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Sonoma weekend ends with mixed results for Dyson Racing Team Bentley

Guy Smith sets track record as Butch Leitzinger wins move of the race award.

#88 Dyson Racing Team Bentley Bentley V8 T: Guy Smith

#88 Dyson Racing Team Bentley Bentley V8 T: Guy Smith

David Yowe

#88 Dyson Racing Team Bentley Bentley V8 T: Guy Smith
Guy Smith from Dyson Racing Team Bentley
#88 Dyson Racing Team Bentley Bentley V8 T: Guy Smith
#88 Dyson Racing Team Bentley Bentley V8 T: Guy Smith
#7 M-Sport Bentley Bentley Continental GT3: Andy Meyrick, Guy Smith, Steven Kane

SONOMA, Calif. – Dyson Racing Team Bentley drivers Guy Smith and Butch Leitzinger started the 14th round of the Pirelli World Challenge with high hopes. But, after Smith’s start from pole position was delayed and Leitzinger was inadvertently caught up in an incident between two other competitors, a podium finish wasn't in the cards for the team today. On a positive note, Smith took fastest-lap honors for the second consecutive race (this time with a new track record) while Leitzinger set the second-fastest lap and won the Move of the Race award with his daring pass of Mike Skeen and Johnny O’Connell on his way to a 5th-place finish.

Smith eventually finished 16th in today’s race in his #88 Bentley Continental GT3 after falling down to 33rd when the car suffered a glitch thirty minutes into the fifty-minute sprint race. “I was approaching Turn Two when the engine lost power. I pulled over and recycled the master switch and fortunately got the power back again and quickly carved my way back through the field.”

Smith noted, “It has been an interesting weekend – my first in the Pirelli World Challenge. We have proven we have the speed with both cars qualifying strongly and taking the fastest lap in both races. We have taken a big step forward this weekend.”

Leitzinger described the incident that put him down the field early in the race in his #08 Continental GT3. “On the second lap, the cars behind me were battling and out-braking each other and ended up taking me out by accident,” he said. “But we have proved this weekend that our cars have the pace. We have learned much about the car this weekend and we will hit the ground running at the next race in Salt Lake City.”

This weekend’s Rounds 13 and 14 of the Pirelli World Challenge Series will air Saturday, August 30, at 1:00 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network with a re-air Thursday, September 5, at 12:30 a.m. ET on NBC Sports Network.

The 2014 Pirelli World Challenge concludes September 12-13 with a final doubleheader race weekend at Miller Motorsports Park in Toole, Utah.

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