RJRacing

Buttonwillow, CA — Fielding a two car team for the first time, RJ Racing finished second and third in the E2 Class at the opening round of the Western Endurance Racing Championship (WERC).

Defending series champions Rob Gibson and John Gibson, driving the #23 Weekend-Racer.com MX-5 Miata, took the checkered flag in second place after 3 hours of nonstop action at Buttonwillow Raceway Park in Buttonwillow, CA. The #13 Weekend-Racer.com car, piloted by John Mueller and Eric Richter secured the final podium spot, finishing third. A clean, caution free race was run by a diverse field of 28 cars.

After the team qualified second in class, Rob Gibson took the opening driving stint in the #23, keeping up a quick pace while battling the #91. A close race ensued until the #91 made an error going into the final turn, enabling Rob to get around. Maintaining second place until lap 27, Rob was instructed to let the #91 pass, knowing we could run longer on fuel. The strategy worked: the #91 pitted on lap 37 while Rob did not have to stop for fuel until 10 laps later. With a fairly clear track and a car getting light on fuel Rob was able to put down faster laps leaving the #91 car in the distance.

Off season improvements enabled the #23 to stretch the first stint until lap 48. Taking 10 gallons of fuel, John Gibson took the wheel to finish the race. A blazingly fast pitstop enabled John to resume the race still in second place. Clicking off fast lap after fast lap, John was determined to chase down the class leading car and the team’s main competition last year, the #5 DivaSpeed Acura Integra. With a brilliant pass on lap 71, John got himself back on the lead lap. Time was not on our side this time though. After 80 laps of nonstop racing, John Gibson crossed the finish line in second place, good for 90 points in the WERC series.

Making its endurance racing debut, the #13 Weekend-Racer.com MX-5 Miata (“RJ Racing 2”) qualified a respectable fourth place in the E2 class. First time endurance race driver Eric Richter proved quite the hotshoe as he clicked off a fast lap of 2:09.7 on lap 27. Lap 37 saw the #13 take over third place after the #91 pitted for fuel. Maintaining third place, Eric pitted on lap 44, handing over driving duties to Weekend-Racer.com‘s John Mueller. Putting down consistent laps, John Mueller held onto the third and final podium position as he crossed the finish line, completing 77 laps. This is Eric Richter’s first endurance podium finish in as many tries and John Mueller’s second podium finish in as many tries. RJ Racing has not finished lower than third in the WERC series since 2007.