TOOELE, Utah – Cadillac Racing driver Johnny O’Connell did the double by winning both rounds of the Pirelli World Challenge Championship GT races this weekend at Miller Motorsport Park.
O’Connell (Flowery Branch, Ga.), starting from pole position for the second race in a row, was able to get a good standing start in his No. 3 Cadillac ATS-V.R and lead the caution free 50-minute race from flag-to-flag. With his results this weekend, and some of his points protagonist not running as well, O’Connell leaves Salt Lake City second in the GT points battle. More intrigue will play out in one week at Sonoma Raceway when the points leader, Ryan Dalziel, will not run.
“This was a great points weekend,” O’Connell said. “We had a good car yesterday, but the guys at Cadillac Racing improved it even more and just made it a little easier to drive today. James Davison was all over me in his Nissan. He even tried flashing his lights at me late in the race, I just ignore that stuff. He is a great young talent.
“We are a fourth quarter team. We are going away from this weekend second in the points. Two good wins and a lot of points going into Sonoma in one week.”
Teammate Pilgrim (Boca Raton, Fla.) started fourth and posted his best weekend of the year behind the wheel of the No. 8 Cadillac ATS-V.R.
“I had a pretty good start, I got some slight wheel spin but was able to get to Turn One in third,” Pilgrim said. “The Porsche is a very good braking car. My Cadillac went loose pretty early in the race. I couldn’t do much about the Porsche and the Bentley. I was then able to find a good pace for the ATS-V.R and was able to run a good race finishing in fifth. The crew did a great job all weekend and we come away with two good finishes.”
The Pirelli World Challenge Series race from Miller Motorsport Park will be televised on CBS Sports Network Sunday, August 30, 4 p.m. ET.
The series will travel to wine country for the Sonoma Grand Prix for a double race schedule in just one week, Aug. 28-30.
