Eversley and LaMarra Secure Podium at Road Atlanta in Final Race of the Year

LA Honda World Racing had a strong finish to the season and scored a podium finish in the Fox Factory 120 at Road Atlanta. 

Issues continued to impact the No. 73 in qualifying Friday morning, meaning Mike LaMarra and Ryan Eversley started the race from the back. The No. 7 of Mat Pombo and Will Tally qualified tenth in the TCR class with a time of 1:30.515, just a hundredth off the time of the car ahead. 

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Early in the race, LaMarra in the No. 73 Honda Civic FL5 TCR was able to move forward to run inside the top ten in ninth. Tally in the No. 7 Honda Civic FK7 TCR held his starting position, racing in tenth. After completing their driver changes, both cars remained in the top ten. With 40 minutes remaining, Eversley in the No. 73 sat in sixth and Pombo in the No. 7 sat in seventh. 

“For us, this weekend was a very challenging weekend, we had no laps on the track until the green flag waved,” LaMarra explained. “Fortunately our engineering staff gave us a pretty good car, so that was good.”

With less than ten minutes to go, Pombo sat in third and Eversley in fourth when a full course yellow came out. Under this yellow, Pombo experienced a technical issue that dropped him back to seventh. Finishing under yellow, Pombo crossed the line in seventh, and Eversley crossed the line in third. 

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“I feel bad we had a little gremlin at the end, I had to recycle the ignition coming down the hill,” Pombo said. “I was a sitting duck, and it is what it is. I want to thank LA Honda World, all the guys, and the crew; they’re amazing, Honda for a great car, Jazz, HPD, and everyone involved in the season. Wish we’d have had more wins and podiums, but sometimes you have that in racing, and we’ll just regroup and come back stronger next year.” 

“It was unfortunate the weather came in and changed the culmination of the race, but I’m happy to see our sister car get up on the podium,” expressed Tally. “It’s been a rough year for the team, so it’s good to go out on a high note.”

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“Obviously, we had issues with the electronics and the engine, and the guys worked so hard to get us out there, and until the race started, we hadn’t done an actual flying fast lap,” Eversley continued. “So we didn’t know brake points, gears, any of that stuff, so to get a podium from starting dead last and not having any experience, I’m proud of that. The cool thing to me was that the last two times I drove my Type R, which I got from LA Honda “World” to a racetrack, here and in Monterey, we got trophies. So clearly, if you want to get on the podium, you must drive a Civic Type R.”

“We were able to race forward, and that was fun. To be able to race up from the back to finish on the podium was something great,” LaMarra added. “And it was nice to see Ryan finish on a high note with his ten-year career at Honda, and it was nice to spray champagne in his face.” 

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I am very pleased for all of us at LA Honda World Racing to end the season on a high note with our podium at Road Atlanta, said Mario. The season disappointed us in many ways but we started the season on the podium and now ended with a podium. To all of the drivers, crew and managers the make this happen, Thank you for a memorable IMSA season.