LEXINGTON, OHIO, JUNE 30 — Thetford / Norcold / Goodyear Dyson Racing`s James Weaver and Butch Leitzinger drove a faultless race to finish fifth in Sunday`s American Le Mans Series event at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.
Chris Dyson had been scheduled to co-drive with Weaver, but a bout with food poisoning kept him out of the car. Leitzinger, who drove brilliantly and won Saturday`s Trans-Am event, was drafted in to replace the ALMS rookie.
Weaver and Leitzinger last co-drove at Sebring, where they finished fourth with Elliott Forbes-Robinson. On Sunday, the Anglo-American pairing started their Ford R&S mk3 Le Mans Prototype seventh on the grid, and gradually hauled it up through the field during the two hour, forty-five minute event. Solid pitwork from the Dyson team and a mistake-free run made Weaver and Leitzinger bring the car home as the highest-finishing privateer in a race dominated by the factory Audi and Panoz efforts.
“That is the best we could have done today,” remarked James Weaver after the race. “Of course I hate losing, but it is not a bad result considering it is the old girl`s seventh year of service.” He was referring to his trusty R&S mk3 prototype.
Butch Leitzinger was also pleased with the result. “The car was pretty good today,” he said. “It was great to be back with the team even though it was too bad that Chris had to miss the race.”
Dyson had driven in practice on Saturday, but made the decision Saturday evening to stand down. “I think I might have been able to do today`s race, but it would have been pushing it. I felt horrible Saturday night. I am annoyed about it, no question, but with Daytona coming up in a couple of days, I think it was the wisest course of action to rest and have Butch pinch hit for me.”
The Dyson team immediately heads from Ohio to Daytona Beach for the Rolex Series Jani-King Paul Revere 250, to be held this Thursday (July 4) night.