Ford Racing Mustang FR500C Captures Grand-Am KONI Challenge Drivers’, Manufacturers’, and Team Championships
Two Ford Mustang FR500C teams led the standings heading into the Grand-Am KONI Challenge season finale at Virginia International Raceway in Alton, Va., while Ford was seven points out of first in the manufacturers’ standings. By the end of the weekend, three Mustangs finished in the top five to clinch the manufacturers’ title, Joe Foster and Scott Maxwell won both the drivers’ and team title and Mike Canney, Matt Plumb and Hugh Plumb won the race.
Foster and Maxwell, drivers of the No. 55 Mustang FR500C, capped a terrific season with a fifth-place finish to clinch their first title. During the season, the duo combined for two wins, five top-fives and eight top-10s. They become the second Mustang FR500C drivers to win a KONI championship, with the first coming in 2005.
“Winning the championship was an amazing thing,” said Foster. “It's something Hyper Sport hasn't done before, and team owner Patrick Dempsey and Rick Skelton, the partners in the team haven't either. I know Patrick, on the set of Grey's Anatomy, was watching online all day. Personally, it's the culmination of a lot of hard work by about 100 people sharing in this.”
When Canney, Hugh Plumb and Matt Plumb crossed the finish line in the No. 60 Mustang FR500C to win the race and finish the season tied for sixth in the team standings. Their Rehagen Racing teammates, Dean Martin, Jack Roush Jr. and Ryan Phinny, finished in second place, moving up to fifth place in the standings.
“This is my first win in this series, so it's really exciting, especially to do it like we did today,” said Canney. “Our crew chief Quinn Conda had a great set-up on the Mustang and the car handled really well during my stint. I'm happy to get a 1-2 finish for Rehagen Racing. It's an exciting way to finish this season off and it's also a great way to get things going for next year.”
Bret Seafuse and James Gue, drivers of the No. 37 Mustang FR500C, entered the race just one point behind Foster and Maxwell, and fought the entire race for a chance at the championship. Right when it looked like they might be able to put together a strong run to catch Foster and Maxwell, they lost a cylinder near the end of the race and eventually finished 10th, clinching second place in the standings.
Tags: championship, Ford Mustang, koni challenge
