POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (November 17, 2019) — At this weekend’s final race of the season at the Daytona International Speedway, Chris Dyson did everything in his power to wrest the 2019 Trans Am by Pirelli Championship from defending titlist Ernie Francis Jr. – take the pole, win the race, set the fastest lap and lead the most laps. Despite adding all the bonus points available to his race win tally, it wasn’t quite enough. Dyson led the race from the green flag to the checker in his #20 Plaid Mustang, and although Francis suffered a flat tire I n the last corner, he still limped home in second place, scoring sufficient points to deny Dyson the championship.
“I knew the odds against us were very long,” Dyson said following the race. “But I wanted to do everything I could anyway. I just drove the whole weekend as if every lap was one step closer to the championship: flat out. What else can you do? I’ve won here at Daytona a few times in my racing career and our family racing history is deeply entwined with this place. Standing in Victory Lane always feels fantastic. There’s nothing quite like it.”
Daytona marked the fifth time in the 11-race season that Dyson and Francis finished 1-2. Three times Dyson came out on top – at Lime Rock Park, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and here at Daytona – while Francis turned the tables on Dyson at Mid-Ohio and Watkins Glen. In the end, Dyson had four races spoiled by mechanical difficulties while significant misfortune only befell Francis twice. In the end, that proved the margin in deciding the championship.
“It’s been a very dramatic season for us, a lot of ups and downs,” Dyson said. “We came here and we’ve done exactly what we needed to do. We came up a bit short on the title race but it was a real joy and privilege to race out there today.
“Winning at the two most famous tracks in America, Indy and here, and in front of so many of my friends and family at my home track (Lime Rock Park) has helped make it a satisfying season for me despite coming up a little short on the championship,” Dyson said. “Our car was a rocket pretty much everywhere this year, and we learned a lot in our second season. Congratulations to Ernie and his team on the great job they did all year long. It was a hard-fought battle the whole way.”
Dyson also said expressed pleasure at the strong drive to seventh place put in by longtime friend and former IMSA teammate Humaid Al Masaood in the #21 CD Racing Ford Mustang. “Humaid did a terrific job this weekend,” Dyson said. “After only testing the car twice, he showed good speed in every session and did quite well in a tough field of competitors. I look forward to hopefully having Humaid with us at many more races next season.”
Plaid
Headquartered in Atlanta, Plaid Enterprises, Inc. is one of the world’s largest, most diverse manufacturers of creative do-it-yourself products. Plaid’s product innovation and dedication to the ever-changing needs of consumers have made the Plaid family of products among the most recognized and desired brands worldwide.
Founded in 1976, Plaid began as a publisher of how-to craft books. The company soon expanded into manufacturing, with paint becoming the primary focus. Today, Plaid is the industry’s leading small batch paint manufacturer, proudly producing paint in its facilities located outside of Atlanta, GA.
Notable brands in Plaid’s portfolio include FolkArt, Apple Barrel, Delta, Bucilla, Martha Stewart Crafts, and one of the industry’s best known, Mod Podge, a favorite since 1967.