Buras takes triumphant win on return after crash

Todd Buras took victory in the World Challenge race at VIR, five months after a horrific crash which put the driver out for half the season.

Todd Buras came back racing in a new car built by Irish Mike’s Racing, a Volkswagen Jetta GLI, but lost position at the start to the DG-Spec Scion tC of Robert Stout.

At the end of the first lap, Buras slipped ahead and held on for the win.

“We can’t launch like the Scions can,” Buras said.

“He slipped coming down to the start-finish and I got the lead and I never looked back. It started to rain and then it was just a see-saw back and forth gap. Where I was weak, he was strong and where he was weak, I was strong. He’s a great competitor. Robert Stout has come a long way in the last six or so races. Lots of great competitors here.”

Buras re-caps his crash at the same track back in April whilst racing in the Grand-Am Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge series.

“I broke four ribs, had severe whiplash, severe trauma to the neck and a pulmonary contusion to the left lung. That was four months ago. It’s been a long recovery. My doctor said ‘go make it hurt and then make it hurt some more’ after the healing was done. I got back into shape, lost 20 pounds and now I feel pretty good.”

Buras won from Robert Stout’s Scion, who increases his lead in the championship from Eric Meyer, with Brett Sandberg’s Acura in third.