Last year we said goodbye to Bob Stallings Racing, which ran with the iconic ‘Red Dragon’ livery in its 12 year history racing in Grand Am, IMSA and Pirelli World Challenge.
And sadly, this year we’ll be saying goodbye to Gainsco’s ‘Red Dragon’ too, after its final season, partnered with JDC Miller Motorsports racing in IMSA’s Prototype ranks.
It was a memorable year too, the #99 winning The 6 Hours of Watkins Glen, and scoring a further podium at Elkhart Lake later in the year en route to fourth in the class standings.
Looking back, mid-way through Gainsco’s years in Grand Am with Daytona Prototypes, prior to the horrendous accident at Daytona involving Memo Gidley (who is now thankfully on the road to recovery and back behind the wheel again) in 2014, were the most memorable.
In 2007 and 2009 the ‘Red Dragon’ was the winning colour scheme for Bob Stallings Racing when it won the Grand Am Rolex Sports Car Series titles, racing with Riley chassis and drivers Alex Gurney and Jon Fogarty among others. Up against a stacked field of top sportscar teams and drivers, those achievements solidified the BSR team as one of the USA’s privately run top outfits, and the ‘Red Dragon’ as a US sportscar icon.
Here’s a pictoral look back at all of the key cars sporting Gainsco colours over the years:
2018 – IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship – ORECA 07 Gibson – Misha Goikhberg, Stephen Simpson, Chris Miller & Gustavo Menezes – 1 x overall race win
2017 – Pirelli World Challenge – Porsche 911 GT3 R – Jon Fogarty
2016 – Pirelli World Challenge – McLaren 650S GT3 – Jon Fogarty
2013 – Grand Am Rolex Sports Car Series – Corvette DP – Jon Fogarty & Alex Gurney – 1 x DP class win
2012 – Grand Am Rolex Sports Car Series – Corvette DP – Jon Fogarty, Alex Gurney & Memo Gidley
2011 – Grand Am Rolex Sports Car Series – Riley Mk XX Chevrolet – Jon Fogarty, Alex Gurney Jimmie Johnson & Memo Gidley – 2 x DP class wins
2010 – Grand Am Rolex Sports Car Series – Riley Mk XX Chevrolet – Alex Gurney, Jon Fogarty, Jimmie Johnson & Jimmy Vasser – 1 x DP class win
2009 – Grand Am Rolex Sports Car Series – Riley Mk XX Pontiac – Alex Gurney, Jon Fogarty, Jimmie Johnson & Jimmy Vasser – 4 x DP class wins & Grand Am Teams and Drivers titles
2008 – Grand Am Rolex Sports Car Series – Riley Mk XI Pontiac – Alex Gurney, Jon Fogarty, Jimmie Johnson & Jimmy Vasser – 1 x DP class win & second overall at the Rolex 24 Hours
2007 – Grand Am Rolex Sports Car Series – Riley Mk XI Pontiac – Jon Fogarty, Alex Gurney & Jimmy Vasser – 7 x DP class wins & Grand Am Teams and Drivers titles
2006 – Grand Am Rolex Sports Car Series – Riley Mk XI Pontiac – Jon Fogarty, Alex Gurney, Jimmy Vasser & Rocky Moran Jnr
2005 – Grand Am Rolex Sports Car Series – Riley Mk XI Pontiac – Bob Stallings, Alex Gurney
