utterly dominant in the Florida heat, making back-to-back trips to victory lane with their No. 028 RS1 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport.
This strong performance also saw them take over the Silver class championship lead, now sitting at 127 points going into the sixth and seventh rounds of the season. They have consistently been in the mix at the front, and their blend of experience and youth is something Pumpelly believes has worked seamlessly so far.
“I’m probably one of the older guys out there, he’s probably one of the younger, so it’s definitely an odd pairing,” Pumpelly laughed. “But I cannot say how impressed I have been with him. He puts the effort in away from the track to make sure he’s good when he gets in the car.
That trust is especially valuable in SRO’s multi-driver format, where races can be won or lost in crucial moments of execution across pit stops and driver changes.
“When I jump out, I know it’s in good hands to the end,” Pumpelly expressed. “With a guy like Luca, you can relax and just enjoy the rest of the race because you know he’s going to bring it back in one piece.”
While his home race carries some extra meaning, the approach remains the same as any other race weekend.
“No matter where we are, our objective is to try to win,” Pumpelly stated. “We're always trying to get the best result we possibly can, and I don't think anything will be different here. While the team may not have the same level of experience as we did at Sebring, the process that RS1 uses every weekend to put together a good car is business as usual.”
Nevertheless, Pumpelly believes his level of experience at the Georgia circuit could play a major role. Road Atlanta presents a uniquely steep learning curve for competitors with limited experience there, especially because of characteristics like the blind corners and high-speed sections.
“I think it’s going to be an advantage,” Pumpelly said. “Road Atlanta is unique. There are three spots on the racetrack, like Turn 2, the downhill esses, and then coming under the bridge in Turn 11, where the track is completely blind. As you approach, there’s a wide open area to the right and left, and you’re not sure which direction the track goes. It takes a decent number of laps to get confident going over some of these blind crests at high speed before you’re confident you know what you’re going to see on the other side.”
The combination of elevation change and sustained speed is exactly what makes Road Atlanta one of Pumpelly’s favorite tracks in the country.
“It’s definitely one of my top four,” he said. “I enjoy those tracks where the car flows and you can really let the thing stretch its legs. The elevation change is unlike any place else we go. If you don’t believe me, during the track walk, get your running shoes and go jog a lap. You’ll be exhausted by the time you get to the end!”
The layout of the road course rewards flow and commitment. Aside from the heavy braking zones at Turn 7 and the Turn 10A/10B chicane, much of the lap is spent carrying speed through sweeping corners and dramatic elevation shifts. As the series heads into the Georgia summer, however, Pumpelly expects tire management to become one of the defining factors of the weekend.
“Four out of five days are likely going to be hot and humid,” he said of the Atlanta weather. “And the track definitely has more right-side bias, which means the left-side tires get extra wear. Tire management is going to be one of the bigger factors. We’ll be keeping that in mind from start to finish to overcome that challenge and just play the long game.”
Away from the racetrack, Pumpelly’s passion for Atlanta itself is just as evident. Now living in the city’s Poncey-Highland neighborhood, he remains highly enthusiastic about the culture and energy surrounding modern Atlanta. For visiting fans, he recommends exploring Ponce City Market and the nearby Atlanta BeltLine East Side Trail.
“You walk along the BeltLine and you’re guaranteed to see something interesting that you won’t find anywhere else,” Pumpelly concluded.
As SRO America returns to Road Atlanta after more than a decade away, Pumpelly enters the weekend with the confidence of someone who understands exactly what the circuit demands and why mastering it is never as simple as memorizing the track map.
To see him take on his home track from June 12th to 14th, get your GT World Atlanta tickets now!