Teenager Maddie Aust, in only her second TC America road racing weekend, put in an impressive performance at Circuit of the Americas (COTA) last week with two podium (top-three) finishes, a pole position and fast race lap for Fast Track Racing.
The recent Ft. Worth area high school graduate drove her No. 09 Sewell Automotive/Fast Track Racing BMW M2 CS (Cup) sports car to second place and third place in the two 40-minute TCX division sprint races at the famed 3.426-mile, 20-turn road circuit east of downtown Austin.
Aust, 18, led most of the Saturday race after a sensational outside move from third to first at the end of the long back straightaway. She fought hard for the lead late in the race, but she had to settle third at the checkered flag for her first TCX podium finish. In addition, Maddie recorded the Crowdstrike Fastest Race Lap in the Saturday event, and that fast time awarded her the pole position for Sunday’s 40-lap race.
In the Sunday race, Aust started from the pole in damp conditions and Colin Garrett used the outside line to pass Maddie in turn one. She attempted to apply the pressure early in the 40-minute event but had to take the runner-up spot, less than a second behind the winner.
“It was a great weekend for the Fast Track Racing team and me with two podium finishes and a pole,” said Aust. “I had raced a few Formula 4 races at COTA previously, so I was familiar with the track. But it was my first sports car races there. I really appreciated how the veteran drivers raced with me during the weekend. Being a rookie with TCX, I had to learn several aspects of the track with the heavier car.
“But I was pleased how things went throughout the weekend. Obviously, I would have liked to win a race, but this experience is really helping my race skills and I’m anxious for the next race at VIR.”
Team manager Toby Grahovec was thrilled with Aust’s performance throughout the COTA weekend, and the team sees potential in the future TCU student.
“It was an awesome showing by Maddie in just her second sports car weekend,” said Grahovec, the former TC America driving champion. “She made a spectacular pass on the outside from third to the lead and she was doing a great job against seasoned veteran racers. For her to set fast race lap and win the pole position is a super effort. We look forward to having Maddie in the No. 09 Fast Track Racing BMW M2 CS (Cup) sports car at VIR in a few weeks. Hope we can test here there before the race weekend.”
Adam Gleason, also a rookie in the 2023 TCX category, continues to show promise in his No. 21 Megawatt/Bitcoin BMW M2 CS (Cup) machine with a solid fourth place in Saturday’s TC America event and was running third in Sunday’s race before being hit on the final lap.
Nick Roberts, in his first pro races, drove the No. 29 D1 Systems/Fast Track Racing BMW M2 CS (Cup) to seventh and ninth in the TCX division at COTA.
The Fast Track Racing team is now preparing for the next TC America doubleheader set for June 16-18 at the popular VIRginia International Raceway in Alton, VA.
ABOUT FAST TRACK RACING: Fast Track Racing was founded in 2005. Fast Track Racing has sold 117 BMW factory race cars to our customers in the past five years. Fast Track Racing has earned six championships in the SRO World Challenge series, and two S.C.C.A. National Championships. Fast Track Racing is the first and only United States team to win the BMW Sports Trophy. In total, Fast Track Racing has earned 26 professional wins and over 100 total wins, including 22 poles and 113 podiums, with 23 of the fastest laps in SRO competition. As BMW Motorsport experts, Fast Track Racing also races these vehicles and knows them inside and out. Fast Track Racing is tenured, with track-tested experience. Fast Track Racing has engineering expertise and provides coaching and consultation to ensure a driver’s performance is maximized.