Acuras Bag Fifth in Bill Fenton Motorsports
Bill Fenton Motorsports placed two Acura cars—the RSX-S series cars—in the top five. Both cars were put into the Street Tuner’s top five that happened last Saturday during the KONI Challenge race at Watkins Glen. The race event lasted for three hours.
Bill Fenton along with Bob Beede bagged the fourth place in the No. 29 Southern Auto Auction Acura. This was followed by Todd Lamb and Dave Thilenius in the No. 27 Aprilia/2Wheel Tuner Acura.
The weekend for the team went with no glitches. It was apparent that everything was a matter of smooth sailing. After the concerns raised over setup issues that were the primary reasons Acura lost during the previous two car races, the team knocked back a formula that they knew very well would work at the historic track. And though rain limited the number of practices they could indulge in, everyone was able to adapt to the conditions set to them, quickly and competently.
“I feel like I got to know the track pretty well and was able to get up to speed even with the shortened practice,” Lamb was heard saying. Lamb was at The Glen for the first time. He further adds that:
“It’s an easy track to learn, but it’s still challenging to drive. I always enjoy being on a true road course.”
This was the ultimate and unquestionable proof to the fact that both cars from Acura had well-built set-ups as well as drivers behind the wheel who knew how to effectively navigate the track. Thilenius managed to take seventh-place starting spot in the ST class, and Fenton finished not so far behind as he landed at tenth.
In the race, pit stop strategy was different for both cars and they managed to play this difference to its advantage. Fenton proceeded to pit during an early caution period, a move that successfully trounced Beede out in the No. 29 car. Later, the team would have to make a brief stop to load up on fuel.
On the other hand, Thilenius determined to stop early for fuel, and thus, was pitted about halfway through the race to offer the No. 27 Acura to Lamb on quite a fetching silver platter. It was a risk, Lamb was heard to have admitted. But it paid off well enough.”We were pretty tight on fuel near the end, so a late-race caution turned out to be just what we needed” Lamb says.
During the final laps, Lamb was atttempting to win a pass for third. It was at this point when Beede decided to finally join the chase. And hence, Beede ended up passing his own teammate for fourth with signs of the checkered flag already being sighted.
Both teams from Acura have had quite a successful run in the races this year. Each one has had the chance to stand on the ST podium after all. But what proved memorable at Watkins Glen and was worth taking note of was the occasion of the first time in the season that both cars ran and earned a top-five finish as they competed in the same event.
News reports state that the following race for Bill Fenton Motorsports will be on dates August 17 to 19. The races are expected to happen at the Trois-Rivieres.