Nursing a threadbare left rear tire after overcoming two drive-through penalties, team driver Todd Lamb secured a spectacular comeback victory at Atlanta Motorsports Park in Sunday’s 7-hour Champcar AMP’d Up Duals endurance race in Dawsonville, Georgia, finishing three car lengths ahead of the Calvinball Motorsports BMW 325Ci.
Lamb, along with team drivers Skyler Cottrell and Stephen Cox, stormed to the front early after starting 31st in the 40-car field only to be hit with a major setback in the form of a sound limit violation that resulted in a 20 mph pit lane drive through. Cottrell then took over the STA-BIL/JR Fastener Porsche 986 and began working his way back through the field with excellent lap times despite the team now being out of sync on pit stops.
Cox then took the wheel at midday. It was his first full stint in a Porsche 986, his first race with ATL Speedwerks and only his second-ever stint at Atlanta Motorsports Park. Nevertheless, he made up a lap on the leaders before executing a close, sliding pass that put the team back in P1 overall.
“Todd and Skyler really did the hard work. They’re both just sensational at this track,” Cox said after his 33rd career victory and 5th win of 2024. “As the new guy, I was pretty much a role player. My job was to make sure that our last driver had a chance to win. I needed to take really good care of the car, try to get the lead back and don’t use up the brakes. Todd and Skyler did everything else.”
Lamb took over again on the final stint. Added downforce from the rear wing had worn the left rear tire down to the cords, but Lamb chased down the leaders and then nursed the car to the finish for a spectacular win, just a few car lengths ahead of the fast and well-driven Calvinball BMW that had run at the front of the pack for much of the day.
The victory concludes Cox’s 2024 season, sponsored by STA-BIL brand fuel stabilizer and JR Fastener Corporation. His 2025 campaign will include both late model oval races as well as sportscar events at legendary tracks including Daytona and Road America. (Photos: Ryan Connor)
