Kenton Koch Takes Two at NOLA

Mazda scholarship driver wins both IMSA Cooper Tires Prototype Lites races in Louisiana to make it three of four for the season.

Kenton Koch captured his second and third wins in the 2015 Cooper Tires Prototype Lites Powered by Mazda series with wins in Rounds Three and Four at NOLA Motorsports Park.

Koch, 20, from Glendora, Calif., led from start to finish and won under a caution triggered by separate incidents toward the end of the first race, which was scheduled for 30 minutes. The race was shortened due to two lengthy cautions, with limited green flag action on the 13-turn, 2.74-mile road course.

Championship leader Koch led a sweep of the podium by reigning Team Champions JDC Motorsports. Teammates Clark Toppe and Matt McMurry finished second and third, respectively.

Toppe, 17, from The Woodlands, Texas, split the opening two rounds of the series with Koch last month at Sebring and started third in this round. Toppe passed McMurry, 17, from Phoenix, on the first lap and gained ground on teammate Koch for the lead. But Toppe’s charge was cut short by the cautions.

Koch repeated the feat in the second race at NOLA Motorsports Park. Like the first, it was cut short, this time due to inclement weather, leaving only 13 minutes of racing. Koch started out front and led until the race was red flagged. McMurry was second, followed by Austin Versteeg.

The IMSA Cooper Tires Prototype Lites Powered by Mazda will resume action in late June at Watkins Glen International.