POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (August 22, 2019) — Chris Dyson knows something about winning close races at Road America – in 2012 he came out on top in the closest-ever American Le Mans Series race, taking the win by a hair’s breadth of 0.083 seconds. The current Trans Am by Pirelli TA-Class championship point leader also knows about losing close races at the classic four-mile Wisconsin road circuit. Last year, on his way to third place in the championship, Dyson finished second – by just two tenths of a second – to the longtime sedan-racing ace and Trans Am veteran Boris Said.
Dyson has been on a streak in the current Trans Am season, winning two of the past three races and finishing second in the other aboard his Plaid Ford Mustang. And had the most recent race, at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, not ended under caution, Dyson might well be bringing a three-race winning streak to Saturday’s Ryan Companies 100.
In any case, Dyson will be looking to add another victory to his total and expand his five-point lead over Mid-Ohio winner Ernie Francis, Jr.
It won’t be easy. In addition to squaring off against former series champion Francis, Dyson’s 2018 Road America nemesis Said will be back this weekend, subbing for the injured Tomy Drissi in one of Claudio Burtin’s potent Chevrolet Camaros.
“Man, we’ve had a great run of races this summer. I was disappointed that we were robbed of a shootout at the end of Mid-Ohio. Ernie and I were fighting hard, and you never like to finish under yellow. We will resume that battle at Road America this weekend and I can’t wait. And now Boris is back, so that adds a different dimension because he’s not racing for points and his car is quick. It should be another titanic battle up front but I’m looking to even the score.”
Dyson also made his NASCAR Xfinity debut at Mid-Ohio with Mario Gosselin’s DGM Racing #90 car. After an admittedly conservative qualifying run that saw him line up 27th, Dyson sliced through the field and ran as high as 12th in the race’s second stage. What looked like a potential top-ten result was dashed when Dyson was caught up in a collision in one of the side-by-side restarts featured in the Xfinity division.
“Getting out there and running in Xfinity was a great experience,” Dyson said. “It was a shame about the restart but I had nowhere to go. The green flew and then a few guys checked up. I thought we could have finished in the top 10, which would have been a fantastic debut. But at least they knew we were there and in the mix. I hope I can do some more events in the future.”
Dyson certainly knows his way around the classic Road America circuit. Despite his rookie status in the Trans Am series last season, Dyson is a veteran of two decades in top-tier professional road racing. He finished third in points in the 2018 Trans Am championship standing.
In addition to a 2003 IMSA class win and the epic 2012 IMSA American Le Mans Series overall victory, driving for Bentley in the 2015 Pirelli World Challenge Series, Dyson broke the race lap record and put the British luxury performance car manufacturer’s Continental GT into the Road America winner’s circle in his second-most recent appearance here.
“Road America is hands-down one of the best road racing tracks in North America. It is a true cathedral of speed, a classic in every sense. I have loved the place since I first came here to watch my Dad race IMSA GTP in 1986. The layout has never changed and it is very challenging, with a mix of heavy braking zones and big commitment corners like the Carousel and the kink. There are opportunities for passing everywhere and the long straights allow for setting up passes and racecraft really matters here. It is a long lap – the longest distance we race – and going quickly requires a lot of patience and discipline and consistent execution.
“On top of that, there’s not a bad seat in the house. Fans can see a lot of the track from any vantage point, and they are so knowledgeable here. Racing has been happening here since the fifties. Just think about that. We are competing in an incredible place with tradition and history that few tracks can boast. Our 800-plus horsepower Trans Am cars race so well around here, too. We are going to put on another helluva show with the #20 Plaid Mustang and my other competitors this weekend.”
The first practice session is scheduled for Thursday from 3:20 to 3:50 p.m. and the second 30-minute session commences Friday morning at 12:20. There is a 35-minute qualifying session beginning Friday afternoon at 4:50. The Ryan Companies 100 takes the green at 11:40 Saturday morning. (All events listed are Central Time.)
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.