In August of 2019 Jr III Racing made its IMSA debut in a Prototype Challenge event at VIRginia International Raceway scoring a ninth place finish with Kris Wilson. Over the course of the next five seasons, the team built into a two car IMSA WeatherTech Championship-contending team, closing out the 2023 season with Jr III Racing taking our first WeatherTech win in the season ending Motul Petit Le Mans weekend.
In June of 2023 IMSA decided to discontinue the LMP3 series from the WeatherTech series leaving the “what’s next” question for all LMP3 teams. Jr III Racing had been talking to a lot of internationally based teams about managing their IMSA WeatherTech programs. Eventually, that led to a program with United Autosports that will see us running their two-car LMP2 program next year.
After Jr III Racing’s IMSA debut in 2019, the team went on to score two runner up finishes and two third place finishes during the 2019 - 2022 Prototype Challenge seasons before the series was replaced by the VP Racing SportsCar Challenge (VPRC) for the 2023 season. During the 2023 VPRC season Bijoy Garg, who was only slated to run a part time at the beginning of the season, went on to complete the full season and win the first ever VPRC championship. On the way to the championship title, Garg scored five pole awards, eight wins and three additional podiums.
Jr III Racing made the jump up to the IMSA WeatherTech series in 2021 at Road America with Terry Olson and Mike Skeen, unfortunately the car did not see the checkered flag. But it was still a big day for the team-and not just because of the incredible enthusiasm that Terry and his family brought to the track.
That same season, the team went on to compete at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta during the Petit Le Mans weekend with Ari Balogh, Garett Grist, and Spencer Pigot landing on the second step of the podium after a hard fought ten hour battle with Riley Motorsports.
The 2022 season marked the first full season Jr III Racing competed for the WeatherTech championship, the Balogh/Grist duo scored three runner up finishes as well as a third place finish to round out the season third in WeatherTech Championship points standings.
Determined to make its last season the best, Jr III Racing built on their accomplishments of the 2022 season. The team started its season at Sebring leading 70 laps before a tire from a wrecking LMP2 came crashing down ending our night. Jr III Racing went on to lead laps at Watkins Glen, Canadian Tire Motorsports Park, Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta ending the season with a total of 397 laps led. Jr III Racing ended its final season with a win, two runner up finishes and a third place finish landing them second in the WeatherTech championship standings.
“Our first IMSA race was at VIR in 2019 with Kris Wilson. Looking back at that event, we have come so far in a very short period of time,” said Billy Glavin owner of Jr III Racing as he looks back on the highlights over the last five seasons. “Our first Petit in 2021 is certainly a highlight. It was cold, very cold but we fought Riley to the very end with a great driver lineup and strategy. It was very special to finish second and use that momentum to propel us into a good 2022 season. Our 2023 season was memorable as well with lots of ups and downs. But ending it with a win at Petit was special.”
While you won’t see Jr III Racing at the track in 2024, you will still see some of our team members and Glavin working with United Autosports. Jr III Racing will continue to live on through its vintage car preparation and maintenance sector until the team finalizes the best opportunity to get back on track again.