MX-5 racer takes two wins in World Challenge TCA.

After winning at Barber Motorsports Park early in the season, Ernie Francis Jr. had been searching for another win in Pirelli World Challenge Touring Car A, the class for non-professional drivers. He finally found the formula at Brainerd International Raceway in Minnesota in Rounds 11 and 12 this past weekend, where he took a double victory.

In Round 11, Francis Jr., of Dania, Fla., in the No. 98 Breathless Performance Mazda MX-5, started second but quickly emerged the leader after the start to take home the Optima Batteries Best Standing Start of the race. He led flag-to-flag and won by 26.93 seconds. The win is Francis Jr.’s ninth in his Pirelli World Challenge career after taking seven TCB wins last season in a Mazda2.

Setting the fast lap in Round 11 meant Francis Jr. started on the pole for Round 12, making the run to the checker fairly straightforward. Francis Jr. started fifth overall and finished in the same position, first in TCA with a margin of victory of 23.853 seconds.

The Pirelli World Challenge Championships conclude their 2014 season at Miller Motorsports Park with another doubleheader on Sept. 12-13.