PF Racing kicked off the 2023 IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge racing season with a bang, during the BMW M Endurance Challenge at Daytona International Raceway’s 3.56-mile road course. Their #42 and #41 Ford Mustang GT4s on Forgeline one piece forged monoblock GS1R wheels finished first and third respectively, out of 32 cars in the GS class field, each with a pair of NASCAR regulars sharing driving duties.

2022 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion Zane Smith made his IMSA debut, at Daytona. He qualified the #42 PF Racing Ford Mustang GT4 in the third spot to start the race, and once the green flag fell, he quickly moved to the front. Around the midpoint of the race, Smith turned the wheel over to NASCAR Cup Series driver Harrison Burton, falling briefly back to third place, during the pit stop. But Burton reclaimed the lead with 22 minutes remaining in the race and held on to claim the checkered flag, despite pressure from Spencer Pumpelly in the second-place #83 BGB Motorsports Porsche Cayman.

2021 NASCAR trucks champion Ben Rhodes and fellow NASCAR truck series driver Hailie Deegan rounded out the GS class podium with a third place finish, in the #41 PF Racing Mustang GT4, giving PF Racing bookends on the podium to start the 2023 season.

“A lot of hard racing. Pretty similar to NASCAR racing, to be honest with you, the amount of bumping and aggressive dive bombs and stuff,” said Harrison. “I felt kinda home in that. That was fun.”

“Daytona just brings such a different vibe than really any other racetrack.” added Zane. “Not only to win at Daytona but in our first start is just so cool.”

Congrats to Zane, Harrison, Ben, Hailie, Ford Performance, and the entire PF Racing team on their outstanding performance at Daytona. And thanks for trusting Forgeline to carry the load!

The Michelin Pilot Challenge series returns to action on March 15-18 at Sebring International Raceway.