WRPM Race Update

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WRPMotorsports Driver Willie Phee Wins Two of Three at the June Daytona Classic WRPMotorsports driver Willie Phee opened his 2025 season with an impressive performance at the June Daytona Classic, claiming two victories and a second- place finish over the three-race weekend at Daytona International Speedway. Saturday Qualifying and Race 1: Intense Duel to the Finish Saturday morning’s mixed-group qualifying saw Phee start the year strong, placing second overall and second in class, securing a front- row start for the afternoon race. “This was my first race of the year and the first without OPM Autosports as my trackside support,” said Phee. “I was fortunate to work with Paul Ronie and the RSR Motorsports crew. They did a fantastic job all weekend. My car always performs well at Daytona, and we were able to lock in a solid starting position.” In Race 1, Phee started outside of Row 1 but fell back to third exiting Turn 1. He quickly recovered, making a decisive move in Turn 6 to retake second, and claimed the lead heading into the Bus Stop chicane on the first lap. What followed was a race-long battle with Keith Golden in a Mazda RX-7 that saw multiple lead changes and tight racing through Daytona’s infield and high banks. The duo exchanged positions several times, with Golden’s top-end speed on the banking giving him the edge. Phee ultimately finished second by a mere 0.0587 seconds in a thrilling showdown. “Man, what a race,” said Phee. “Keith and I were battling the entire time, and at one point there were four cars fighting for the lead. I could make up time in the infield, but Keith had the advantage on the banking.” Sunday Race 1: First Win of the Season Sunday’s first race began mid-morning, and Phee again lined up on the outside of Row 1. He quickly jumped into the class lead in Turn 1 and held position until lap five, when Matthew Fritz in an ITR-class BMW slipped past. Phee maintained a smart gap to finish first in class and second overall, just behind the BMW. “I had a good gap early and had the BMW between me and the next ITS car,” Phee explained. “Once Matthew got by, I just made sure to stay close and protect the class win.” Sunday Race 2: Second Victory with Strategic Drive The final race of the weekend took place Sunday afternoon, with Phee once again starting from the outside of Row 1. He settled into second early, locking into a fierce battle with Thomas Burt in another Mazda RX-7. The two traded positions throughout the race, keeping fans and teams on edge. Phee held strong through Daytona’s infield and used the superior pace of his Acura on the banking to edge out Burt and claim his second win of the weekend with a 2.374-second margin. In car video for the Sunday afternoon race can be seen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymq57HtQh10 “Another great race between Burt and myself,” said Phee. “We were swapping positions the entire race, but the Acura had a little more pace on the banking, and that made the difference in the end.” Thanks to Paul Ronie and the crew at RSR Racing for the trackside support this weekend. Weekend Summary: Race 1: 2 nd Place Overall / 2 nd in Class Race 2: 2 nd Overall / 1 st in Class Race 3: 2 nd overall / 1 st in Class Phee’s performance at the June Daytona Classic showcased his experience and adaptability, especially with a new trackside support crew. With strong pace and racecraft, he’s positioned himself as a serious contender for the remainder of the 2025 season. The next race is scheduled for July 19-20, 2025 at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta in Braselton, Georgia. The WRPMotorsports team is sponsored by MCS Suspension. Photos courtesy of Dave Green Photos https://flagtoflagphoto.smugmug.com