College freshman Maddie Aust leads a four-car assault from the Fast Track Racing/Sewell Automotive Companies racing organization this weekend (Aug. 18-20) at the historic Road America four-mile road circuit in the TC America sports car competition as part of the SRO America road racing series.
Aust, an 18-year-old freshman at TCU, comes to the famed Elkhart Lake track after a spectacular performance in June at VIRginia International Raceway where the Fort Worth, Tex., racer scored an impressive double sprint race victory weekend in her No. 09 Fast Track Racing/Sewell Automotive Companies BMW M2 CS (Cup) sport car.
The former competitive national cheerleader won both 40-minute sprint races at VIR and recently entered this weekend’s events after a successful testing round at Road America. After competing in the Formula Four open-wheel series last year, Aust is no stranger to the famed road circuit.
“I was very excited with the two wins at VIR,” said Aust, who’ll start her five college classes next Monday. “I came to VIR to improve on my driving technics and look for a chance to win. I think I showed that in both races and especially in the Sunday event there. Now I’m just as anxious to compete at Road America this weekend.
“We had a good test there earlier. The new pavement makes for faster times with the BMW M2, and I had to be careful in the ‘kink.’ In the Formula Four races, you were flat (on the throttle) through that section. You can’t do that with the heavier sports car. You have to lift. But it is fun to drive Road America again, especially with BMW M2. Fast Track Racing has prepared a good car for me. So, I’m ready to challenge for the win this weekend.”
Joining Aust in Fast Track Racing’s TCX lineup will be Texas’ Adam Gleason in the No. 21 Megawatt/Bitcoin BMW M2 CS (Cup) car after several good runs in his professional racing “rookie” season, and Nick Roberts of Dallas, a high school student, will compete in the No. 29 DataOne BMW M2 CS (Cup) machine this weekend at Road America.
“I’m looking forward to Road America more than any other race this season,” said Gleason, who currently ranks fifth in the TCX point standings. “I’m a much more developed driver than I was a few races ago and this break has given me time to build on where I left off. I have been learning with each race. I hope to score another podium finish at Road America.”
Gleason placed second at VIR and has recorded four top-four finishes earlier in the TC America season.
Roberts will make his second TCX doubleheader weekend of the year after scoring two seventh places in June at Circuit of the Americas (COTA).
Roberts’ father, J.R., will also be competing at Road America this weekend when he competes in the GT America GT4 sprint events in the No. 11 Rosewood Ranches/DataOne BMW M4 GT sports car. Roberts finished eighth in his last GT America start at COTA.
The Fast Track Racing team will be in action at Road America starting Friday, August 18, with two TCX practice rounds scheduled for 9:15 a.m. CDT and 2:30 p.m. CDT. Qualifying is set for Saturday at 8:35 a.m. CDT with the first 40-minute TCX race getting underway at 11:20 a.m. CDT. Sunday’s Race 2 will begin at 9:50 a.m. CDT. The GT America action begins Friday at 8:30 a.m. CDT and 1:45 p.m. CDT, with qualifying on Saturday at 8:05 a.m. CDT. The two GT America events are scheduled for Saturday at 12:55 p.m. CDT and Sunday at 8:45 a.m. CDT.
Both TC America TCX and GT America Sprint races can be viewed live on the www.sroamerica.com website with TCX and GT America highlight packages being telecast on CBS Sports Network in the near future.