Rearden Racing Scores Podium Finishes with New Lamborghini Cars; Burton, Novikov Take Seconds, Thirds in GT America Sprint at Sonoma

Rearden Racing Scores Podium Finishes with New Lamborghini Cars; Burton, Novikov Take Seconds, Thirds in GT America Sprint at Sonoma

SONOMA, Calif. – It was a big adjustment for the Rearden Racing team this weekend at Sonoma Raceway with the introduction of three new Lamborghini Huracan sports cars in this weekend’s FANATEC GT World Challenge America powered by AWS and GT America Sprint races at the famed 2.52-mile, 12-turn road circuit. 

Despite a steep learning curve with the new machines, Utah-based Rearden Racing continued to place their drivers on the podium, a regular location for the Rearden squad the past several seasons. On Saturday and Sunday at Sonoma, Jeff Burton of Salt Lake City, UT, and Dmitri Novikov of Los Angeles climbed to the GT America GT3 Masters top-three podium in the California Wine Country in their new Lamborghini mounts. 

Burton drove his No. 191 Burton Lumber/Rearden Racing Lamborghini Huracan Evo GT3 to second in Saturday’s 50-minute GT America GT3 Masters division and third in Sunday’s contest. Novikov piloted his No. 29 Rearden Racing Lamborghini Huracan GT3 to third in Saturday’s feature and second in Sunday’s event.

In the Pirelli GT4 America SprintX category, newcomer Kris McCoy of Pleasant Grove, Utah and veteran Jeff Westphal of San Carlos, Calif., combined to placed seventh Sunday in the Pro/Am class with the No. 888 Rearden Racing Audi R8 LMS GT4. The pair drove together for the first time this weekend at Sonoma Raceway but McCoy, with limited racing experience, learned from his teammate and the Rearden Racing crew throughout the race weekend. 

The Rearden Racing team continued to learn about its new Lamborghini cars during days of testing rounds, practice sessions, qualifying and the doubleheader races. In the GT World Challenge SprintX division, Burton and teammate Vesko Kozarov of Salt Lake City, Utah recorded sixth and eighth place Pro-Am finishes in the two 90-minute, two-driver GT3 mains in the No. 91 Burton Lumber/Rearden Racing Lamborghini Huracan Evo GT3 sports car. 

“Overall, we had several podium finishes and a good learning experience with the new Lamborghini Huracan cars,” said Tallman. “We suffered some flat tires and few bumps in the races at Sonoma. But we knew we needed to gain more experience with the new cars. It’s always great to get your team drivers on the podium. We got some important points, and we’ll move on to the next SRO rounds at COTA (Circuit of the Americas on April 30 – May 2).

“We were excited for our GT4 SprintX team of Kris McCoy and Jeff Westphal to collect a seventh in Sunday’s GT4 SprintX race. Kris has been away from pro racing for many years and Jeff is a pro who can really help Kris with his driving. We were pleased with the progress throughout the weekend.”