[h=2]IMSA: Pumpelly thriving in three classes[/h] Thursday, 11 August 2016


Marshall Pruett / Images by Pruett, LAT
Sports car ace Spencer Pumpelly is enjoying one of the busiest stretches of his career. The Virginian has gone from searching the Daytona paddock for work as recently as November to splitting his time across three series with three teams as the 2016 season heads toward the finish line.


Hired as the lead driver in the No. 16 Change Racing Lamborghini Huracán GT3 in IMSA's WeatherTech SportsCar Championship GT Daytona class, the leader in the No. 17 RS1 Porsche Cayman Continental Tire Series Street Tuner entry and more recently, as a Pirelli World Challenge stand-in for Peter Cunningham in the No. 34 RealTime Racing Acura TLX, Pumpelly has been swapping firesuits and transporters at a steady clip.
Coming off an ST win with RS1 and teammate Nick Galante last weekend at Road America, not to mention setting the pace in GTD with the Change Lamborghini, Pumpelly has had minimal rest between his IMSA duties and this weekend's PWC doubleheader in the RTR Acura.
"And I wouldn't have it any other way," Pumpelly told RACER. "I'm truly doing what I love, and enjoy working with really good people. It gets a little difficult during an IMSA weekend when I'm coaching my clients and driving with Nick and racing the Lamborghini, but I'm organized before the weekend starts, get the schedules all figured out, and even though it's hectic, it's very rewarding."
Pumpelly's busy stretch has been a blessing, but he also understands that in a market packed with professional drivers hunting for opportunities, there are no guarantees the three-series ride will continue.
"It feels great to be doing what I'm doing right now, but this sport is very fickle, and two months from now all three contracts will be up and I'll be back to square one working on securing everything for next season," he said. "I'd love to continue doing what I'm doing this year, whether it's the new Change Racing program with a new car in a new series for them and a new driver in Corey Lewis, or with RS1, which has been phenomenal, or working with RealTime and a legend like Peter Cunningham and my good friend Ryan Eversley with the Acura program; it has been fantastic."
Pumpelly's recent bounty has also shown how driving talent alone is rarely enough to land multiple contracts. Character, personality and relationships within the various paddocks also plays a significant role in career advancement.
"I have to say a lot of this has been because of friends," he continued. "Ryan [Eversley] introduced me to RealTime, and actually also made the introduction to the RS1 guys, and Andy Lally, who knew [Change Racing owner] Robby Benton from NASCAR, put in a good word for me and that opened a door there when the team moved into IMSA. As good as it is to be me right now, I wouldn't be here without the help from friends."
Slated for one more weekend in the RTR Acura and three more in the Change Huracán, Pumpelly wants to add wins in World Challenge and the WeatherTech Championship to complement his Continental Tire Series victories before 2016 comes to an end.
"We have two victories in ST, and with three races left in the Lamborghini, and one more confirmed race with Acura in Utah this weekend, I think the Change team is ready to get the first win with the Huracán in GTD," he said. "And Ryan has won in the TLX this year so I know the car is capable, and on my first weekend in the car, we got right up to speed and set the fastest lap. RealTime has been really helpful in how they've prepared me to be part of the program, so I'd love to close the season with wins in all three categories."