Michelin Pilot Challenge

Defending Race Winners BHA Seeks 15th TCR Victory at Mid-Ohio

Posted on by Katie Brannan
The Mid-Ohio 120
Round 4 of the 2022 IMSA MICHELIN Pilot Challenge
May 13-14, 2022
Racetrack: Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
2.258-mile road course, features 13 turns
Race: Saturday, May 14, 2022, at 4:05pm EST
TV: Live on NBC’s PEACOCK: www.peacock.tv
Listen: Live on IMSA Radio at www.IMSA.com
Live updates are available throughout the weekend on BHA social media and www.bryanhertaautosport.com Live timing and scoring is available at imsa.com.
FAST FACTS:
Back where it all started: 14 wins and three seasons ago, BHA scored their first IMSA race win at Mid-Ohio with Mark Wilkins and Michael Lewis driving the #98 Veloster in 2019. Last season, Parker Chase and Ryan Norman scored BHA’s second win at Mid-O and the first victory with the Elantra N TCR.
Record Setter: Harry Gottsacker set a new IMSA TCR series record for the most pole positions by a single driver when he scored his sixth TCR pole at Laguna Seca two weeks ago.
Super Sub: Gabby Chaves returns to BHA this weekend to co-drive the #33 Elantra N TCR with Robert Wickens. Chaves won the TCR title in 2020 while driving for Bryan Herta Autosport with then teammate Ryan Norman. Gabby last drove for BHA at the Watkins Glen sprint race last season, when he partnered with Parker Chase to race the Elantra N TCR while Ryan Norman made his IndyCar debut at Mid-Ohio. Chaves and Chase started third and finished sixth.
Inspiring Others: Michael Johnson was a guest speaker at the Nationwide Childrens Hospital Adaptive Sports Medicine Day on Thursday. The program is a specialized resource for young athletes with disabilities. Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus is one of America’s largest pediatric hospitals and an international leader in research.
Homeboy: Ryan Norman grew up and got his start racing at Mid-Ohio. A local of the Cleveland area, Mid-Ohio sits close to his heart as many of his most significant racing experiences have come at the 59-year-old racetrack. Most significantly his IndyCar debut last season and his TCR victory in 2021, which was the first time the Elantra N TCR car won in North America, in just its third race ever.
#1 Hyundai Elantra N TCR
2021 Drivers/Team CHAMPIONS
2022: Best Start: 5th Best Finish: 2nd Ranked: 1st
Taylor Hagler: “This is a stop on the calendar that I always look forward to, as I have had a lot of success at Mid-Ohio early in my career in IMSA. We have been running well all season and are looking to get back on the podium again at Mid-Ohio. Although this will be the first time for me in the Elantra N TCR at this track, I am very confident it is the right platform to attack all of the characteristics Mid-Ohio has to offer.”
Michael Lewis: “It is exciting to get back to Mid-Ohio because it is the start of the middle part of the season where we start racing quite a lot. It is a lot of fun to race the Hyundai Elantra N and it has been performing well and I can’t wait to hit the track. Taylor and I look to keep running at the front to score more manufacturer points for Hyundai and points for our Bryan Herta Autosport team. Mid-Ohio has been a great track for us and let’s see if we can keep our win streak going at this track.”
#2 Elantra N TCR
2022: Best Start: 2nd Best Finish: 8th Ranked: 12th
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Ryan Norman: “Looking forward to my home track, Mid-Ohio, after some bad luck in Laguna Seca. We had the pace last race weekend, just some things out of control didn’t allow us to show that with a result. However, we know as a team we are where we need to be and can fight for some race wins. We just have to stay clean and know we will have a car in the end to fight up front and get the Elantra N TCR back on the top step of the podium where it belongs!”
AJ Muss: “We’re due for a drama free race with smooth execution and a little luck. Our car is so good, it’s great coming back to Mid-Ohio knowing we’ve got the tools to win.”
#33 Elantra N TCR
2022: Best Start: 2nd Best Finish: 3rd Ranked: 8th
Gabby Chaves: “I am always happy to step back into a Hyundai TCR car for BHA, and really looking forward to driving with Robert this weekend. I had the chance to race the Elantra at Watkins Glen last year and I know what a fantastic car it is.”
Robert Wickens: “It’s crazy to think a year ago BHA and Michael Johnson gave me a chance to drive a race car again. Mid-Ohio will always have a special place in my heart because of those memories. Laguna didn’t go our way, but we showed we have what we need to fight for more podiums and get to that top step of the podium. I’m looking forward to making more positive memories this weekend by spraying some Champagne like I did in my IndyCar race there in 2018.”
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#54 Universal Coating Elantra N TCR
2022: Best Start: 6th Best Finish: 6th Ranked: 6th
Michael Johnson: “I’m very excited to get back racing at Mid-Ohio. This is kind of like a home race to me since it’s only a few hours away from my home in Michigan. I have always liked the challenges here and the excitement it gives with all the elevation. I hope we can use our momentum from Laguna and get a good result. Let’s win this!!”
Stephen Simpson: “Michael and I are knocking on the door of the podium and hopefully score a win. It’s been a consistent season so far, but we’re anxious to push that consistency a bit further up the charts.”
#77 Elantra N TCR
2022: Best Start: 1st Best Finish: 7th Ranked: 11th
Mason Filippi: “We’ve experienced the highs and the lows this season from opening the season with two poles, to the incident at Sebring and some troubles beyond our control at Laguna. We’re doing a good job as a team working through the challenges and we’re very prepared to enjoy the success ahead.”
Tyler Maxson: “The last few races really haven’t gone our way. With two pole positions we clearly have the speed and talent to win and we are hoping Ohio is going to be good to us. Our goal is to end the weekend on the podium.”
#98 Elantra N TCR
2022: Best Start: 1st Best Finish:4th Ranked: 7th
Harry Gottsacker IV: “We really started to hit our stride with the Elantra N last year at Mid- Ohio and I’m hoping we can continue moving forward this weekend. We had a strong result in Laguna Seca with pole position and a fourth-place finish, and I feel like we are just getting stronger each weekend. Mid-Ohio is such a legendary track and the amount of fans that come out is always amazing to see.”
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Parker Chase: “Mid-Ohio is a special place to me after delivering Hyundai the first win for the Elantra N TCR last year with Ryan. We have made a fair bit of progress thus far in the year with our best result this season last weekend at Laguna. Hoping to get the first win of the year for Harry and me at Mid-Ohio!”
Katie Brannan

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