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Virgina International Raceway delivered a weekend full of cautions, restarts, and intense battles throughout both rounds of the Mustang Challenge. Will Lucas, Sandy Satullo, Tom Tait, and Joseph Dederichs all experienced highs and lows during the weekend, with Lucas emerging as the weekend's standout performer.
Starting from third on the grid, Will Lucas immediately found himself under pressure from teammate Sandy Satullo, who got an excellent launch from fourth and tucked directly behind Lucas as the field headed into the opening laps.
In the Legends Class, Tom Tait wasted little time asserting himself, taking over the lead during the opening lap and establishing himself as an early contender for the race win. Lucas remained in close contact with the leaders, keeping pressure on the front of the field.
The race's first full course caution came with 38 minutes remaining, erasing gaps and bringing the field back together. When racing resumed with 29 minutes left, Lucas maintained his aggressive pace and stayed close to the battle for second.
The race took another turn when Joseph Dederichs went off at Turn 1 after appearing to miss his breaking zone. The incident triggered a second full course caution and further tightened the field.
Following the restart with 15 minutes remaining, Lucas continued to defend his position brilliantly. Tait reclaimed the race lead after briefly surrendering it, while Dederichs later received a drive-through penalty after his car was removed from the track and classified as a DNF.
One of the most exciting moments of the race came with Satullo challenged Lucas side-by-side after a restart. Despite the pressure, Lucas Held firm and successfully maintained third position.
A final caution period ultimately ended the race under yellow, freezing the field and sealing the finishing order.
The second race of the weekend began with the same front-running once again positioned near the front of the field.
Tom Tait's race immediately took a dramatic turn when he spun in Turn 1 on the opening lap. Although he managed to save the car and continue, the early setback forced him to begin a recovery drive through the field. Tait quickly demonstrated strong pace by making passes and climbing back toward the front.
Later in the race, Contact between the race leaders reshaped the order and allowed Sandy Satullo and Will Lucas to move into podium positions. The complexion of the race changed even further when the leading driver received a drive-through penalty for the contact incident. That penalty elevated Satullo into the race lead and moved Lucas into second place.
Lucas wasted little time making his move. Showing impressive speed and confidence, he overtook Satullo to claim the lead and control of the race.
Tait's comeback effort was hampered by additional off-track moments. After another excursion at Turn 1 that resulted in contact with the wall, he was issued a mechanical black flag and brought the car to pit lane. He ultimately finished fifth.
A full course caution for debris brought the race to a close under yellow, securing Lucas' first victory of the weekend and delivering a one-two finish for Lucas and Satullo.
Virginia International Raceway produced two action-packed Mustang Challenge races filled with strategy, restarts, and championship-caliber driving.
Will Lucas Delivered the strongest weekend performance, earning a podium finish in Race One before converting his pace into a commanding victory in Race Two. Sandy Satullo showcased consistency throughout the event, finishing fourth on Saturday and second on Sunday. Tom Tait demonstrated race-winning speed on multiple occasions but was ultimately hampered by incidents and cautions across both races. Joseph Dederichs encountered misfortune in Race Once and was unable to take the start in Race Two.
Another strong weekend in the books for Wheelhouse Motorsports. The team is now looking to the final race in the Mustang Challenge at the CIrcuit of the Americas.
Race 1:
Dark Horse
2nd: Will Lucas , #34
3rd: Sandy Satullo, #7
Dark Horse Legends
2nd: Tom Tait, #8
DNF: Joseph Dederichs, #63
Race 2:
Dark Horse
1st: Will Lucas, #34
2nd: Sandy Satullo, #7
Dark Horse Legends
5th: Tom Tait, #8
DNS: Joseph Dederichs, #63
Wheelhouse Motorsports introduces its 2026 driver lineup for the IMSA Mustang Challenge and World Racing League seasons — the largest roster in team history.
January 6, 2025
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