Performance Tech Motorsports Dominates NASA Championships

Performance Tech Motorsports swept the NASA Championships at Daytona International Speedway.

The team is walking away from the event triumphant having had all four Ligier JSP320’s finish in the top five; Dan Goldburg in first place, John DeAngelis in second place, Frank Hindman in fourth place, and Dimitri Goliakov in fifth place.  In addition to the team’s success, Goldburg added a second NASA Championship title to his resume after a hard-fought weekend in the No. 6 Motel 6 Ligier JSP320. With over 500 cars at the event, Team Principal Brent O’Neill is ecstatic to see his men leading the pack.

“I’m incredibly proud of everyone’s performance this weekend, “O’Neill said. “The drivers excelled on track and the crew was ready to take care of anything that was thrown their way back at the garage or in the pits. After a crazy 2020, it was great to get back in our groove this year and ultimately finish on top. These NASA events are some of our favorites and we’re already looking forward to what the 2022 season holds.”

2019 NASA Champion Goldburg was marked as the favorite to win heading into the event at The World Center of Racing and he did not disappoint. Goldburg swept the weekend, starting from pole position and finishing first in all three races. With his second NASA Championship title locked down, Goldburg is already looking to the future.

“I spent about 15 years of my racing career racing in NASA, so to come home with the National Championship in its Super Unlimited class this weekend which is now a follow-up to my National Championship in the last Nationals two years ago in SpecE30 class is a bit unreal and very fulfilling,” Goldburg said. “Sometimes racers say this next statement lightly, but I really mean it. I definitely could not have done it without the whole Performance Tech team. From Brent at the top down to everyone on the team they have been really big supporters of me since I came back to racing in 2018.  Without them, I couldn't have achieved these championships.”

“This NASA Championships at Daytona drew a large crowd.  I'm really happy for Motel 6 to get this exposure. The Motel 6 Ligier ran at the front of every session from Thursday through Sunday. We executed a well thought out plan this weekend. We used the test day Thursday to experiment with various setup ideas. Then starting Friday, we knew each session compounds upon the prior session result to lead up to the final on Sunday.  We had the fastest time in every session and won every qualifying race, which put us on the pole for Sunday.  From there it was a challenging final race as faster cars were competing against me. I had to use all the tools in my kit to manage traffic and build a big enough gap quick enough so that the faster cars couldn't catch me on the straight.”

Driver DeAngelis had a stellar weekend piloting the No. 38 Ligier JSP320. He finished in second place in the Championship race showcasing racing techniques that he worked all season to master.

 “This was a fantastic weekend of racing at the NASA Championships,” DeAngelis said. “Brent O’Neill and his team are simply the best and I’m grateful for the privilege of racing with Performance Tech Motorsports. We had a lot of track time Thursday through Saturday with testing, qualifying, qualifying races, etc. and the theme of the week was ‘keep it clean and make it to Sunday’ for the Championship race. So, to be on the podium at Daytona, with this level of competition from around the country is truly a blessing and I praise God for the opportunity.”

In the No. 171 Ligier JSP320 Hindman gave the front runners a run for their money. Finishing in fourth place Hindman undoubtedly had the pace and talent to wow onlookers. It’s safe to say his introduction to the Ligier JSP320 wowed Hindman as well.

“This was a truly amazing event,” Hindman said. “A new car and team could not have performed better. It was a huge difference from pushing my old car over the limit to trusting what the Ligier would do this weekend. I am very excited with how my first race event in it finished. Now, I’m looking forward to the new season and what can be accomplished. Fantastic teamwork by Performance Tech Motorsports.”  

Finally, Goliakov rounded out the pack in the No. 12 Ligier JSP320. His fifth-place finish secured the team a dominating block on the leader board, sweeping four of the top five spots. Much like Hindman, Goliakov's switch from the Corvette to the Ligier JSP320 this weekend was one full of excitement and success, a promising sign as we look to the 2022 season.

“It was an awesome weekend, I enjoyed every moment of it,” Goliakov said. “It was very good experience for me driving Ligier. I stayed out of trouble and qualified third for Sunday’s race. I was fighting for third/fourth place but got spun out by another SU competitor and finished fifth. I’m a little disappointed, but it’s racing. Thanks to Performance Tech, Trans American Express, and most of all my family for their great support. Without them, it would not be possible.”

The team now shifts its focus to the penultimate round of IMSA Prototype Challenge at VIRginia International Raceway, October 8-10. The NASA Champion No. 6 Motel 6 Ligier JSP320 gears up for its final event with its aim locked on the podium. For ticket sales and schedule, details visit https://www.imsa.com/events/2021-michelin-gt-challenge-at-vir/.