Elton Julian and Eric Lux led the LMPC field to win the class for Genoa Racing at Lime Rock. Photo credit: Rick Dole for Michelin North America

Dyson Racing scored a class win at Lime Rock in 2009, and in 2011 took that a step higher with an overall victory at its home race. Based not far from the 1.474-mile park road course in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., Guy Smith and Chris Dyson took their first overall win in 2011 and first since Mid-Ohio, 2010 in their Dyson Lola Mazda coupe.

“Lucas and I went back and forth from the word go,” Dyson said of his fight with Muscle Milk Aston Martin Racing’s Lucas Luhr early in the race. “It felt like a bit of a video game. A good fight with a great racer.”

In second, both Luhr and Klaus Graf put up a great fight. An earlier pit stop put them in prime position to jump the Dyson car, but a caution about 45 minutes into the race negated the advantage. Shortly thereafter, Graf spun while passing a GTC Porsche, and lost more than a dozen seconds.

Muscle Milk AMR captured the MICHELIN® GREEN X® Challenge in prototypes, the race within a race to determine the car which ran the fastest, furthest and with the smallest environmental impact. This is the second straight MICHELIN GREEN X Challenge win for the team, having also secured the environmental victory at Long Beach.

Dyson’s second entry of Humaid al Masaood and Steven Kane drove from last on the grid to third place overall. Solid driving from both series newcomers in their ALMS debut kept them mainly out of trouble and two accidents that happened right in front of them.

In LMP Challenge, Elton Julian and Eric Lux secured Genoa Racing’s second win of 2011 — the first for the team’s No. 63 car. Julian, who co-drove to victory in class with Gunnar Jeannette in 2010, beat Jeannette to the flag this time around. Jeannette co-drove with Ricardo Gonzalez in the No. 06 CORE autosport entry.

“It’s two completely different wins,” Julian said. “Last year we had a gearbox problem, and started from the back. It was a win with strategy. This year, we came out of the box, were strong from the qualifying session, and did a good job from the start. Having the lead was the easiest thing. I started to save tires from there.”

Kyle Marcelli and Tomy Drissi recovered from a pair of spins (Drissi was punted on both occasions) to secure their second straight podium finish in the No. 89 Intersport car. The team’s sister No. 37 car ran well with Jon Field going on a charge to second in class after he took over from James Kovacic, but retired with about 45 minutes remaining.