After a long winter, driving through the tunnel at Daytona International Speedway is especially thrilling. When the RVA Graphics Motorsports team arrived for the 14-hour ChampCar Endurance Series race at the legendary track, they had no idea just what a thrill they were in for.
The team also didn’t realize just how much hard work it would take to make it to the checkered flag, but the efforts paid off with a finish of 21st overall and second in the EC class.
Things weren’t looking so bright at the start of the race. The starting grid was determined randomly, and the #511 RVA Graphics Motorsports BMW M3 wound up last in the field of 121 cars.
The odds were against them, but that didn’t stop Taylor Harcum from putting in an incredible stint at the start. By the time Taylor pitted to hand the BMW over to Travis Litchford, the team was in the top 20. Taylor had made up more than 100 positions in just two hours.
Travis continued the charge. He was followed by Sandy Wiggins and Charles Reed, and each driver kept the team in a competitive spot inside the top 20.
Things were looking good until a mechanical issue brought the car into the pits. Luckily, Team Manager Donnie Girard was heading up a stellar crew, who immediately got to work. Teo Conrad took the lead on getting repairs made so the race to the checkered flag could continue. Thanks to Tio and the entire RVA Graphics Motorsports crew, the team lost only ten laps.
Despite the setback, an outstanding pit strategy and hard charging by all four drivers resulted in RVA Graphics Motorsports crossing the finish line in 21st overall and second in the EC class. To make things even sweeter, the car didn’t have a scratch on it, even after 14 hours of intense racing.
This endurance comeback story was possible thanks to incredible teamwork. The drivers even pitched in to help during pitstops! The hard work of the entire team helped RVA Graphics Motorsports earn a ChampCar finish worth celebrating.
While the endurance team was celebrating a hard-earned podium finish on the East Coast, RVA Graphics Motorsports by Speed Syndicate was on the West Coast, where the team earned a win and a third-place finish in the Toyota GR Cup races at Sonoma Raceway. All in all, it was a stellar weekend for both teams.
The next endurance adventure for RVA Graphics Motorsports will be at the end of May. In the meantime, the team is enjoying a break following their hard-earned success at Daytona.
