Yoder returns & Bucknum, Drury & Hainer join our GR Cup team for a strong showing at Sonoma Raceway
It was finally time to get down to business for a quartet of Precision Racing LA drivers in the Toyota GR Cup North America program at the famed Sonoma Raceway. After a day and a half of competition was scrapped due to track repairs, GR Cup competitors hit the track Friday evening for a thirty-minute practice session before returning to the facility Saturday morning for qualifying.
With nearly thirty competitors in the field, Aidan Yoder driving the #44 machine earned the best qualifying result for Precision Racing LA with a solid P8 and a lap time of 1:52.721. Behind him was Spencer Bucknum who would begin his 2024 season from the outside of row nine in the #7 machine while Henry Drury #88 of PT Autosport and Alexandra Hainer’s #43 lap times slotted them into 21st and 25th respectively on the grid.
It was Bucknum that scored Precision Racing LA’s best result in the first race of the season moving forward to finish 14th, one position ahead of teammate Henry Drury in the 15th position while Alexandria Hainer crossed the line 19th when the checkered flag flew. Unfortunately, it was an unlucky affair for Aidan Yoder as he was tagged from behind in lap 1 doing damage to his rear bumper forcing him to retire.
“Man, that is that is gnarly stuff, feisty stuff. I hope it was as fun to watch as it was to race in. Learned a bunch and moved forward 6 places” fresh off track comments from Drury after race 1.
Back to the track Sunday for the second round of the Toyota GR Cup North America series, qualifying opened the day as Aidan Yoder put his #44 Toyota just inside the top ten with a P10 result and a lap time of 1:51.634. Spencer Bucknum who earned Precision Racing LA’s best result in round one on Saturday clocked a 1:51.838 to slot into 14th on the grid with Henry Drury 17th on the time charts ahead of Alexandra Hainer who will start race two from the outside of row twelve.
Fifteen minutes into race two, it was Yoder who led the Precision Racing LA quartet running in the ninth position while Bucknum was just outside the top ten in eleventh. Henry Drury was 18th while Hainer ran in the 25th position. With twenty-eight minutes remaining, the yellow flag flew for a single-car incident that advanced Drury to P16 on track and Hainer up to 21st. When the field went back racing, Bucknum had moved into the top ten running ninth behind Yoder with Drury gaining a position to fifteenth. Bucknum continued his charge with a magnificent over-under move to advance to seventh while Yoder continued his presence in the top ten in ninth. When the checkered flag flew, it was Spencer Bucknum who led the way for Precision Racing L.A. with a solid drive to seventh while Yoder secured a top ten result in ninth. Henry Drury gained positions late in the running to finish 14th on track while Alexandra Hainer crossed the line 22nd.
The team did exceptionally well on track, this was Alexandra, Henry & Spencers first competitive outing in the GR86 and we are happy to have Aidan Yoder back in the fold leading the way.
“The Precision Racing L.A. guys gave me an awesome car, made changes throughout the whole weekend and it seemed to click with good results” shared Bucknum at the close of the weekend.
Next up for Precision Racing L.A. GR Cup drivers, Sebring FL May 3rd - 5th