Paul Miller Racing Wins IMSA GTD Pro Title at Petit Le Mans

Miami-Dade County drivers Connor de Phillippi and Neil Verhagen, alongside co-driver Dan Harper, secured the IMSA GTD Pro championship with a third-place finish at the Petit Le Mans race at Road Atlanta on Oct. 3, 2026. Paul Miller Racing overcame early-race contact, a drive-through penalty, and changing weather conditions to achieve their season goal.

The team's BMW M4 GT3 EVO, starting from pole, faced adversity during the 10-hour endurance race. Contact involving Harper resulted in a drive-through penalty, forcing the team to regain lost ground. Later, Verhagen's strategic decision to remain on slick tires during a rain shower proved beneficial as the track dried, allowing the car to maintain pace and secure a podium spot.

"I haven't been able to wrap my head around it," de Phillippi said. "A lot of character-building years in IMSA. When I had the chance to join Paul Miller Racing for the full season, I knew it was a huge opportunity to try to win the championship." He credited the team's consistency and minimal mistakes for their success.

Verhagen called the season "surreal" and his "most successful season in motorsport ever," highlighting the team's victory at the Rolex 24 At Daytona and their consistent endurance race performance. This championship marks Paul Miller Racing's second overall GTD title in three years and their third consecutive GTD Pro Endurance Cup victory.

The championship was decided in the final hours when a rival Corvette spun, allowing Paul Miller Racing to clinch the necessary points. De Phillippi, watching from the pit wall, calculated the standings in the closing minutes. The victory is de Phillippi's first championship in seven full IMSA seasons.