WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. (Sept. 1, 2019) – Rearden Racing continued its regular appearances to victory lane this weekend with wins in the GT4 SprintX and Touring Car divisions at Watkins Glen International in the Blancpain GT World Challenge America road racing competition.
Entering the Labor Day weekend GT4 SprintX doubleheader races with seven SprintX Am victories this year, the tandem of Jeff Burton and Vesko Kozarov, both of Salt Lake City, Utah, kept their record rolling in the #91 Burton Lumber/Rearden Racing Audi R8 LMS sports car with an impressive Pirelli GT4 America SprintX Am class win Saturday in the 60-minute two-driver Round 11 of the SprintX national series at the famed 3.4-mile, 14-turn Glen road circuit.
Kozarov, who turned in a sensational qualifying lap Saturday of one minute, 54.343 seconds, led the overall 23-car field in the first half of the 25-lap contest before turning the car over to his partner Burton. Jeff, despite his limited racing experience, continue to lead in his debut at Watkins Glen International.
On the final lap, veteran Greg Liefooghe took the Pro-Am category win, while Burton received the checkered flag as Jeff and Kozarov scored their eighth SprintX Am division win of the 2019 GT4 campaign. In addition, Vesko set the fastest race lap with a 1:55.713 clocking in the 60-minute event.
“Both Vesko and Jeff drove beautifully on Saturday in the GT4 SprintX race,” said Lara Tallman, team owner of Rearden Racing. “Initially, we were going to stay in the GT4 SprintX West Am class and that is still our focus for the 2019 season (Burton and Kozarov lead the points in the SprintX West Am class). And Jeff wanted to compete in the SprintX national series at selected events too. For his first time at Watkins Glen, he was outstanding this weekend.”
Unfortunately, the Burton/Kozarov duo could not start the Sunday round of the GT4 SprintX at Watkins Glen after a tire puncture sidelined Burton and the No. 91 Rearden Racing Audi R8 LMS car in Sunday’s GT4 Sprint 50-minute race with some car damage. Tallman said the Rearden Racing will be ready for the next GT4 SprintX action set for Sept. 20-22 at the historic Road America in Wisconsin.
CBS Sports Network highlights coverage for GT4 SprintX races at Watkins Glen is set to air Sept. 8 at 1 p.m. EDT with TC coverage scheduled for Sept. 11 at 8 p.m. EDT.