- Ruud wins TCX
- Boehm takes TC
- Love wins TCA
- Final Results - PDF Link
Sonoma, Calif - Jacob Ruud took his #81 Classic BMW M2 CS Cup car to the Winner’s Circle once again in TC America presented by Skip Barber Racing School Race 2 at Sonoma Raceway on Sunday morning. After leading Practice session 2, taking pole position and both race wins, it was a dream weekend for Ruud to kickoff the 2021 season. “The guys at Classic BMW have put together a perfect car for me this weekend. The tires are the key and this car is very light on them, so that’s where the real advantage is. I am very happy with how we are starting out 2021!” said Ruud.
Round 2 went green but as soon as the TC field got to turn 1 the action started and the first caution was called.
Race 1 winner Eric Powell and the #92 Skip Barber Racing School Honda Civic Type-R, the #52 Auto Technic Racing BMW of Tom Capizzi, and the #26 Classic BMW M240iR of Toby Grahovec collided at turn 1 while fighting for the apex of the fast sweeping corner. Grahovec would spin but continue as more cars would tangle as the field flew up to turn 2, including Mark LaMarra and the #37 LA Honda World Racing Honda Civic Type-R. Like Capizzi, LaMarra would not continue.
The race would go back to green with 26 minutes remaining of the 40 minute event with Saturday’s winner Jacob Ruud and the #81 Classic BMW M2 CS Cup leading overall in TCX, Kevin Boehm’s #9 DXDT Honda Civic Type-R on top of the TC class with Jose Blanco’s #99 VGMC Honda Civic Si leading the TCA field.
As the clock ran down to the 21 minute mark, the TCA action would heat up as Race 1 winner Jesse Love would move his #22 TechSport Racing Toyota 86 past Blanco for the class lead. Mark Pombo and the #61 Mini would also pounce and slip past Blanco, dropping the pole sitter from first to third in just two corners. Pombo would continue with his speed and stalk Love staying within a half second of the class leader for the next few laps.
As the race continued, Ruud would extend his overall lead to just over 3 seconds and Boehm would stretch his TC-class lead to over 4 seconds with Rob Hines and the #21 TechSport Racing Nissan attacking Powell for second in class.
Hines’ pressure would finally pay off as the sunny yellow Nissan would get past Powell for second in class at the final hairpin. Austen Smith and the #51 Auto Technic Racing BMW would follow Hines through a few turns later, dropping Powell to fourth in class with under 5 minutes remaining with Michael Sousa’s #88 Hyundai fifth.
As the checkered flag flew, Ruud would take the TCX and overall win over McCarthy and Roy Block’s #5 BMW.
Boehm, in only his second-ever TC race, would cruise to the class victory ahead of Hines and Smith with Jesse Love claiming the TCA victory over Pombo and the #62 Mini of Clay Williams.
TC America returns to the track April 30th - May 2nd at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas for Rounds 3 and 4 of the 2021 season. Follow all of the action live at https://www.tcamerica.us/live.