ROAD AMERICA’21

ELKHART LAKE, Wis. – Drivers Michael Johnson and Stephen Simpson and the Bryan Herta Autosport (BHA) team will caravan to the heart of America’s Dairyland this weekend to race in the Road America 120 at famed Road America in Elkhart, Wis.

The two-hour race, on the 4.048-mile, 14-turn track, which is one of only a handful of road circuits in the world maintaining its original configuration, is scheduled to go green at 5:35 p.m. ET on Saturday, Aug. 7. The event is the eighth stop on the 2021 Michelin Pilot Challenge tour schedule.

Action will get started at Road America on Friday, Aug. 6 with two practice sessions, with qualifying set for 8 a.m. on race day.

“I’m very excited to return to Road America,” said Johnson. “It’s such an amazing track and I’ve had success there in the past. I am looking forward to getting a good result with the entire BHA crew and Stephen Simpson.”

All IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge races are streamed live on TrackPass on NBC Sports Gold. IMSA Radio also provides live audio coverage of select Michelin Pilot Challenge practice, qualifying sessions and full-length coverage of all races.

When previously piloting the BHA Universal Coating No. 54 Hyundai Veloster N TCR car in competition, Johnson and Simpson could not recapture past glory at historic Lime Rock Park in Lakeville, Conn., finishing seventh in the TCR class in the 2021 edition of the Lime Rock Park 120.

At the 2020 Road America 120, the third installment of the reconfigured IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge, Johnson and Simpson finished sixth in a strong TCR class field. The weekend in Wisconsin started on a more positive note for the team, as Johnson earned a second-place result with a qualifying time of 2:21.360.

“Road America is one of my favorite race weekends of the year,” said Simpson. “Not only is the track one of my favorites in the country but it’s always a very enjoyable weekend. I live in Indianapolis and it’s only a 5-6 hour drive, so my wife, daughter and my wife’s parents will be there; it’s always a nice family-filed weekend. Road America typically gets a big crowd as well. I am looking forward to the race. We are really motivated for some on-track success. Michael and I had a podium finish back in 2018, so we are definitely looking to recreate that success. Rain is always a potential at Road America; it seems to develop very quickly, so we will be prepared for anything. I am looking forward to getting on the track Friday morning.”

The weather forecast on race day for Road America, which is located between the cities of Milwaukee and Green Bay, near the Kettle Moraine Scenic Drive, is calling for scattered thunderstorms (43% chance) with a high of 81 degrees. Winds are expected to be from the east at nine miles per hour.

Next month, Johnson, Simpson and the BHA team will make their way to the west coast, visiting picturesque Monterey, Calif. for the WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca 120. The two-hour race, the ninth leg of the 2021 IMSA Pilot Challenge, is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 11 at 7:40 p.m. ET.