In Round Three of the Idemitsu Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by BFGoodrich® Tires, Gresham Wagner (No. 5 Spark Performance) and Connor Zilisch (No. 72 Hixon Motor Sports) put on a show for the final lap. The pair traded places and then drag-raced out of the final turn to the finish at the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg street circuit.
Starting third on the grid, Wagner took the lead on the first and only restart from yellow, for a stranded car in the first turn. A few laps later, Zilisch was in Wagner’s mirrors and the two pulled away from the rest of the field.
Helping the duo pull away was the scrum for the final podium spot behind them. Thomas Annunziata (No. 10 Hixon Motor Sports) was the first to pull away from that pack, but once Sam Paley (No. 28 McCumbee McAleer Racing) got through, he was hot on Annunziata’s heels.
Near the halfway mark of the 45-minute race, Zilisch took over the lead and Wagner settled into second but was planning his move for the closing laps of the race.
On the penultimate lap, Wagner made the pass and retook the lead. Zilisch stayed glued to his bumper though and in the final corner of the final lap, Zilisch managed to nose inside of Wagner. Zilisch was by Wagner exiting the turn, but the move scrubbed off too much speed for Zilisch. Wagner pulled alongside Zilisch and they drag-raced to the finish line. Wagner crossed the line 0.021-second ahead of Zilisch.
Read the full article at MazdaMotorsports.com