Tyler Maxson | |
---|---|
![]() Maxson's Hyundai Elantra N TCR at Watkins Glen in 2023. | |
Born | Lawrenceville, Georgia, United States | October 12, 2004
IMSA Ford Mustang Challenge career | |
Debut season | 2024 |
Current team | Robert Noaker Racing |
Car number | 74 |
Championship titles | |
2020 2019 | TC America Series – TCR TC America Series – TCA |
Last updated on: July 9, 2024. |
Tyler Maxson (born October 12, 2004) is an American racing driver. Maxson was crowned champion in the TC America Series in consecutive seasons, becoming the youngest ever winner of the TCA class in 2019 before taking the TCR-class championship the following season. [1] [2]
Maxson was introduced to motorsports through his father, a local club racer who brought Tyler to the track to try karting at the age of six. [3] Maxson was hooked on the experience, and began competing in local events shortly thereafter. Throughout his junior karting career, Maxson advanced rapidly through the ranks, claiming a National Mini Rok title before transitioning to cars in 2019 at just 14 years of age. [4] [5] During this time, Maxson remained a high school student, balancing online courses with his racing schedule. [3]
Maxson's maiden season of pro racing involved a two-pronged effort in both the TC America Series and Global MX-5 Cup, where he piloted a new ND-spec Mazda MX-5 Cup car. [6] Maxson had briefly competed in Spec Miata competition, but cited his primary motivation for competing in Mazda machinery as the marque's Road to 24 ladder, which provided winning drivers with scholarship funds and the chance to drive Mazda's prototype offerings. [5] Maxson scored the TCA-class pole for his first pro race, and concluded the race with a podium finish. Later that season at Sonoma, he claimed his first class victory during the first race of the weekend, and would sweep the round with another race win on Sunday. [7] With four podiums in the next six races, Maxson entered the season finale at Las Vegas Motor Speedway with a 22-point deficit to points leader Nick Wittmer. [8] Wittmer would finish eighth in race one before retiring in race two, allowing Maxson's pair of third-place finishes to propel him to the TCA-class championship. With it, he became the youngest champion in class history, at just 15 years old. [9] Maxson's MX-5 Cup campaign began surreptitiously, with top-ten finishes in each of the six races he competed in. [10] However, he would not complete the 14-race season, leaving him 16th in the overall championship classification.
2020 saw Maxson jump from TCA to TCR machinery, once again with Copeland Motorsports. [11] He enjoyed a rapid start to the campaign, sweeping each of the first three race weekends of the season and tallying nine consecutive victories before a mechanical failure at Road America ended his streak of race victories. [12] [13] Maxson would claim two more wins at Circuit of the Americas in September, taking the series championship by 67 points over second-placed Victor Gonzalez. [14] Upon completion of his TC America program, Maxson took on a part-season drive in the Michelin Pilot Challenge, acting as a tune-up for a full season program in 2021. [15] Paired with fellow 16-year-old Tyler Gonzalez, Maxson scored a second-place finish in his series debut at Road Atlanta. [16]
The duo returned for a full-season program in 2021, [17] with Maxson adopting the "T-Max" nickname in order to differentiate himself from Gonzalez. [18] The duo claimed a class pole position at Lime Rock Park alongside a pair of podium finishes en route to a 10th-place championship finish. In a one-off drive for ST Racing in the GT4 America Series round at Road America, Maxson and Harry Gottsacker claimed a Silver Cup-class victory in the second race of the weekend. [19]
2022 saw Maxson step up to the Hyundai factory-backed Bryan Herta Autosport operation, pairing with Mason Filippi as part of six-car entry by the team. [20] He began the season on a high, claiming pole for the opening round at Daytona, [21] which the duo followed up with additional poles at Sebring, Watkins Glen, and Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. However, they would have to wait until Lime Rock to score their first podium of the season, and would conclude the campaign eighth in the TCR championship. That year, Maxson made his debut in the IMSA SportsCar Championship, appearing for LMP3 team MLT Motorsports at the 6 Hours of Watkins Glen before finishing the season with Performance Tech Motorsports at Petit Le Mans. [22]
Maxson's 2023 program surrounded a dual effort, continuing in the Michelin Pilot Challenge alongside a planned season-long GT4 America campaign. Continuing his Hyundai TCR efforts, Maxson joined customer racing outfit Deily Motorsports for the opening race of the season at Daytona before switching to Van der Steur Racing for the remainder of the year. [23] [24] He enjoyed a year of consistent finishes, claiming podiums at Watkins Glen and Road Atlanta en route to a fourth-place championship finish. Maxson reunited with Gonzalez and Copeland Motorsports for his GT4 exploits, and claimed a pole position at COTA [25] before the team dropped off the entry list following the race weekend at VIR. [26]
The following year, Maxson embarked on a full-season effort in the new-for-2024 IMSA Ford Mustang Challenge, driving for fellow competitor Robert Noaker's family-owned operation. [27] Despite the team taking delivery of the cars just over a week before the opening round at Mid-Ohio, [28] Maxson claimed pole position for the inaugural race, and would take his first race victory in the series during the second race of the weekend. [29] The following round at Watkins Glen saw Maxson sweep the weekend, re-taking the championship lead from Noaker. [30] Maxson also continued in the Michelin Pilot Challenge, albeit in a limited capacity. He drove for GS-class competitor TGR Team Hattori Motorsports at Daytona, paired with Toyota factory driver Jack Hawksworth. [31]
Season | Series | Team | Races | Wins | Poles | F/Laps | Podiums | Points | Position |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2019 | TC America Series - TCA | Copeland Motorsports | 14 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 10 | 206 | 1st |
Mazda MX-5 Cup | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 72 | 16th | ||
2020 | TC America Series - TCR | Copeland Motorsports | 16 | 11 | 3 | 8 | 11 | 297 | 1st |
Michelin Pilot Challenge - TCR | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 53 | 17th | ||
2021 | Michelin Pilot Challenge - TCR | Copeland Motorsports | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2280 | 10th |
GT4 America Series - Silver | ST Racing | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 29 | 11th | |
IMSA Prototype Challenge - LMP3-1 | Mühlner Motorsport America | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 180 | 30th | |
2022 | Michelin Pilot Challenge - TCR | Bryan Herta Autosport with Curb-Agajanian | 10 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2340 | 8th |
IMSA SportsCar Championship - LMP3 | MLT Motorsports | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 502 | 26th | |
Performance Tech Motorsports | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
IMSA Prototype Challenge | MLT Motorsports | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 150 | 42nd | |
24H Series - GT3 Pro-Am | ST Racing | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ? | ? | |
2023 | Michelin Pilot Challenge - TCR | van der Steur Racing | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2630 | 4th |
Deily Motorsports | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
GT4 America Series - Silver | TGR Copeland Motorsports | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 63 | 9th | |
2024 | IMSA Ford Mustang Challenge - Dark Horse | Robert Noaker Racing | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1350* | 1st* |
Michelin Pilot Challenge - GS | TGR Team Hattori Motorsports | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 140* | 52nd* |
* Season still in progress.
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position)
Year | Team | Class | Make | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Rank | Points |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2022 | MLT Motorsports | LMP3 | Ligier JS P320 | Nissan VK56DE 5.6 L V8 | DAY | SEB | MDO | WGL 7 | 26th | 502 | |||
Performance Tech Motorsports | MOS | ELK | PET 8 |
Ryan A. Eversley is an American professional auto racing driver. He currently races the No. 07 Toyota GR GT4 Supra Evo for Precision Racing L.A. in the Pirelli GT4 America series as well as serving as Head of Driver and Racing Business Development for them and their sister team L.A. Honda World Racing. He is affectionately referred to as "The People's Champ," due to his fan interactions. From 2015 to 2023, Eversley was a Honda factory driver who primarily raced in sports car racing championships such as the Michelin Pilot Challenge and Pirelli World Challenge. He won the 2018 Pirelli World Challenge TCR championship.
The 2019 Michelin Pilot Challenge is the twentieth season of the IMSA SportsCar Challenge and the sixth season organized by the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA). Michelin is set to become the new official tire supplier of the series, following the departure of Continental Tire at the end of 2018.
The 2019 TC America Series was the first season of the United States Auto Club's TC America Series. It was the third season of the series, originally part of the Touring Car categories at the 2017 Pirelli World Challenge, and second season as a standalone class. Under the global realignment of the Blancpain GT World Challenge America by SRO Motorsports Group, the GT4 and TCR classes are now declared separate support series, and not under the same umbrella of the World Challenge as it was prior to SRO's ownership. However, the series will continue to be part of the World Challenge. The TCR division will include a DSG Cup for vehicles equipped with a Direct-shift gearbox.
The 2020 TC America Series is the second season of the TC America Series. The series consists of 3 classes: TCR, TCA, and TC. All races are 40 minutes in length with 4 per weekend; 2 for TCR & TCA cars, and 2 for TC cars.
Mario Farnbacher is a German racecar driver who currently competes in the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.
The 2021 Michelin Pilot Challenge is the twenty-second season of the IMSA SportsCar Challenge and the eighth season organized by the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA).
Mason Filippi is an American auto racing driver who competes in the TCR class of the Michelin Pilot Challenge for Bryan Herta Autosport. He previously raced for Bryan Herta Autosport, finishing the Michelin Pilot Challenge in second place in 2019 and third in 2020. Filippi also piloted touring cars in the TC America Series and the Pirelli World Challenge from 2017 to 2019, finishing in the top five of the standings each season. Prior to racing touring cars, he drove Spec Miatas, competing in the Global MX-5 Cup and the Teen Mazda Challenge and winning the 25 Hours of Thunderhill race in 2015 and 2016.
Robby Foley is an American racing driver who currently competes in the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.
The 2022 Michelin Pilot Challenge was the twenty-third season of the IMSA SportsCar Challenge and the ninth season organized by the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA). The season began on January 27 at Daytona International Speedway and concluded on October 1 at Road Atlanta. This season also saw the return of former IndyCar driver Robert Wickens after his horrific accident at the 2018 ABC Supply 500 left him as a paraplegic.
Taylor Hagler is an American racing driver who currently competes for Bryan Herta Autosport in the TCR class of the Michelin Pilot Challenge.
DXDT Racing is a professional sports car team based in Statesville, North Carolina, founded by competitive off-shore sailor and businessman David Askew in 2014. With an early history in IMSA's Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge and Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America, the team now primarily races in SRO America's GT World Challenge America, continuing a long term run as a Mercedes AMG Customer Racing team.
Harry Gottsacker is an American racing driver who currently competes for Bryan Herta Autosport in the TCR class of the Michelin Pilot Challenge.
The 2023 Michelin Pilot Challenge was the twenty-fourth season of the IMSA SportsCar Challenge and the tenth season organized by the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA). The season began on January 26 at Daytona International Speedway and concludes on October 14 at Road Atlanta.
Stevan Gordon McAleer is a British racing driver who competes in the IMSA SportsCar Championship, GT World Challenge Europe, and Michelin Pilot Challenge.
The 2023 Pirelli GT4 America Series is the fifth season of the GT4 America Series. The season began on April 2 at Sonoma Raceway and ended on October 8 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Kenton Lee Koch is an American racing driver who competes in the GT4 America Series, Michelin Pilot Challenge, and IMSA SportsCar Championship.
The 2024 Michelin Pilot Challenge will be the twenty-fifth season of the IMSA SportsCar Challenge and the eleventh season organized by the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA). The season will begin on January 26 at Daytona International Speedway and will conclude on October 11 at Road Atlanta. It will also feature a round of the TCR World Tour.
The 2024 Pirelli GT4 America Series is the fifth season of the GT4 America Series. The season begins on April 7 at Sonoma Raceway and will end on October 6 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Jared Thomas is an American racing driver and team owner of JTR Motorsports Engineering who currently competes in the Mazda MX-5 Cup.
The IMSA Ford Mustang Challenge is a one-make racing series that takes place in North America featuring Ford Mustang Dark Horse R race cars. The series is sanctioned by the International Motor Sports Association.
We were 22 points back, and we knew it was going to be a really, really hard and tough challenge to get there...
Tyler Maxson is another strong young talent... with six top-10 results so far this season.
Copeland Motorsports is bringing Hyundai Veloster Ns for... Tyler Maxson and Nikko Reger.
Maxson rolled onto pit lane, mechanical issues ending his streak of nine consecutive race wins.
Maxson had passed Lewis for the lead of the race but Lewis fought back and fended off Maxson in a nail-biting final lap.
The Silver class victory went to... Harry Gottsacker and Tyler Maxson.
The Tyler Maxson and Tyler Gonzalez-driven No. 74 Copeland Motorsports Toyota GR Supra GT4 EVO [has] been withdrawn...