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

3 years ago

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.

Related Topics:
Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.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

Florida

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

Published

2 weeks ago

on

May 31, 2026

By

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

Politics

Gov. Ron DeSantis Orders Flags at Half-Staff for Slain Coral Springs Vice Mayor Nancy M. Metayer Bowen

Published

2 months ago

on

April 16, 2026

By

Coral Springs Vice Mayor Nancy M. Metayer Bowen

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (FNN) — Gov. Ron DeSantis has ordered flags to be flown at half-staff in honor of Coral Springs Vice Mayor Nancy M. Metayer Bowen, who was killed April 1 in what authorities describe as a domestic violence incident.

The directive calls for U.S. and Florida state flags to be lowered from sunrise to sunset Friday, April 17, 2026, at the State Capitol in Tallahassee and at all local and state buildings, installations and grounds throughout Coral Springs.

According to Coral Springs Police, officers conducted a wellness check at Metayer Bowen’s home after city staff raised concerns when she missed scheduled meetings and could not be reached. Responding officers found her deceased inside the residence.

Investigators said the killing appears to be a domestic violence incident. Her husband, Stephen Bowen, was later taken into custody and faces charges of premeditated murder and tampering with evidence. The case remains under active investigation.

State and local leaders say the half-staff order honors Metayer Bowen’s service and legacy in the Coral Springs community, where she was recognized for her leadership and commitment to public service.

What We Know About Her Death
Police say Metayer Bowen was killed April 1 at her Coral Springs home. Officers discovered her body during a wellness check prompted by her unexplained absence from official duties and lack of communication.

Husband Arrested, Faces Charges
Authorities arrested her husband, Stephen Bowen, who now faces premeditated murder and evidence-tampering charges. Investigators have identified the case as an apparent domestic violence incident.

State Honors Her Legacy
Gov. DeSantis ordered flags lowered across key government buildings in Tallahassee and Coral Springs, recognizing Metayer Bowen’s public service and the impact of her loss on the community.

Continue Reading

Politics

Andy Thomson Flips Boca Raton Mayoral Seat, Marking First Democratic-Aligned Victory in Over 30 Years

Published

3 months ago

on

March 13, 2026

By

BOCA RATON, Fla. (FNN) — Andy Thomson has won the race to become the next mayor of Boca Raton, marking a major political shift in the South Florida city. According to Democratic leaders, the victory represents the first time in more than 30 years that the mayoral seat has been held by a Democratic-aligned candidate.

National Democrats also highlighted the win as part of a broader trend in recent elections. Party officials say Democrats have either won or exceeded expectations in roughly 90% of key races since Donald Trump was elected president.

The victory follows another recent Democratic gain in South Florida, when Eileen Higgins won the mayoral race in Miami last year.

DNC ORGANIZING EFFORTS BACKED THOMSON CAMPAIGN

The Democratic National Committee supported Thomson’s campaign through Election Day with voter outreach and organizing efforts aimed at boosting turnout in Boca Raton.

According to party officials, the DNC launched an organizing blitz that recruited volunteers and supported get-out-the-vote (GOTV) operations. The effort included contacting thousands of voters across the city ahead of Election Day.

The DNC’s voter protection team also partnered with the Florida Democratic Party to assist the campaign with ballot-curing efforts during the final days of vote counting.

DNC CHAIR PRAISES VICTORY

Following the election, Ken Martin, chair of the Democratic National Committee, praised Thomson’s campaign and framed the result as a warning sign for Republicans in Florida.

“When you organize everywhere, you can win anywhere — including here in Florida,” Martin said in a statement. “Mayor-elect Andy Thomson ran a strong campaign focused on the issues that matter most to Boca Raton voters, from the rising cost of groceries and gas to the health care crisis Donald Trump and his allies unleashed.”

Martin added that the outcome signals voter frustration with Republican policies in the state.

“This win is another warning sign to Florida Republicans that voters are fed up with their out-of-touch agenda that is making communities like Boca Raton unaffordable,” he said.

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