Dylan Murry News

VIR IMSA Michelin Pilot and PC races

Not too long ago was round eight for the Mercedes-AMG in IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge, and round five for the Ligier in the IMSA Prototype Challenge. It was our first race representing High Point University which is just down the road from VIR in High Point, NC. It was, yet, another crazy weekend with rain off and on. Both races were on Saturday, the Mercedes first, then the Ligier. 

In the High Point University Mercedes, qualifying was cancelled due to severe thunderstorms in the area, so we started by points. Which for us was 6th place. My co-driver, Jim Cox, started the race on dry Michelin tires in dry conditions. Not too long into the race, it started to rain very hard on the back straight, so we had to pit to get rain tires on. Jim stayed in the car after that. When he went back out, it was wet for a few more minutes, and then dried up again. A little over half way through the race, we came back in to do a driver change, dry tires, and fuel. We pitted just in time to be able to barely make the rest of the race without pitting. About 20 minutes to go, I was sitting top 10. A caution bunched us back up. During that caution, it started to rain again. On the restart another car and I battling for 6^th got into each other and we both ended up spinning. I was able to get back going, but by that point, it was too late in the race to make up the spots lost. We ended up finishing 11th. Tough race, knowing that we had a very fast car with Riley Motorsports, but the racing luck didn’t play out. 

Only a short time after, I had to clear my mind and look ahead to the Prototype Challenge race. My co-driver, Skylar Robinson, qualified 9th in the rain. The race started out somewhat wet, but quickly dried up. Skylar worked his way up to 3rd on the start. We came in to pit with about 50 minutes to go, and Skylar handed over the car to me in 4th. Yet again… the rain came back only a short time after I got in the car. This time, it came very suddenly with no warning. I was the second car to go through T10 after it started raining. I, along with several other cars, went off on the exit. One of the cars came inches from hitting me in the grass as what seemed like half the field was spinning out of control. We made it back out on track without any harm. There was a caution. The rain never made its way to the North half of the track, so it was pouring on the south half, while bone dry on the front straight. I was able to stay in top 5, and on the last few laps moved back up to 4th, where we finished. We had a very strong MLT Motorsports car, but crazy conditions were just so unpredictable.

This has possibly been the craziest racing season that I’ve ever been in. Seven out of my past nine races have been raining, and for most of the rain races, it has only been on half the track, or off and on. It is definitely a great learning experience having to adapt to new conditions very quickly, but quite honestly, I’m ready for a purely dry race (haha), which hopefully the next race at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca will bring. It is California, but with me bringing rain with me wherever I go, you just never know. 

After this weekend, I am now 4th in points in IMSA Prototype Challenge, only 6 points behind 2nd, and one race left. Considering we did not do the first race of the season, I am pretty happy where we are sitting in points. Jim and I still hold 6^th in points in Michelin Pilot Challenge.

Dylan 

Read More at www.DylanMurry.com

Victory for Dylan Murry at Watkins Glen IMSA MPC

Last weekend was absolutely incredible. It was the fourth race of the season in IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge in the Mercedes-AMG for Riley Motorsports. This race was at one of the most historic tracks in the world - Watkins Glen International. It was a three day event starting last Thursday. 

Dylan 

TV BROADCAST SCHEDULE

Mid Ohio, double header

2nd Place on Saturday in Michelin Pilot Challenge, almost won. Thanks Jim Cox, Riley, AMG, and Wynn's.

1st Place - WIN on Sunday in Prototype Challenge! Great weekend. Thanks Dakota Dickerson, MLT Motorsports, and iRacing.

Double Podium Mid Ohio, 1st & 2nd

Well I have never been so excited to write a race report and share my most recent success! This weekend was the IMSA race at Mid Ohio Sportscar Course where I raced both, the Riley Motorsports Mercedes-AMG (in Michelin Pilot Challenge) and the MLT Motorsports Ligier JS LMP3 (in Prototype Challenge). The Mercedes-AMG race was on Saturday co driving with Jim Cox, and the Ligier race was on Sunday co driving with Dakota Dickerson. 

In practice for the Mercedes-AMG, we were consistently on the top of the board. In the first practice, there was not a single car that we couldn’t catch up to and pass. We had great confidence in the car. Come time to qualify, it started to slightly rain… just enough to wet the track. Jim went out to qualify, and this was his first time driving Mid Ohio in the wet at speed. He ended up qualifying 13th. This still didn’t set back our confidence. We knew that in the dry, the car was a rocket ship; and the race was forecast for dry weather. On the start of the 2-hour race, Jim held his position and started to gain a few spots as the race went on. He handed the car over to me in 10th place. Since Mid Ohio is good for fuel mileage, we were able to make the entire race on one pit stop. Turns out, that was the right strategy. When I got in the car, many other people had to pit again. After the pit cycles went though, I was 5th. Picking cars off one by one, I eventually got to 2nd place. With 30 minutes to go, the weather got CRAZY! It was a very slight sprinkle. We were able to stay on slicks, but it seemed like almost every other lap I had to change from a wet line to a dry line! With a few minutes left to go, it was just the leader, 3rd place, and me. We pulled away from the rest of the field. Earlier in the race, our dive planes got knocked off, so we lost a lot of front downforce. I just barely didn’t have enough front grip to take the lead. I ended up finishing second by a very small margin.

I was happy to have a podium, but really wish we could have gotten the win. But I still had one race left in the weekend to prove myself worthy of a win. And, well, just keep reading ;)

So in the LMP3 race, Dakota and I never got any dry practice. It was raining for every practice and qualifying session, but the race was dry! Dakota ended up qualifying and starting the 1 hour 45 minute race, which left me to finish this one as well. Dakota qualified 4th place, not very far behind the leaders. When the race started, our car was good, and Dakota was good. Half a lap after the race started, Dakota was in the lead! He only kept pulling away from there. Ever since then, Dakota never got passed by another car. I got in the car with about 50 minutes to go. When I got out on track, there was an immediate caution, which worked out perfectly for us. We were still in first place. When I came back around to take the green flag on the restart, I kept the lead and pulled away from second place. I was able to keep the lead all the way to the finish line!!! This was an incredible race! Not only did we bring home a first place trophy, but we dominated the race!
                                                                                             Click the photo for video of last lap


I would also like to dedicate this race to Eric VanBibber's (MLT team manager) father who recently passed away. Mid Ohio was his home track and was there when it was built. Our thoughts are with the VanBibber’s. It was truly a special weekend. 

Dylan 

Post race Daytona IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge

Promising Daytona Performance Provides Motivation for Dylan Murry

Photo Credit: Brian Cleary

Dylan Murry pilots the Wynn’s Riley Motorsports Mercedes-AMG GT4 around the road course portion of Daytona International Raceway.

CUMMING, Ga. (February 1, 2019) – While the end result was clearly not what Dylan Murry had preferred following IMSA’s 2019 season opener at Daytona International Speedway last week, the 18-year-old Georgia driver still managed a smile upon exiting his Wynn’s Riley Motorsports Mercedes-AMG GT4.

“It actually was a frustrated smile because I knew the car was capable of winning the race,” he said. “Had it not been for an oil cooler leak late in the race – when we were running third – I felt very confident that we could challenge for the win. While I was disappointed that the race ended a bit early, our performance really gave me confidence for the rest of the year.”

Murry, along with co-drivers Jim Cox and Jeroen Bleekemolen, had the Mercedes in contention virtually from the start of the four-hour BMW Endurance Challenge at Daytona.

After Murry topped the leaderboard in final practice, Cox qualified 15^th on the grid and kept the car clean during his one and only stint before handing the wheel over to Bleekemolen, who quickly worked his way up through the field into the top five. Murry then took the controls with two hours to go and eventually claimed third, before the oil cooler issue ended the team’s day.

“The team confirmed that it was a rock that hit the oil cooler and punctured it,” said Murry. “Despite the bad luck, I can’t say enough great things about Riley Motorsports. They are truly one powerful team.”

Murry and Cox will now turn their attention to the next event on the 2019 Michelin Pilot Challenge schedule – the two-hour Alan Jay Automotive Network race at Sebring International Raceway – Friday, March 15.

“Given our performance at Daytona, I’m anxious to get to Sebring,” said Murry. “I’m actually going to be doing double duty at Sebring. I will also be driving the MLT Motorsports Ligier LMP3 in the Prototype Challenge race on Thursday (March 14) with co-driver Mike Thompson. That should be very exciting.”

NBCSN will provide tape-delayed coverage of the BMW Endurance Challenge at Daytona race on Wednesday, February 6, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

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Racer Dylan Murry Announces 2019 Schedule

Racer Dylan Murry Announces 2019 Schedule

CUMMING, Ga. (December 6, 2018) – The 2019 racing season will clearly be a hectic one for Dylan Murry as he has announced plans to compete in three different series.

The Cumming, Georgia resident has already committed to full time rides in both the IMSA Prototype Challenge and the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge and he’ll also be looking to run some select NASCAR races.

“I’m really excited about next year,” said Murry, the son of former sports car world champion David Murry. “To be able to drive different types of race cars will be an unbelievable experience.”

Murry is set to drive a new Ligier P3 car in the IMSA Prototype Challenge for MLT Motorsports with co-driver Mike Thompson.

“In October, we tested the LMP3 at Road Atlanta and it was unbelievably fast and thrilling,” offered Murry. “The car is far different than what I’ve been used to. I started to look around and say to myself, ‘this is actually a REALLY fast car and I wouldn’t want anything to happen.’”

In the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge, Murry will again team with co-driver Jim Cox, but the new season will bring a new team and a new car.

“Jim and I will be driving a Mercedes-AMG GT4 for Riley Motorsports,” said Murry. “Of course, Riley Motorsports is considered one of the leading teams in IMSA. We really can’t wait to start testing.”

Relative to running some NASCAR races, Murry is expecting to finalize funding for same real soon.

“We are actively working on marketing partners and hope to announce something in the near term,” he said. “Our goal is to run with a top level team.”

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Petit LeMans weekend, race update

The last race of the season in was in the BGB Motorsports Group Porsche Cayman GT4 at Road Atlanta during the Petit Le Mans weekend. It was filled with emotions; both good and bad. Practice on Wednesday brought lots of frustration. The car was oversteering on transition corners, and nothing seemed to fix it. Come Thursday, the same problem still existed. After another practice session, we found out that the car was bottoming out in the rear just enough to where I couldn’t really feel it. We raised the ride height and it was all fixed. Now that it is solved, we had only one 45 minute practice left to put the hammer down on set up. The BGB crew worked super hard with sweat dripping down their faces all day. After all that hard work, we got the car very close to the balance that it needed for the race. I was very impressed with how quickly we were able to get the car ready.

In the race, Jim Cox started and I finished. Jim did a great job staying out of trouble and working up the field car by car. There was a caution just after the 45 minute mark in the 2 hour race. We took that opportunity to do a driver change, fill up on fuel, and put four new tires on. I went out and worked my way up to 4th place out of 38 cars. With about 19 minutes to go, I could start to see a Mustang approaching me from behind. I knew he had a little more grip and torque than me, but I had a faster top speed. He caught me with 15 minutes to go. We were racing very hard and very close for the position. We were nose to tail for almost 10 minutes straight. He finally tried to go to the right of me coming out of turn 3. Running side by side all the way down the esses at Road Atlanta, neither one of us were going to give an inch. Coming out of turn 5, we were still even, but then his torque pulled him away from me. I still didn’t give up because I knew I had a faster trap speed. Coming out of turn 7, I got a good run and pulled beside him. Once again, we were side by side all the way down the back straight. Braking into turn 10, he got around me. We caught lapped traffic. He got around them just before the corner, and I was held up. 

With 4 laps to go, we were still running great, then my left front tire popped coming out of T10B. I came into pit lane to change it, and went back out on track. After I got on track, race control came on our radio and said I ran over our air hose. We had to do a drive through penalty on the last lap. We lost many positions and ended up finishing 19th in GS. 

It was a very eventful year and I learned so much from all of this. I can’t thank Jim Cox enough for this incredible opportunity. I am looking forward to next year with Jim and all the future rides that come from this. Thank you Jim!

BGB worked extraordinarily hard every single time we were at the track. This year would not have been possible without their help. Thank you John Tecce and the rest of the crew for all of the hard work you put in this year. I am proud to have my IMSA debut with them.

I’m looking forward to my next race, which will be on January 6 at Daytona International Speedway in the Ligier LMP3 with Dr. Mike Thompson. 

Dylan 

Read More at www.DylanMurry.com

P3 test at Road Atlanta DMTD MLT Motorsports

My first two days in an LMP3 were incredibly fun! I was not expecting it to have that much grip. It was two full days of testing at Road Atlanta, and I have to say, that car is truly incredible. The first half day was all for Dr. Mike Thompson (the owner) and me to learn the car. After that, it was all about working with John Bobbitt and ESM (Scott Sharp’s team) to make changes on the car to figure out what is fast, and what isn’t. After making several changes to the new car - from mechanical grip to aerodynamic grip - the car was respectively faster. We still had the long gear box in the car; for Road Atlanta, the shorter box is much faster. Therefore, the car was slightly slow accelerating out of slow speed corners.    All in all, it was a very fun two days and an excellent learning experience for me. MLT Motorsports asked for me to race for them with Dr. Thompson in the Prototype Challenge series in that #54 LMP3 car full season next year. I am very excited to already have two full time rides in IMSA next year, with the Michelin Pilot Challenge and Jim Cox as the other series. I am still working on getting more races in the NASCAR side of things. We are working on partners for next year to achieve more. It’s going to be very busy for me at the track. A good busy though!   One week from today is the final race of the season at Road Atlanta. I will be racing in the #38 BGB Motorsports Cayman GT4 on the Friday before Petit Le Mans. I’m looking forward to it and hope to end the season with a great result.    Check out the video's below of the MLT P3 Ligier at Road Atlanta!     Dylan  Read More at www.DylanMurry.com

Mid Ohio IMSA report

Last week, we learned that Mid Ohio was a race track, just not our race track. The bad luck started out when half of our test days were snowed out a couple of weeks ago, and ended with a mechanical issue in the race. Last Thursday and Friday were all practice, with qualifying and race on Saturday. Thursdaywas just one 2 hour practice session. There was a minor oil leak coming from the transmission, and a small vibration. The team decided not to push our luck in practice and called it quits for Thursday. After changing a couple of things Thursday night, we decided to give it another shot on Friday. The vibration was still there and the car was still leaking oil from the PDK transmission. Other than the mechanical issues, we were fastest in practice until the end, when two other cars barely beat my time and ended up 3rd fastest in practice over all.  I was able to get up to speed quickly and our car works well in the wet and the dry and I showed that despite this being my first time racing at Mid Ohio. That night, after all of the practice was over, the team chose to put in a brand new transmission in the car fearing that whatever decisions made would leave little time from which to react if that didn’t solve it. On in Saturday, Jim Cox went out to qualify and said that the car was balanced perfect and the vibration was completely gone with no oil leak either. Our hopes were very high after qualifying. In the race, however, it did not go the same as qualifying. About 20 minutes into the race, the car went into limp mode and stopped on the track due to an overheated transmission. It turned out that the header developed a small crack and starting blowing exhaust gas onto the transmission cooler. We did not get to finish the race. It was a disappointing weekend to end it after having such a great car that was top 3 in practice. I’m looking forward to going on to the next race in Watkins Glen in late June. I’m confident that we will have the same great handling car, just with a little better luck. 

Thanks to DSC shocks for the support. Wish the rules would allow us to run those in our racecar, what an advantage it would be. 

Dylan 

Read More at www.DylanMurry.com

Sebring IMSA 2018

My second IMSA Continental Tire series race is now complete! This one was a 2 hour race at Sebring International Raceway. We left for Sebring a week early for David Murry Track Days, where I was coaching someone in a Corvette. We had Monday and Tuesday off, so on Tuesday, we went for an airboat ride on Lake Istokpoga. After having a little non-racing fun, we had practice on Wednesday and Thursday. 

Dylan