SRO GT America 2023 Race Season Schedule

TKO Motorsports Announces Efforts in SRO America

Reno, NV: TKO Motorsports is excited to announce their return for the 2023 GT America series with a two-car effort showcasing a brand-new fleet addition. This year, we will see the return of Memo Gidley racing for TKO Motorsports, but in the new vibrant and eye-catching red, black, and gold Mercedes AMG GT3. We will also see Dave Traitel returning to the track for his first ever professional race in the already known and loved Bentley Continental GT3 for the double header in March at Sonoma Raceway.

“I’m excited for my first race in SRO and am hoping to just be in the pack; I’d consider that a win and know that I’ve accomplished something for myself,” said Traitel. “I’m also so excited to see my friend, Memo Gidley, back where he belongs: behind the wheel racing. The smile on his face says it all! His deep desire to race envelopes his whole being, and it shows on the track. My friend was born to race. To see the hard work and determination during his recovery after his horrific accident in Daytona needed to be recognized to help him fulfill his life’s dream as a racecar driver. Adversity is measured by one’s determination and his tenacity and determination are second to none! He’s a true gentleman, on and off the track. The teams, near and far, admire him. Live your prime, man!”

TKO Motorsports is pleased to, once again, be collaborating with Flying Lizard Motorsports for this 2023 race season. Their first collaboration in 2021 lead to two wins and four podiums with Memo Gidley driving the TKO Motorsports Bentley Continental GT3 in select GT America events. With Gidley competing in the full season effort this year in the Mercedes AMG GT3, he is sure to make a splash.

“I am super excited to be back driving for TKO Motorsports in the SRO GT America series! Two years ago, we got our feet wet in the SRO Series. TKO and I did a few races in the massively loved by fans Bentley GT3, which was so much fun, and we won a couple of races! The TKO team was a joy to drive for, giving me a great car that was race ready with the hard work and collaboration of Flying Lizard Motorsports. And now to be driving a full season with the TKO #101 AMG Mercedes GT3 with the collaboration of Flying Lizard again…awesome!” said Gidley.

The GT America season will begin on March 3rd at St. Petersburg and end on October 9th at Indianapolis with seven other double header races in between across the country. This will be Memo’s first time back on the St. Petersburg track in eighteen years. To follow along throughout the season, visit https://tkomotorsports.com/news-events/sro-gt-america-2023

About TKO Motorsports: TKO Motorsports is a motorsports company based in Reno, NV. Founded in 2008, TKO has produced some of the most extreme custom built, street legal cars in the world. After expanding into the retail market with off-the-shelf TKO parts and accessories, TKO has now expanded into a 75,000 sq. ft. state of the art precision machining facility with cutting edge resources and manufacturing equipment meeting the highest industry standards.

Memo Gidley Takes 1st & 2nd Place for TKO Motorsports at Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg

Reno, NV: TKO Motorsports and team driver, Memo Gidley, made a huge splash during their SRO GT3 debut race last weekend, March 3-5, at Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg in the teams’ new Mercedes AMG GT3 taking first place in Race 2 and second place in Race 1! With a yellow flag raised early in Race 1 and multiple restarts after yellow flags in Race 2, the sheer complexity of this partial street course was recognized early on by not only the drivers, but the spectators as well. Qualifiers ended up playing a very crucial role in this race and the potential each racer had in working their way up to the front once the green flags were raised due to the technicality of the course.

“It is hard to have a better weekend than we did in #101 TKO Motorsports AMG GT3 in the opening round of the SRO Series at St. Pete!” said Gidley.

In the qualifying round Friday afternoon, Memo Gidley drove the TKO Motorsports team to an impressive finish, taking 5th place of the 20 entries in this round. With only 2/10ths of a second separating 2nd-5th place, this left TKO Motorsports and Gidley in a top tier position for the first race of the SRO Motorsports America 2023 weekend/season.

Race 1 had a rough start with Jeff Burton, starting fourth, in the No.91 Mercedes AMG GT3 making contact with the wall early raising an early yellow flag in the race which led to SRO3 2022 class champion, George Kurtz, to receive damage from the incident and lose his second-place position. Additionally, Scott Smithson spun out giving up his first-place position.

Gidley quickly took over the lead, but a high-pressure battle would ensue for the remainder of the race between the three front runners: Gidley, Daskalos, and Sofronas. “From outside the car it looked calm and collected, but I will tell you inside the car it was intense and with so much pressure from the track and my competition!” said Gidley. Eventually, Gidley was passed up with some bold maneuvering by Jason Daskalos who held onto that first-place position through the checkered flag with Gidley right behind separating the two teams by only 4/10ths of a second.

Race 2 began with Gidley making an early, strategic, and planned attack to take the lead at the first turn of lap 1. Holding onto first place for the rest of the race through the checkered flag, Gidley and the TKO Motorsports team in collaboration with Flying Lizard Motorsports brought home a first and second place win from St. Petersburg unveiling the power and performance behind the TKO Motorsports Mercedes AMG GT3 during its debut weekend alongside the pure skill and dedication Gidley has to the sport.

“TKO Motorsports and the Flying Lizard team have been preparing for this season and this opening round for so many months,” said Gidley. “I am just so satisfied that we were able to have such a great weekend for the team and put on a great show for our fans!”

TKO Motorsports will be back on the track participating in SRO GT America’s next race at Sonoma Raceway March 30 – April 2. The team is especially thrilled to have TKO Motorsports Owner & CEO, Dave Traitel, suiting up and racing in TKO’s beloved Bentley GT3. Don’t forget to watch this season’s races live at https://www.gtamerica.us/live and view our race weekend photos and videos on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram!

For all things TKO, visit www.tkomotorsports.com and subscribe to our Mailing List

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