Chaves back in the DeltaWing at Watkins Glen

Photo courtesy of IMSA
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Gabby Chaves will make his return to the Panoz DeltaWing Racing program at this weekend’s Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen.

It will mean the DeltaWing DWC13 coupe is back to a three-driver lineup with Chaves back alongside Katherine Legge and Sean Rayhall. Legge has tested at the new, repaved Watkins Glen International surface and called it “immaculate.”

“It was pretty clear straightaway that we would need to add a third driver to the lineup as it was so physically demanding that even doing one full stint was going to take a toll on the drivers,” said DeltaWing team manager Tim Keene. “We are pleased to have Gabby back for this event.”

Chaves, who drives the No. 19 Dale Coyne Racing Honda in the Verizon IndyCar Series and will join Spencer Pigot as the only two IndyCar drivers competing at the Glen next weekend.

“I’m really excited and looking forward to joining the team once again,” Chaves said in a team release. “The car has looked extremely competitive with all the development over the last year, and I can’t wait to see what we can do in the Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen. I really believe the car, drivers and crew can pull off the win!”

Another element of the DeltaWing program at Watkins Glen is the debut of its partnership between it and Hometown Heroes Racing, which join forces to honor those who dedicate their lives to serve our nation and protect, defend and save the lives of complete strangers on a daily basis.

Additionally, the DeltaWing hasn’t just tested at Watkins Glen but also tested at its home track at Road Atlanta, since missing the series’ most recent round in Detroit.

At the Road Atlanta test, DeltaWing engineer Catherine Crawford was back to visit, as she continues her recovery from a brain tumor sustained earlier this year.

Seattle Supercross by the numbers: Three riders separated by 17 points

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Three riders remain locked in a tight battle with 17 points separating the leader Cooper Webb from third-place Chase Sexton and these are only a few Supercross numbers to consider entering Seattle.

Seattle Supercross numbers
Chase Sexton made a statement in Detroit with his second win of 2023. – Feld Motor Sports

For the fifth time in 10 rounds. Sexton, Webb, and Eli Tomac shared the podium in Detroit. Between them, the trio has taken 23 podiums, leaving only seven for the remainder of the field. Jason Anderson, Ken Roczen and Justin Barcia have two each with Aaron Plessinger scoring the other.

Webb and Tomac won the last four championships with two apiece in alternating years, but they were not one another’s primary rival for most of those seasons. On the average, however, the past four years show an incredible similarity with average points earned of 21.0 for Webb and 21.3 for Tomac. With five wins so far this season, Tomac (23 wins) leads Webb (19) in victories but Webb (43) edges Tomac (41) in podium finishes during this span.

Tomac has won two of the last three Seattle races and those two wins in this stadium are topped only by James Stewart. Fittingly, if Tomac gets a third win this week, he will tie Stewart for second on the all-time wins’ list. Tomac tied Ricky Carmichael for third with 48 wins at Oakland and took sole possession of that spot with his Daytona win.

Sexton still has a lot to say and after winning last week in Detroit, he is speaking up. The Supercross numbers are against him entering Seattle, however, because a points’ deficit this large after Round 10 has been erased only once. In 1983 David Bailey was 47 points behind Bob Hannah, and like Sexton he was also in third place. Bailey took the points’ lead with one race remaining.

The seven points Sexton was penalized last week for jumping in a red cross flag section in Detroit could prove extremely costly.

In fact, it has been a series of mistakes that has cost Sexton the most. In the last two weeks, he lost 10 points with a 10th-place finish to go with his penalty. Erase those, and all three riders hold their fate in their hands.

Plessinger’s heartbreak in Detroit is still fresh, but the upside of his run is that was his best of the season and could turn his fortunes around. Prior to that race, he led only seven laps in three mains. He was up front for 20 laps in Detroit with five of those being the fastest on the track.

Last week’s win by Hunter Lawrence tied him with his brother Jett Lawrence for 17th on the all-time wins’ list. With the focus shifting to 250 West for the next two rounds, Jett has a great opportunity to pull back ahead. The real test will be at the first East / West Showdown in East Rutherford, New Jersey on April 22.

Last Five Seattle Winners

450s
2022: Eli Tomac
2019: Marvin Musquin
2018: Eli Tomac
2017: Marvin Musquin
2014: Ryan Villopoto

250s
2022: Hunter Lawrence
2019: Dylan Ferrandis
2018: Aaron Plessinger
2017: Aaron Plessinger
2014: Cole Seely

By the Numbers

Detroit
Indianapolis
Daytona
Arlington
Oakland
Tampa
Houston
Anaheim 2
San Diego

More SuperMotocross coverage

How to Watch Seattle Supercross
Dylan Ferrandis may return before SX finale
SMX develops “Leader Lights”
Power Rankings after Detroit
Hunter Lawrence defends Haiden Deegan
Results and points after Detroit
Chase Sexton wins in Detroit, penalized seven points