Sam Craven and Kenton Koch added another championship to their growing list of accomplishments, securing the Pirelli GT4 America Pro-Am title for Random Vandals Racing after a dominant campaign that saw the pairing stand out as the ones to beat throughout the entirety of the season.
Finishing the year with 241 points, Craven and Koch recorded six victories, including the double-points Lone Star Enduro at Circuit of The Americas, alongside three runner-up finishes. The No. 94 BMW team repeatedly delivered when it mattered, building a championship-winning campaign week in and week out.
For Craven, the title marked a second consecutive championship in the Pro-Am class after triumphing with Josh Green the year prior, while Koch continued his successful partnership with Random Vandals Racing, adding another milestone to a relationship that has produced multiple championships across GT4 and GT3 competition.
The ability to achieve consistent top results came down to a combination of preparation and teamwork that ensured the car was ready to go from the very moment it arrived at the track.
“Consistency over a season is a team effort,” Craven said. “Our car didn't have a single mechanical failure in a race and we rolled off the trailer each weekend with the setups on point.”
Koch echoed that sentiment, emphasizing the importance of having every element working together to sustain a championship challenge.
“To be consistent you need all the pieces to the puzzle,” he explained. “A team, car, co-driver, and a little luck. With a few years of experience with the car, as a team we pretty much rolled off the trailer with what we finished the weekend with.”
That familiarity with the machinery allowed the pairing to focus on execution rather than chasing major setup changes from event to the next. With a dependable platform beneath them, Craven and Koch could concentrate their efforts on extracting performance, minimizing mistakes and capitalizing on opportunities whenever they came their way.
Craven also credited the collective effort behind the program, recognizing that maintaining a high level across an entire season requires more than individual pace. Koch, meanwhile, highlighted Craven's development as a competitor, pointing to his improvements year over year that helped make their championship run possible.
“Sam really turned it up this year and was able to have speed and consistency,” Koch expressed. “He spent endless time on the sim in preparation for the upcoming rounds and then executed during the weekend.”
For Craven, the back-to-back title represents the realization of a goal that once seemed far removed from his immediate future.
Three years ago, competing at the level required to win a national sports car championship was not yet on his horizon, even though the ambition had been with him for a long time. His aspirations date back to 2008, when he was working as a race car mechanic during college. Nearly two decades later, those ambitions have translated into consecutive GT4 America Pro-Am championships.
“I'm grateful for our performance this year,” Craven said. “To accomplish this twice in a row with the help of Vandals and incredible co-drivers is just a dream come true.”
Despite the achievement, Craven made clear that he has no intention of slowing down. With another championship secured, he is already looking toward the next opportunity to take his career further.
That ambition reflects the competitive drive that has carried him from his early days working in motorsports to the top step of the GT4 America Pro-Am standings. Yet Craven was equally quick to recognize the person alongside him in the car.
“Kenton is THE MAN,” Craven exclaimed. “He’s not just great at racing and extracting everything possible from the car, but also a great coach and now dad. I’m happy to call him a friend and I look forward to seeing where else his storied career will take him.”
Koch's own experience with Random Vandals Racing has also played an important role. Having worked with the team over several years, he has been an integral part of its growth and development, making another championship together particularly rewarding.
“To now have 3 championships in 4 years with Random Vandals Racing feels good,” Koch shared. “The team has grown a lot in many ways over its tenure and to be a small part of its journey has been a pleasure. I’d like to think I’ve made an impact, but it’s really a testament to the folks involved that have made it what it is.”
One of the most meaningful moments in the championship story came away from the track. Koch missed the Road America rounds to welcome his daughter, leaving Craven and Koch unequal on championship points. Although Craven continued to compete, with Thomas Merrill stepping in for the weekend in Wisconsin, the difference had Craven and Koch separated in the title fight despite being teammates.
Craven ultimately made the decision to renounce his additional points so that the pair could return to equal standing and clinch the championship together.
For Koch, the opportunity came as a surprise as he had not realized such an arrangement was permitted, and initially believed his absence from Road America had ended his championship hopes. After discovering the option, Koch was understandably relieved.
“I was really happy to find out obviously because after the Road America weekend I thought I was out,” he detailed. “So to come back and find that out was a joy and motivation to make sure we were both ahead at the end of the year to make sure we could do that.”
Craven's gesture underscored the trust and respect between the two drivers. His decision prioritized the partnership and the opportunity to celebrate the title together, and it was a fitting reflection of the relationship that had helped them succeed throughout the year.
Their season was not defined by a single breakthrough result. Instead, it was built through repeated execution, with victories establishing momentum and runner-up finishes preserving valuable points on weekends when the top step proved elusive. The double-points triumph at COTA was a key part of that effort, but the broader achievement was the ability to remain competitive across the calendar.
To relive all the action from the season finale, watch the FOX Sports Pirelli GT4 Indy Recap Show at 6:00 p.m. ET on Sunday, October 25th on FS1.
