Strong Riley Presence in the Historic Sportscar Racing IMSA Classic

Strong Riley Presence in the Historic Sportscar Racing IMSA Classic

Beyond the Rolex 24 effort, the Riley name also stood tall in the Historic Sportscar Racing IMSA Classic, with four Riley machines competing in the Prototype class.

Riley entered the No. 4A 1996 Riley and Scott MK IIIa driven by James Matthews and the No. 4 2002 Riley and Scott MK III driven by Ford CEO Jim Farley. Also on track, Todd Sloan competed in the No. 60 2006 Riley XI DP, while Chip Vance drove the No. 10 2003 Riley XI DP.

“ I was a tough race, but it’s great to be here on victory lane in Daytona," said Matthews at the podium celebrations.  

The Saturday morning sprint delivered an action-packed show as the lead contenders traded positions throughout the 30-minute race in front of thousands of fans. In the end, Matthews captured the victory, with Farley and Sloan completing the podium. Vance finished fourth, delivering a Riley sweep of the top four positions.

In the GT class, Florent Moulin earned the win in the No. 92 2000 Dodge Viper GTS R, a car that Bill Riley helped develop.

Throughout the broadcast, commentators repeatedly underscored the significance of Riley’s presence at Daytona, noting the marque as the most successful chassis manufacturer in the event’s history. Particular attention was drawn to Jim Farley’s drive, with the booth highlighting the rare sight of a global automotive CEO competing at the front of the field, praising his deep personal commitment to motorsport and Ford’s continued investment in racing. As one commentator summarized, “When you have the people who designed the car running it, that’s about as good as it gets,” a sentiment that resonated as Riley machinery once again filled Victory Lane at Daytona.   

With every driver on the overall podium competing in Riley engineered machinery, the result stood as a powerful reminder of the depth, durability, and legacy of the Riley platform, a moment the entire organization could not be more proud to represent. 

Myers Riley Motorsports now turns the page to build on the pace and progress shown across the event week, with eyes firmly on the next opportunity to showcase the strength of the program. The team will return for the second round of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season, the Twelve Hours of Sebring, from March 18th to 21st, 2026. 

Promising Rolex 24 At Daytona Ends Early for No. 16 Myers Riley Motorsports

What began as a promising Rolex 24 at Daytona weekend ultimately resulted in an unfortunate conclusion for the No. 16 Myers Riley Motorsports Ford Mustang GT3 Evo. Their effort came to a premature close after sustaining race-ending damage, which forced them to retire from the season-opening event.The team’s Bud Moore Engineering tribute entry, featuring a special livery inspired by the iconic 1969 Trans Am No. 16, was co-driven by Jenson Altzman, Sheena Monk, Romain Grosjean, and Felipe Fraga.

After a challenging qualifying session, the No. 16 began to make immediate progress once the green flag flew on Saturday afternoon. Monk launched an aggressive opening stint and began clawing her way back through the field. When Grosjean took over driving duties, the former Formula One driver continued the charge, executing multiple passes and maintaining strong forward momentum.

However, during his stint, a few on-track contacts resulted in damage significant enough that repairs could not be completed in a timely manner. As the sun began to set over Daytona International Speedway, the team made the difficult decision to retire the No. 16 machine from the race.

While the result was not what Myers Riley Motorsports had sought when they came to Daytona, the group rallied together through a demanding yet rewarding event week. The team was proud to welcome VIP guests throughout the weekend, further highlighted by a hosted driver Q&A session with Monk, Grosjean, and Fraga. Monk also took part in a Pinewood Derby activation organized by the series in partnership with the Scouts of America, further engaging fans beyond the track. 

Bud Moore Heritage Comes to Life at Daytona

Few sights and sounds at Daytona International Speedway turn heads like the moment when the past meets the present. The original 1969 Bud Moore Trans Am machine made its way on track for a special car-to-car photo opportunity alongside the modern Mustang GT3 Evo, a sight that resonated all throughout the paddock. The historic car later spent time in the GTD paddock area, drawing fans and cameras at every stop.

Popular content creator David Lang also interviewed Bill Riley and Chris Liebenberg of 3Dog Garage about the iconic Trans Am, giving viewers a closer look at the story behind the tribute and the original car.

The interview can be seen here at the 10-minute mark.