DXDT Racing Forced to Withdraw from Laguna Seca After Transporter Fire

The North Carolina-based outfit had kept its rig on the West Coast following the recent Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach. On Wednesday morning, while traveling along I-5 just north of Bakersfield, California, the transporter is believed to have suffered a left-rear axle failure that triggered the blaze.

Fortunately, no one was hurt, but the damage was severe enough to end the team's weekend before it began.

"Unfortunately the damage incurred is too substantial for us to continue moving forward for this weekend's event in Laguna Seca, after what appears to be a failure on a left-rear truck axle and a substantial fire," program manager Bryan Sellers told Sportscar365.

"It's heartbreaking to have to make this decision, for all of our partners involved and individuals that support us. Dave Askew, Erin Gahagan and myself are all extremely thankful for the outpouring of help from competitors, our partner manufacturers, and of course IMSA. We are already assessing what needs to be done to make sure we are ready for Watkins Glen and moving forward."

Robert Wickens and Mason Filippi had been set to share driving duties in Sunday's two-hour, 40-minute IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship race. The event would have been Wickens' second start of the season, following an impressive run at Long Beach where the Canadian claimed GTD class pole.

The team reportedly considered shipping its spare Corvette chassis cross-country from its East Coast base, but the 2,600-mile journey would have taken roughly 40 hours, with the car arriving no earlier than Friday evening, leaving little time to prepare.

DXDT's withdrawal reduces the entry list to 33 cars for Sunday's race.

With the next GTD round, the Sahlen's Six Hours of The Glen, not until late June, the team will have several weeks to rebuild and regroup before returning to action.