2024 IMSA Ford Mustang Challenge explained
The 2024 IMSA Ford Mustang Challenge is the inaugural season of the IMSA Ford Mustang Challenge. It began on June 7 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and will end on October 6 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Robert Noaker Racing's Robert Noaker scored the series' inaugural victory during the opening round at Mid-Ohio.[1]
Calendar
An initial calendar was released in August 2023, featuring five race weekends totaling ten race events.[2] The preliminary schedule initially featured a round at Charlotte Motor Speedway with an undisclosed date.[3] Ultimately, this round was dropped from the final schedule in favor of the Indianapolis 8 Hour support race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.[4]
Each weekend consisted of two 30-minute practice sessions, with a 15-minute qualifying session setting the grids for a pair of 45-minute races.[5]
Entry list
Team | No. | Drivers | Class | Rounds |
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Amerasian Fragrance Competition Motorsports[6] | 1 | Chloe Chambers[7] | DH | 1 | Carl Bennett[8] | DH | 2 | Greg Bennett[9] | DHL | 3 | Leaders Credit Union Competition Motorsports | 66 | Kel Kearns[10] | DHL | 1–3 | Max Opalski Racing[11] | 2 | Maximilian Opalski | DH | 1–3 | Spark Performance | 3 | Tommy McGlynn[12] | DHL | 3 | 33 | Alex Bachoura | DHL | 1–3 | KohR Motorsports[13] | 5 | Rod Randall | DHL | 1–3 | 52 | Christian Bach | DH | 1–3 | 94 | D.J. Randall | DH | 1–3 | MDK Motorsports[14] | 8 | Tom Tait | DHL | 1–3 | 16 | Gabe Tesch | DH | 1–3 | 17 | Jim Farley[15] | DH | 1 | Automatic Racing | 9 | Mike Stillwagon | DHL | 1 | Rob Ecklin | DHL | 3 | 99 | Larry Webster[16] | DH | 1 | NV Autosport | 10 | Stephen Vajda | DHL | 1–2 | Robert Noaker Racing | 13 | Robert Noaker | DH | 1–3 | 29 | Mitch Marvosh | DHL | 1–3 | 31 | Reid Sweeney[17] | DH | 1–3 | 74 | Tyler Maxson[18] | DH | 1–3 | Capaldi Racing | 14 | John Strauss | DHL | 1–3 | JV Racing Team | 18 | Marcos Vento[19] | DH | 1–3 | Skip Barber Racing[20] | 19 | Mike Stillwagon | DHL | 2–3 | McCumbee McAleer Racing[21] | 22 | Jeremy Fletcher | DH | 1–3 | 48 | Zachry Lee | DHL | 1–3 | 82 | Nate Cicero[22] | DH | 1–2 | Southern Paley Motorsports[23] | 26 | Sam Paley | DH | 1–3 | LAP Motorsports | 30 | Scott Thomson | DHL | 3 | Precision Performance Motorsports[24] | 46 | Brandon Gdovic | DH | 1–3 | 47 | Wesley Slimp | DH | 1–3 | Nick Smither Racing | 58 | Nicholas Smither | DHL | 1–3 | Jack Lewis Enterprises | 73 | Jack Lewis | DHL | 1–3 | Torre Racing | 84 | Paolo Salvatore | DHL | 3 | |
| Icon | Class |
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DH | Dark Horse | DHL | Dark Horse Legends | |
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Race Results
Bold indicates overall winner.
Round | Circuit | Pole Position | Fastest Lap | Winning Driver | Legends Winner |
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1 | 1 | Mid-Ohio | #74 Robert Noaker Racing | #74 Robert Noaker Racing | #13 Robert Noaker Racing | #8 MDK Motorsports |
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Tyler Maxson | Tyler Maxson | Robert Noaker | Tom Tait |
R2 | #74 Robert Noaker Racing | #13 Robert Noaker Racing | #74 Robert Noaker Racing | #48 McCumbee McAleer Racing |
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Tyler Maxson | Robert Noaker | Tyler Maxson | Zachry Lee |
2 | 1 | Watkins Glen | #13 Robert Noaker Racing | #74 Robert Noaker Racing | #74 Robert Noaker Racing | #48 McCumbee McAleer Racing |
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Robert Noaker | Tyler Maxson | Tyler Maxson | Zachry Lee |
R2 | #74 Robert Noaker Racing | #74 Robert Noaker Racing | #74 Robert Noaker Racing | #48 McCumbee McAleer Racing |
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Tyler Maxson | Tyler Maxson | Tyler Maxson | Zachry Lee |
3 | 1 | Road America | #22 McCumbee McAleer Racing | #26 Southern Paley Motorsports | #26 Southern Paley Motorsports | #48 McCumbee McAleer Racing |
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Jeremy Fletcher | Sam Paley | Sam Paley | Zachry Lee |
R2 | #26 Southern Paley Motorsports | #22 McCumbee McAleer Racing | #26 Southern Paley Motorsports | #48 McCumbee McAleer Racing |
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Sam Paley | Jeremy Fletcher | Sam Paley | Zachry Lee |
4 | 1 | COTA | | | | |
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| | | |
R2 | | | | |
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5 | 1 | Indianapolis | | | | |
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R2 | | | | |
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Championship standings
Points system
Championship points are awarded at the finish of each event according to the chart below. Ten bonus points each are awarded for the driver who earns the pole position and runs the fastest lap in each race event.
Driver's Championship
IMSA recognizes driver champions based on the total number of championship points earned during the season.
Pos. | Driver | MOH | WGI | ELK | COT | IND | Bonus | Points |
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1 | Tyler Maxson | 7 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | | | | | 60 | 1970 |
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2 | Robert Noaker | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | | | | | 20 | 1910 |
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3 | Sam Paley | 2 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 1 | | | | | 20 | 1860 |
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4 | Reid Sweeney | 4 | 24 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 19 | | | | | 0 | 1350 |
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5 | Jeremy Fletcher | 3 | 3 | 3 | 22 | 25 | 5 | | | | | 20 | 1330 |
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6 | Zachry Lee | 23 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 9 | | | | | 0 | 1280 |
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7 | Brandon Gdovic | 24 | 6 | 6 | 21 | 5 | 2 | | | | | 0 | 1270 |
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8 | Gabe Tesch | 11 | 22 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 7 | | | | | 0 | 1260 |
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9 | Marcos Vento | 9 | 21 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 8 | | | | | 0 | 1210 |
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10 | Maximilian Opalski | 6 | 27 | 22 | 5 | 6 | 6 | | | | | 0 | 1160 |
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11 | Mike Stillwagon | 15 | 12 | 16 | 12 | 13 | 10 | | | | | 0 | 1110 |
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12 | Alex Bachoura | 26 | 9 | 17 | 8 | 10 | 11 | | | | | 0 | 1070 |
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13 | Nicholas Smither | 17 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 14 | | | | | 0 | 1060 |
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14 | D.J. Randall | 10 | 5 | 9 | 9 | 23 | DNS | | | | | 0 | 1000 |
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15 | Tom Tait | 12 | 23 | 13 | 13 | 24 | 16 | | | | | 0 | 880 |
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16 | Wesley Slimp | 25 | 25 | 10 | 20 | 11 | 13 | | | | | 0 | 860 |
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17 | Kel Kearns | 22 | 16 | 21 | 19 | 17 | 18 | | | | | 0 | 760 |
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18 | Christian Bach | 13 | 19 | 24 | DNS | 14 | 12 | | | | | 0 | 750 |
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19 | John Strauss | 20 | 18 | 20 | 16 | 19 | 21 | | | | | 0 | 750 |
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20 | Stephen Vajda | 18 | 13 | 14 | 11 | | | | | | | 0 | 710 |
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21 | Rod Randall | 19 | 14 | 18 | 18 | 20 | DNS | | | | | 0 | 690 |
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22 | Mitch Marvosh | 16 | 15 | 25 | DNS | 16 | 20 | | | | | 0 | 660 |
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23 | Jack Lewis | 21 | 17 | 19 | 17 | DNS | DNS | | | | | 0 | 530 |
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24 | Nate Cicero | 5 | 26 | 23 | DNS | | | | | | | 0 | 410 |
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25 | Paolo Salvatore | | | | | 12 | 17 | | | | | 0 | 330 |
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26 | Carl Bennett | | | 15 | 15 | | | | | | | 0 | 320 |
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27 | Chloe Chambers | 27 | 7 | | | | | | | | | 0 | 300 |
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28 | Tommy McGlynn | | | | | 21 | 15 | | | | | 0 | 260 |
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29 | Scott Thomson | | | | | 18 | 22 | | | | | 0 | 220 |
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30 | Rob Ecklin | | | | | 22 | DNS | | | | | 0 | 90 |
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31 | Greg Bennett | | | | | DNS | DNS | | | | | 0 | 0 |
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Drivers ineligible to score points |
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| Jim Farley | 14 | 11 | | | | | | | | | | |
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| Larry Webster | 8 | 20 | | | | | | | | | | |
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Pos. | Driver | MOH | WGI | ELK | COT | IND | Bonus | Points |
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|
| Bold - Pole positionItalics - Fastest lap | |
Post-event penalty. Car moved to back of class.
Dark Horse Legends Driver's Championship
Pos. | Driver | MOH | WGI | ELK | COT | IND | Bonus | Points |
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1 | Zachry Lee | 23 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 9 | | | | | 100 | 2060 |
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2 | Mike Stillwagon | 15 | 12 | 16 | 12 | 13 | 10 | | | | | 10 | 1750 |
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3 | Alex Bachoura | 26 | 9 | 17 | 8 | 10 | 11 | | | | | 10 | 1720 |
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4 | Nicholas Smither | 17 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 14 | | | | | 0 | 1690 |
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5 | Tom Tait | 12 | 23 | 13 | 13 | 24 | 16 | | | | | 0 | 1540 |
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6 | John Strauss | 20 | 18 | 20 | 16 | 19 | 21 | | | | | 0 | 1340 |
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7 | Kel Kearns | 22 | 16 | 21 | 19 | 17 | 18 | | | | | 0 | 1340 |
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8 | Mitch Marvosh | 16 | 15 | 25 | DNS | 16 | 20 | | | | | 0 | 1210 |
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9 | Rod Randall | 19 | 14 | 18 | 18 | 20 | DNS | | | | | 0 | 1170 |
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10 | Stephen Vajda | 18 | 13 | 14 | 11 | | | | | | | 0 | 1100 |
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11 | Jack Lewis | 21 | 17 | 19 | 17 | DNS | DNS | | | | | 0 | 910 |
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12 | Paolo Salvatore | | | | | 12 | 17 | | | | | 0 | 540 |
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13 | Tommy McGlynn | | | | | 21 | 15 | | | | | 0 | 460 |
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14 | Scott Thomson | | | | | 18 | 22 | | | | | 0 | 430 |
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15 | Rob Ecklin | | | | | 22 | DNS | | | | | 0 | 190 |
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16 | Greg Bennett | | | | | DNS | DNS | | | | | 0 | 0 |
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Pos. | Driver | MOH | WGI | ELK | COT | IND | Bonus | Points | |
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Team's Championship
Pos. | Driver | MOH | WGI | ELK | COT | IND | Bonus | Points |
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1 | Robert Noaker Racing | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | | | | | | | 80 | 1480 |
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2 | Southern Paley Motorsports | 2 | 4 | 5 | 4 | | | | | | | 0 | 1240 |
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3 | McCumbee McAleer Racing | 3 | 3 | 3 | 6 | | | | | | | 0 | 1220 |
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4 | KohR Motorsports | 10 | 5 | 9 | 9 | | | | | | | 0 | 1020 |
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5 | MDK Motorsports | 11 | 22 | 8 | 7 | | | | | | | 0 | 920 |
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6 | JV Racing Team | 9 | 21 | 11 | 10 | | | | | | | 0 | 900 |
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7 | Max Opalski Racing | 6 | 27 | 22 | 5 | | | | | | | 0 | 880 |
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8 | Nick Smither Racing | 17 | 10 | 12 | 14 | | | | | | | 0 | 880 |
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9 | Precision Performance Motorsports | 24 | 6 | 6 | 20 | | | | | | | 0 | 860 |
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10 | NV Autosport | 18 | 13 | 14 | 11 | | | | | | | 0 | 860 |
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11 | Spark Performance | 26 | 9 | 17 | 8 | | | | | | | 0 | 840 |
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12 | Amerasian Fragrance Competition Motorsports | 27 | 7 | 15 | 15 | | | | | | | 0 | 800 |
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13 | Capaldi Racing | 20 | 18 | 20 | 16 | | | | | | | 0 | 730 |
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14 | Jack Lewis Enterprises | 21 | 17 | 19 | 17 | | | | | | | 0 | 730 |
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15 | Leaders Credit Union Competition Motorsports | 22 | 16 | 21 | 19 | | | | | | | 0 | 700 |
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16 | Automatic Racing | 15 | 12 | | | | | | | | | 0 | 450 |
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17 | Skip Barber Racing | | | 16 | 12 | | | | | | | 0 | 410 |
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Pos. | Driver | MOH | WGI | ELK | COT | IND | Bonus | Points | |
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External links
Notes and References
- Web site: Noaker Wins First-Ever Mustang Challenge Race at Mid-Ohio. Sportscar365. Jonathan. Grace. John Dagys Media. June 8, 2024. June 30, 2024.
- Web site: Five-Event Mustang Challenge Calendar Confirmed. Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. August 4, 2023. June 30, 2024.
- Web site: Mustang Challenge series 2024 schedule revealed. Brett. Foote. Ford Authority. September 3, 2023. June 30, 2024.
- Web site: Revised Schedule For Mustang Challenge Announced. Stephen. Kilbey. Dailysportscar. October 27, 2023. June 30, 2024.
- Web site: Ford Performance announces Mustang Challenge race schedule, details format & prize structure. Ford Performance. October 26, 2023. June 30, 2024.
- Web site: MC Pre-Race Entry List.pdf. June 8, 2024. IMSA. June 30, 2024.
- chloechambersracing. C77dF4xvA9r. June 7, 2024. Excited to be racing in the inaugural round of the @fordperformance Mustang Challenge with @amerasianfragranceracing! First time in this type of car, so it’ll be a learning curve, but ready to take on this new challenge! . June 30, 2024. https://www.instagram.com/p/C77dF4xvA9r.
- carlbennett_. C8l6l7WNo1Q. June 24, 2024. Round 2 Mustang challenge Watkins Glen.. June 30, 2024. https://www.instagram.com/p/C8l6l7WNo1Q.
- Web site: MC Pre-Event Entry List.pdf. July 24, 2024. IMSA. July 29, 2024.
- Web site: Ford exec launching West Tennessee racing team in 2024. MacLeod. Stephen. November 27, 2023. Memphis Business Journal. June 30, 2024.
- Web site: Max Opalski Racing Launches Mustang Challenge Effort. Dagys. John. March 20, 2024. Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. June 30, 2024.
- Web site: MC Official Entry List.pdf. July 31, 2024. IMSA. August 1, 2024.
- Web site: Ford Unveils First Teams, Drivers for Inaugural Season. Euwema. Davey. March 22, 2024. Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. June 30, 2024.
- Web site: MDK Confirms Multi-Car Mustang Challenge Effort. Dagys. John. May 30, 2024. Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. June 30, 2024.
- Web site: Farley Has "A Lot to Learn" in Mustang Challenge With MDK. Dagys. John. June 6, 2024. Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. June 30, 2024.
- Web site: We Go Wheel-to-Wheel in Ford's New Mustang Challenge Series. Webster. Larry. June 18, 2024. Hagerty. June 30, 2024.
- reidsweeney9. C74wNQ5Pj22. June 6, 2024. Time to go racing again for my @imsa_racing debut in the @fordperformance Mustang Challenge at Mid-Ohio. Ready to get after it!. June 30, 2024. https://www.instagram.com/p/C74wNQ5Pj22/.
- Web site: Maxson Joins Robert Noaker Racing Mustang Challenge Effort. Dagys. John. May 15, 2024. Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. June 30, 2024.
- puertoricoracingsports. C4zA5ykr1ik. March 21, 2024. Última Hora!!! Ford ha anunciado oficialmente su alineación de pilotos para la temporada 2024 del Ford Mustang Challenge, en la cual el puertorriqueño Marcos Vento estará participando con el equipo JV Racing Team.. June 30, 2024. https://www.instagram.com/p/C4zA5ykr1ik/.
- Web site: MC Pre-Race Entry List.pdf. June 21, 2024. IMSA. June 30, 2024.
- Web site: McCumbee McAleer Racing Confirms First Two Drivers. Dagys. John. April 15, 2024. Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. June 30, 2024.
- Web site: Cicero Added to McCumbee McAleer Racing Lineup. Dagys. John. May 10, 2024. Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. June 30, 2024.
- Web site: SPM Motorsports Confirms First Mustang Challenge Entry. Dagys. John. February 5, 2024. Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. June 30, 2024.
- Web site: Slimp Expands to Mustang Challenge With PPM. Dagys. John. February 12, 2024. Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. June 30, 2024.