March 23, 2026 — Sebring, Fl. — Vasser Sullivan driver Frankie Montecalvo alongside co-drivers Benjamin Pedersen and Aaron Telitz showed determination and resilience in the 74th running of the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, overcoming an early setback to bring their car home 13th in class.
Pedersen opened the race weekend with a strong qualifying effort, placing the car sixth on the grid and setting the tone for a competitive start. When the first caution flag flew, he handed the car over to Montecalvo, who wasted no time moving forward through the field.
Montecalvo delivered an impressive stint, climbing as high as third position and putting the team firmly in contention. However, the team’s momentum was halted when he began experiencing gearbox issues, forcing an unscheduled trip behind the wall for repairs.
The crew worked quickly to diagnose and fix the problem, but the extended stop cost the team 52 laps. Despite the significant setback, the team remained committed to the fight, returning to the track and continuing to log laps for the remainder of the race.
“It’s always great to be back at Sebring for the twelve hour. The fans, the atmosphere and the track itself are unlike any other circuit on the calendar,” said Montecalvo.
“We showed decent pace early in the week, and Ben [Pedersen] was able to qualify the car sixth in class. Ben had a good start and was able to stay out of trouble. When the first caution came out, Ben handed the car over to me. I had a good restart and was able to make my way up to third in class before a gearbox issue emerged. We were forced to go behind the wall to make the necessary repairs to be able to get back on track and finish the race.”
In the end, Montecalvo, Pedersen, and Telitz crossed the finish line 13th in class—a result that did not reflect the car’s early pace but underscored the team’s perseverance in one of endurance racing’s toughest events.
“It’s obviously not the result we were hoping for. We had a strong car early on, and Ben did a great job in qualifying and the opening stint. I felt good moving up through the field, but unfortunately, the gearbox issue set us back. I’m incredibly proud of the team for getting the car repaired and back out on track—we never gave up, and that’s one of the greatest things about this Vasser Sullivan team. We’ll regroup and be back stronger for the next one.”
Montecalvo will be back to racing action later in the year. Be sure to follow Frankie on Facebook, Instagram, and X to stay up to date with all of Frankie’s racing news.