AO Racing took home the LMP2 title at Watkins Glen, clinching their first grid‑to‑grid win of the season after a finale paused by a yellow flag.
Race Dynamics
With 45 minutes to go, Dane Cameron’s #99 ORECA LMP2 07 held a five‑second advantage over CrowdStrike Racing’s #04. Quinn’s late‑race drive clipped the gap to less than a second amid heavy traffic, but the field froze under the final‑lap caution, sealing the conclusion for AO Racing.
Milestone Wins
For Cameron, PJ Hyett, and Jonny Edgar, the win marked Cameron’s twentieth IMSA class triumph, Hyett’s third, and Edgar’s second. It was also the trio’s debut triumph on the Watkins Glen circuit and AO Racing’s ninth overall victory since the team’s inception.
Championship Repercussions
CrowdStrike Racing’s second place, though a hard‑fought finish, propelled them to an unexpected lead in the LMP2 standings, creating a 55‑point margin over AO Racing and United Autosports USA. United Autosports, the points leader before the race, concluded in fifth.
Team Reflections
“It is a bit of a déjà vu from last season, to be honest,” Hyett noted, recalling earlier season finishes. Cameron described the event as “a pretty classic IMSA race” and praised the car’s performance, adding that the team had been “conservative” in earlier outings and “thought the car was awesome as soon as we rolled off the truck.”
"