Lime Rock Win Caps a Dramatic Race for Freedom Autosport
The Freedom Autosport crew had a very busy schedule the 1st week of June. Even amid celebrations for Derek Whitis and Tom Long’s win in Saturday’s GRAND-AM Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge ST race at Lime Rock, the team was already preparing for the upcoming Watkins Glen race.
With the race scheduled for this Friday, June 3, Freedom Autosport has less than a week to prep their four Mazdas for the Continental Tire 150 at Watkins Glen. After a dramatic race at Lime Rock, they have plenty to do.
Qualifying at Lime Rock was the team’s best effort this season. Whitis earned the ST class pole in the No. 25 Freedom Autosport Mazda MX-5, while Rhett O’Doski set the third-quickest time in the No. 26 Mazda MX-5.
After O’Doski’s solid first stint in the race, Andrew Carbonell took over in the No. 26 entry. He was battling for the lead when a collision sent him off course. His Mazda flipped half a dozen times before coming to a rest. Carbonell went to the hospital with a concussion, but he has been released and is resting at home.
It was an unfortunate end for O’Doski and Carbonell, who finished third at Virginia International Raceway just two weeks ago, but Whitis and his co-driver Tom Long were able to keep Freedom Autosport in the hunt.
Long was in third, behind Carbonell, and he moved into the lead in the No. 25 Mazda. He held off the competition to win the race by just two car lengths.
“It’s difficult to keep focused when you’ve just seen your great friend and teammate crash like that. But when I found out he was going to be okay, I just had to suck it up and keep our Mazda going,” says Long.
“This is our first win and first pole position of the season,” says Whitis. “While that’s always our goal, it’s made special to have done it on Memorial Day weekend as we thank those who’ve protected our freedom for the last 230 years.” Freedom Autosport is a proud supporter of the military and the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund.
Team co-owner O’Doski says that the win was bittersweet following Carbonell’s violent crash, but that the team still plans to have all four Mazdas on track at Watkins Glen. “The car is totaled but the Freedom crew started preparing right after the race to not miss Watkins Glen. With only five days to make it, they’re literally working around the clock for us to make the race,” he says.
Nick Igdalsky and Bruce Ledoux had some excitement in the No. 28 ModSpace/Construct Corps MAZDASPEED3, too. The car went off-track and turned on its side early in the race, but was able to continue after being righted. Later, the car retired when a small fire erupted.
Eric Foss and Brad Rampelberg were lucky enough to escape any dramatics, and they finished 16th in the No. 27 MAZDASPEED3.
Freedom Autosport will be ready for another win on Friday, when their four Mazdas compete in the Continental Tire 150 at 6:00 p.m.