Connect with us

South Florida News

Garg Goes Flag-to-Flag En Route to Race 1 Victory in VP Racing Challenge at Sebring 17-Year-Old Mars Scores Final-Lap GSX Class Victory in KOHR’s Ford Mustang

Published

on

SEBRING, Fla. – It may have looked easy from the outside, but Bijoy Garg suggests his flag-to-flag victory in Sunday morning’s 45-minute IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge race at Sebring International Raceway was anything but.

“It wasn’t easy, definitely,” said the driver of the No. 3 Jr III Racing Ligier JS P320. I feel like we had pace on all the other guys. They just got through traffic a bit better, but overall, I’m super happy with the win. Our car felt great all race.”

It looked great all race also. After starting the race from the pole position, it didn’t take long for Garg to pull away from rest of the field.

By the end of the second lap, he already held a 3.7-second lead over Dan Goldburg in the No. 73 JDC MotorSports Duqueine D08. Garg eventually built an advantage of more than five seconds before the field caught up slightly once the leader encountered traffic.

Garg appeared to be cruising to victory until a full-course caution came out for debris from Tim Probert’s No. 65 Murillo Racing Mercedes-AMG GT4 with just under 14 minutes remaining in the race. The green flag flew once again with four and a half minutes left on the clock and Garg once again showed Goldburg and the rest of the field a clean pair of heels.

“I knew once I got a gap, I could hold it,” Garg said. “So, all I needed to do was get a good restart and I did that. Once I had the gap into (Turn) 1, I was like, ‘OK, time to go.’”

The victory was Garg’s first in the series. He crossed the stripe 3.479 seconds ahead of Goldburg, who saw his two-race series win streak snapped but he continues to lead the VP Racing Challenge LMP3 class points leader. Goldburg was also the highest-finishing Bronze-rated driver, enabling him to continue leading the Bronze driver point standings as well.

Antonio Serravalle rounded out the top three in the No. 18 Muehlner Motorsports America Duqueine. Lance Willsey – a 2022 Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring winner in the LMP3 class – finished fourth on Sunday morning in the No. 30 Sean Creech Motorsport Ligier ahead of Brian Thienes in the No. 77 Forte Racing Powered by USRT Ligier. Thienes had worked his way up from fifth on the starting grid to third on the opening lap, but an off-course excursion later in the race moved him back down the order.

Mars Takes GSX Win in Last-Lap Thriller

While the LMP3 class polesitter managed to go flag-to-flag en route to the victory, Gregory Liefooghe’s efforts to do the same in the GSX class came up one lap short.

Buoyed in part by the late-race full-course caution, 17-year-old Luca Mars managed to reel in Liefooghe’s No. 43 Stephen Cameron Racing BMW M4 GT4 over the closing laps. And just after taking the white flag, Mars knew it was time to make his move in his No. 59 KOHR MOTORSPORTS Ford Mustang GT4.

“It was a long race there,” Mars explained. “Lapped traffic kind of separated me and Greg a little bit, but I had him coming into (Turn) 1. I had a run, so I set up and got a little over-under. I was able to stick my nose in so he couldn’t fully block. I just kind of put my car in there where he couldn’t get down and squeeze me. I just got around the corner, he went a little wide, and that was it.

“I still needed to defend him a little bit, but I came through Tower Corner, Turn 13, and I saw I had a gap, and I knew I was really good through the 14-15-16 complex, so I went through there, put my head down and knew I had a big gap coming down into 17, so I was pretty confident in the win coming down there.”

Mars’ margin of victory was a scant 0.292 seconds over Liefooghe. It was his first win, coming in his first VP Racing Challenge start ahead of this afternoon’s second race of the Sunday doubleheader.

“It’s a new series,” said Mars, who was one of many additions to a field that swelled to from 24 cars at Daytona to 30 this weekend. “It’s an awesome series. I’m super glad to be here this weekend. I had a great time out there. It was a long race, and I’m super looking forward to racing later today.”

After leading both practice sessions, taking the pole position, and leading all but the final lap, Liefooghe took second in his series debut. Sebastian Carazo claimed the final spot on the podium with a third-place run aboard the No. 27 Kellymoss with Riley Porsche 718 GT4 RS CS.

Moisey Uretsky made it four different manufacturers in the top-four GSX positions, coming home fourth in the No. 44 Accelerating Performance Aston Martin Vantage GT4. Francis Selldorff filled out the top five in the No. 95 Turner Motorsport BMW M4 GT4.

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Business

Florida Eye Microsurgical Institute, Mitchell Refractive Surgery & Eye Center Welcome Dr. Anna Walker

Published

on

Florida Eye Microsurgical Institute, Mitchell Refractive Surgery & Eye Center Welcome Dr. Anna Walker

BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. (FNN NEWS) — Florida Eye Microsurgical Institute (FEMI) and Mitchell Refractive Surgery & Eye Center (MRSE) have announced the addition of optometrist Dr. Anna Walker to their medical teams, expanding comprehensive eye care services for patients across Palm Beach County.

Walker provides comprehensive eye care for patients of all ages, specializing in primary eye care, ocular disease management, specialty contact lenses and intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy. Her practice focuses on preventive eye health through comprehensive examinations, advanced diagnostic technology and individualized treatment plans.

“Dr. Walker brings excellent clinical training and a compassionate approach to patient care,” said Omayra Alvarado, practice administrator for FEMI. “We are confident she will help further our mission of delivering exceptional eye care across South Florida.”

Walker earned her Doctor of Optometry degree from the New England College of Optometry after receiving a Bachelor of Arts in biology from Stonehill College. She completed her residency at the Malcolm Randall VA Medical Center, where she specialized in comprehensive optometric care with an emphasis on ocular disease management and specialty contact lenses.

Her clinical training also includes refractive surgery co-management, IPL therapy and advanced diagnostic techniques. Walker is certified in laser procedures and injections through the New England College of Optometry.

According to the practices, Walker combines advanced clinical expertise with a personalized approach to patient care, focusing on preserving long-term eye health and improving patients’ quality of life.

Walker will see patients at Florida Eye Microsurgical Institute’s East Boynton Beach office on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, and at Mitchell Refractive Surgery & Eye Center in Boca Raton on Mondays and Fridays.

Patients interested in scheduling routine eye examinations or establishing ongoing eye care with Dr. Walker can learn more by visiting Florida Eye Microsurgical Institute or Mitchell Refractive Surgery & Eye Center.

Continue Reading

South Florida News

Uruguay, Saudi Arabia Play to 1-1 Tie as World Cup Atmosphere Electrifies Miami Gardens

Published

on

FIFA World Cup 2026, Uruguay vs Arabia Saudita, Miami, Florida. Photo by Harry Castiblanco / Florida National News
FIFA World Cup 2026, Uruguay vs Arabia Saudita, Miami, Florida. Photo by Harry Castiblanco / Florida National News

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) — Hard Rock Stadium felt more like Montevideo than South Florida on Monday as tens of thousands of Uruguayan supporters packed the venue for Uruguay’s World Cup opener against Saudi Arabia.

FIFA World Cup 2026, Uruguay vs Arabia Saudita, Miami, Florida. Photo by Harry Castiblanco / Florida National News

A crowd of 62,764 fans created a vibrant international atmosphere, with Uruguay supporters draped in giant blue-and-white flags and chanting “U-ru-guay! U-ru-guay!” throughout the match. Despite the passionate backing, Uruguay was forced to settle for a 1-1 draw against Saudi Arabia.

The stadium was awash in light blue as Uruguayan fans filled much of the venue, transforming Miami Gardens into a home-away-from-home for La Celeste. Meanwhile, a spirited contingent of Saudi supporters occupied sections of the south stands, waving green flags and providing energetic support for their national team.

FIFA World Cup 2026, Uruguay vs Arabia Saudita, Miami, Florida. Photo by Harry Castiblanco / Florida National News

WORLD CUP ATMOSPHERE IN SOUTH FLORIDA

The match showcased South Florida’s growing reputation as an international soccer destination, drawing fans from across the globe and creating a World Cup-like environment inside Hard Rock Stadium.

Both teams battled evenly throughout the contest, with neither side able to find a decisive breakthrough. The result leaves Uruguay and Saudi Arabia with a point apiece as they continue their tournament campaigns.

FIFA World Cup 2026, Uruguay vs Arabia Saudita, Miami, Florida. Photo by Harry Castiblanco / Florida National News

FANS DELIVER MEMORABLE SCENE

While the match ended in a draw, the atmosphere was among the day’s biggest highlights. The sea of blue-and-white and the nonstop chants from Uruguay supporters were matched by the enthusiasm of Saudi fans, producing a memorable international soccer showcase in Miami Gardens.

Continue Reading

Florida

Florida Sen. Shevrin Jones Will Not Seek Re-Election, Fuels Speculation About Congressional Run

Published

on

MIAMI, Fla. (FNN) — Democratic State Sen. Shevrin Jones announced Wednesday that he will not seek re-election to Florida Senate District 34, ending a 13-year tenure in the Florida Legislature and fueling speculation about a possible run for Congress.

Jones, who has represented Senate District 34 since 2020, shared the decision in a video posted on social media.

“After a lot of prayer, reflection, and honest conversations with the people closest to me, I’ve decided that I will not seek re-election to the Florida Senate,” Jones said.

13 Years in the Florida Legislature

Jones was first elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2012, where he served until his election to the Florida Senate in 2020. During his legislative career, he emerged as one of South Florida’s most prominent Democratic lawmakers, advocating on issues including education, healthcare, economic opportunity, and civil rights.

His decision not to seek another term marks the end of more than a decade of service in Tallahassee.

Speculation Grows About Congressional Bid

Jones’ announcement comes as political observers speculate that he may be preparing a campaign for Florida’s 24th Congressional District.

The seat is expected to become open following Congresswoman Frederica Wilson’s decision not to seek re-election in 2026. Wilson has represented the district since 2011 and remains one of South Florida’s most influential Democratic leaders.

Although Jones did not formally announce plans for another office, he acknowledged public interest regarding his political future.

“I know there’s been a lot of conversation about what’s next for me,” Jones said. “And there will be time to talk about that at a later date.”

Open Congressional Seat Draws Attention

Wilson’s departure is expected to trigger a competitive race to succeed her in Congress, with several current and former elected officials reportedly considering bids for the seat.

Jones’ decision to leave the Florida Senate immediately places him among the names being discussed as a potential contender for the congressional district, which includes portions of Miami-Dade and Broward counties.

Continue Reading
Advertisement
Advertisement Ticket Time Machine ad
Advertisement Orlando Regional REALTOR Association logo
Advertisement Parts Pass App
Advertisement Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Orlando
Advertisement
Advertisement African American Chamber of Commerce of Central Florida
Advertisement FNN News en Español
Advertisement Indian American Chamber of Commerce logo
Advertisement Florida Sports Channel

FNN Newsletter

Trending