Post Race Report-2025 Lime Rock
Scenic Lime Rock Park hosted round five of the 2025 Cube3 Architecture TA2 series season. The inaugural trip to the circuit for Cale would turn out to be a weekend of continuously changing weather conditions. The 1.53-mile track is known for quick lap times, and tight racing, both of which rang true this weekend.
This being his first time at Lime Rock, the first test session was simply about learning the racetrack. After some data review with the other Nitro drivers, Cale was able to pick up some time in the second test session, which would turn out to be the last fully dry session of the weekend, and with the changing weather conditions, car setup was a bit of a moving target. The Saturday morning qualifying session began with a damp track, and sending out the driver of the number 99 Mincey’s Graphics/SNP Inc. Mustang on wet tires. After just a couple laps, it was clear the track was drying rapidly, and the crew from Nitro Motorsports was quickly able to switch the car over to slick tires for the remainder of the 30-minute qualifying session. At the conclusion of qualifying, Cale found himself in the 5th starting spot for the Pro/Am class, and 21st overall.
The race began with a damp track and the whole field on the Pirelli slick tires. As the pace quickened, Cale found himself in a three-way battle for the 2nd through 4th positions within the Pro/Am class. Phillips was able to hold the third position when a full course caution flew around lap 20. With cars slowed behind the pace car, the rain began to fall, and competitors throughout the field began to pit for rain tires. When the decision was made to come to pit road, the Nitro Motorsports crew executed a fast tire change, and were able to keep the car on the lead lap. This would prove to be a huge advantage, as Cale was now the last car on the lead lap in the 11th overall position, and 2nd in Pro/Am. Showing decent pace in the wet conditions, Phillips made his way up to the 8th overall position, but as the track dried, the rain tires began to fade. In another twist during this race, the rain began to fall again, and Cale was able to just edge out Barry Boes at the finish line as the checkered flag flew, bringing home a 2nd place finish in the Pro/Am class, and 10th overall. The 10th place overall result is Phillips best since joining the pro series, and the Pro/Am 2nd place matches his best finish from VIR last season. All solid things to build on as the summer run of races approach.
“That was a wild race, definitely very challenging as the track was changing every lap. Keith and I were having a good battle at the start of the race, then Barry joined in after his spin in turn one. Big shout out to the guys at Nitro Motorsports for the fast pit stop there in the rain. Staying on the lead lap was the difference of being on the podium today or not. Really happy with how the season is going so far, and we are showing that we are a contender for Pro/Am wins. The top step of the podium is right there, and I think we will get there. Looking forward to carrying this momentum onto Mid-Ohio.”
CP Racing’s next race will be in Trans Am TA2 at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course for the Mid-Ohio SpeedTour event. That race will be Sunday, June 22nd.