- Runner-up Result Season-Best and Second Podium Finish for Fergus in just Fifth Race with Moorespeed in No. 00 US LED/Byers/Moorespeed Porsche GT3 Cup
- Will Hardeman Uninjured After Hard Hit Sidelines No. 19 CAG/Moorespeed Porsche GT3 Cup for the Weekend
Corey Fergus gave Austin-based Moorespeed a second-place finish on the team’s home track Friday at Circuit of The Americas (COTA), earning a season-best and second 2017 podium finish in just his fifth race with Moorespeed in the No. 00 US LED/Byers/Moorespeed Porsche GT3 Cup.

Starting on the outside of the front row, Fergus worked his way to the lead in the usual skirmish through COTA’s signature up-and-downhill run through the end of the front-straight and the first three turns of the course.

Eventual race winner Trenton Estep slipped by before the end of the first lap, but Fergus stayed in hot pursuit for the rest of the race, crossing the finish line just 1.647 seconds behind.

“We had something, and I am really disappointed I let Estep get by there,” Fergus said. “I think we could have really stayed out front because our pace was good enough to win the race. I just didn’t have the first position. Hopefully tomorrow we can get redemption.”

The podium-showing by Fergus was the fifth-straight top-three result for Moorespeed at COTA in North American-based Porsche GT3 Cup racing series. Moorespeed driver Will Hardeman posted a streak of four third-place finishes in two race weekends of IMSA GT3 Cup and World Challenge competition last year.

Hardeman wasn’t as fortunate in today’s race, however, as he was blindsided from behind early by another competitor who had a rear wing failure on his Porsche. As Hardeman braked to make the left-hand turn at the end of COTA’s back straight, the suddenly wingless Porsche came spinning into his No. 19 CAG/Moorespeed Porsche GT3 Cup. The heavy hit saw both drivers walk away but Hardeman’s race car is too damaged to compete in Saturday’s second and final race of the weekend.

“It’s really tough to deal with the highs and lows of racing, and this is definitely an extreme low,” Hardeman said. “Physically I am fine, but it is out of these things that you have a true character building experience. It is a test to see how well you can recover and bounce back from this. How I comeback is a testament to my character and my resolution for this sport. I just need to redouble my efforts, really finish the season strong, and race clean.”