When the Ruby Tuesday machine re-entered the track, Patrick Long was in the car and in twelfth place. Just as Long took to the track, the race's second full course caution came out, working to the team's benefit as all of the race leaders made pits stops behind the Ruby Tuesday team.
It meant Long was in sixth by the time the race went green on lap 56 and was up into second by the end of his stint.
It was exciting to be running in the top three, he said. I think I was a little overanxious early on the second restart. I got some pick up on my tyres and just pushed the car a little too hard and lost a couple of positions. But, by the end of the stint, when the fuel burned off and I calmed down a little bit, the lap times were really solid and consistent. I was pretty happy with my stint. We are going to keep soldiering through. There is a long way to go.
Former Rolex 24 winner Andy Wallace took control of the #23 Porsche Crawford on lap 90 and was in ninth place to start his first stint. He climbed his way to fourth by the time Hand started his second stint on lap 124.
Running ninth, Hand had his work cut out for him as the #23 was nearly 45 seconds behind the race leader on lap 132. On lap 135, the third caution came out for the #7 Dinan
BMW and it meant he could pit on the next lap and take fuel only to gain track position. When the race went green on lap 140, he was in sixth place and just ten seconds behind. Hand moved to fourth by lap 147, but was helped off the track on lap 151.
As a result of the off-track excursion, the #23 sustained front splitter damage and he made a pit stop on the next lap to look at the suspension and change four tyres putting the car one lap down. However, on lap 156, the fourth race caution came out and this allowed Hand to be back on the lead lap.
