Lakeville, CT – Dutchess County resident Rob Dyson, serving as Grand Marshal for the Memorial Day race at Lime Tock on Monday, just a short time before his son Chris Dyson started the race in the pole position.
The Dyson race team had two cars in the Trans Am Memorial Day Classic this year and Chris Dyson continued his undefeated streak by starting from the pole position and never looking back. He set a new track record during his qualifying run with a lap of 49.832 seconds, beating the record of 50.262 seconds that he set in 2019. Dyson has previously won the race in 2019 and 2021. There was no race in 2020 due to the pandemic.
“This place just means so much to me, it’s overwhelming,” said Dyson as he emerged from his car. “This place meant the world to me growing up, coming out here with my family and watching my dad race. It really planted the seed of my love for this sport. Now, to come back here and have success, a 20-year career, I’m very fortunate,” the victor said, adding ” Winning on Memorial Day never gets old. And it being Memorial Day, we’ve got to be mindful of why we’re celebrating today and honor those who have given their lives so we can come out here and enjoy our freedoms.”
Indy 500 veteran and current Andretti Autosport Indy Lights driver Matthew Brabham was a last-minute addition to the Dyson Racing roster after the team’s regular-season driver Humaid Masaood was unable to make the trip from England. Monday morning’s qualifying session was Brabham’s first time turning laps at Lime Rock Park. He finished the race in second place.
Both drivers’ fathers have a winning history at Lime Rock on Memorial Day. In 1985, Rob Dyson, this year’s Grand Marshall, won his first IMSA GTP race at Lime Rock while Geoff Brabham won back-to-back Memorial Day races in 1988-89 piloting the Electramotive Nissan GTP.
Ken Thwaits rounded out the podium by taking third overall, and first in the Master Class.
