Billy Goshen (Goshen Motorsports) piloting the #82 Merv Griffin Entertainment / Global Tracking Communications, Inc. car finished 5th Saturday June 7th for round 3 of the Star Mazda Championship at Watkins Glen International, NY.
Billy Goshen arrived at the historic Watkins Glen International Race Track at noon on June 4, after an all night drive from Chicago because of a flight cancellation. After giving up one half day of practice, on Wednesday, Billy had some catching up to do on lap times. By the end of Friday’s practice, Goshen had narrowed the gap putting him 7th on the grid for the afternoon qualifying.
Qualifying was broken into two groups with the fast cars off the grid at
4:30 P.M. Two quick red flags cut the session to seven laps. On his
next to last lap Goshen recorded a 1:47.239 placing him 6th for the race
on Saturday morning, which was his best starting position to date.
The race started at 9:05 a.m. with everyone getting through the first turn
cleanly. Billy Goshen was able to hold his position and the first six cars
quickly opened a gap on the rest of the field. On lap 4, Billy came out of
Turn 1 nose to tail with John Edwards, the previous race winner, drafting
past him as they headed toward the chicane moving Goshen into 5th
place. Despite several full course cautions, Billy was able to hold off
John on the restarts and repeatedly opened a comfortable margin.
With two laps to go, Edwards made a last ditch effort to
close the gap, but Goshen put in his fastest lap of the race
at 1:47.176 as he crossed the line for the checkered flag.
Recording his first top five finish of the season had the entire
Goshen Motorsports Team doing high-fives. As he climbed
out of the car, Billy said, “I have to thank Richie Hearn,
Andy Tagg, Ed Graca, Kimball Williams and the entire team
for giving me a great handling car. I was able to stay with
the cars in front of me and keep John off my tail. I want to
thank my sponsors Global Tracking Communications, Inc.
and OTTO Environmental Systems North America, Inc. for
attending the race. It was also great to have a large
contingent from the Rochester division of my sponsor
Baker Commodities. It is always an added incentive to
have a large group in the stands cheering for me. I am
really looking forward to the next race and improving on this
performance.” The Goshen Motorsports Team heads for
Portland International Raceway, in July, with Billy Goshen now 5th in the Points Championship race. |
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