Ford Racing’s Mustang Challenge action at the 2.25-mile, 14-turn New Jersey Motorsports Park was hot and heavy this past weekend. The Mustang Challenge participants got a workout, since this event was a doubleheader and the direction that appeared to be gelling for the rest of the season was entirely blown apart.

Dan Aweida grabbed a last-second pole position for the first race with 1:36.257 second lap time at the close of the qualifying session. It was the first time that Aweida has guided his Flying Horse Motorsports Mustang FR500S to a P1 start. Ben Crosland started on the front row, beside Aweida. Dominant in the series leading up to this race, Tony Buffomante had to settle for P3, while points leader Jason von Kluge found himself starting from fifth. Overnight rains had left a slow drying track for qualifying, which changed dramatically as the session drew to a close.

An elated Aweida commented, “I think the race is going to be a lot of fun. I know the car is good, so I am hoping for a clean start and then will try to keep it up front for the rest of the way.”

Photos: Wes Duenkel/Mustang Challenge

When the green flag fell, 17-year old Ben Crossland got the jump on Aweida and took the lead into Turn 1. For the next ten laps, Aweida chased down Crossland, but the teen defended his position like a veteran. As Aweida’s #17 car faded from the charge, Tony Buffomante slipped past into second place and renewed the challenge on Crossland. To the end of the 29-lap race, Crossland defended like a champion and took the checkered flag.

“That was the hardest, but the best race I’ve ever done,” said a thrilled Crosland. “Both Dan and Tony really put me to work. With Tony there were places on the track where he had the advantage, and places where I had the advantage. In the end, I was able to stay out in front thanks to a great car.”

Buffomante’s second place finish added important points to his championship chase, while Aweida’s P3 finish gave him his second podium finish of the season.

Sunday’s action began anew with first-time Mustang Challenge racer, Deven Cates, posting a 1:32.530 qualifying time – the fastest of the entire weekend. Starting beside the newcomer was series rookie, Kyle Gimple who was off Cates’ blistering pace by just a tenth of a second. Series point’s leader, Tony Buffomante, started from third on the grid, while Race 1 pole sitter Dan Aweida completed row two in P4.

“I’m getting a more used to the car,” said Cates who has experience in other production-based series and now drives the #68 Mustang for Capaldi Racing, “and I managed to pull out a good first lap. Now, if I can focus on pulling ahead a bit in the opening laps, maybe I can convert this to a win.”

With an all-rookie front row, everyone’s focus was on getting through Turn 1 unscathed. Gimple got a good jump when the green flag fell and translated that into a smooth pass in the first turn. Buffomante’s #34 Mustang suffered some exhaust damage in the first turn, leaving him with reduced top end speed.

Further back in the pack, George Winkler and Saturday’s race winner, Ben Crosland were engaged in close quarters racing, when
Winkler was sent off track between turns 3 and 4. Crosland was summoned to pit lane to serve a drive-through penalty.

Several contenders emerged to challenge the race leader, including Deven Cates followed by Pratt Cole and Jason von Kluge. None were able to fluster the rookie into a mistake and Kyle Gimple took home the victory in round 8 of the Ford Racing Mustang Challenge.

“I’ve learned to keep a close eye on the starter and watch for the first flinch of the green flag and it worked in my favor this time as I was able to get a jump on Devin (Cates). From there, I had my dad and my crew chief on the radio, keeping me calm and focused on the lead. I knew I had the car to win if I could keep from using up the tires to early. The last 10 laps I knew I had the win,” said Gimple.

von Kluge managed to find a way past Cates for second place in the closing laps of the race, while Buffomante managed to secure fourth spot a little earlier. Both had used up their tires and were forced to ride to the end in those positions. As a result, the two contenders in the title chase now sit exactly one point apart, as the series heads to the Autobahn Country Club in Joliet, IL, on July 31, for the second-last event of the season.