Currently on the bubble is Brenton Hobson, a fan favorite and seasoned veteran on the grid. After a disappointing DNF at Watkins Glen in the previous round, Hobson has slipped to 20th in the standings. His experience and popularity make his precarious position a surprising and closely watched development as the competition intensifies.

R: Can you give us a brief recap of each of the first five races from your perspective? What went well and what didn’t?

BH: It's been an interesting start to the season. I struggled badly at Sebring to start the year and inherited a decent finish amidst all the chaos that happened at the front of the pack. From there I feel like I've steadily improved all season up until Watkins Glen where I had a technical issue force me out of the race and forced a 0 points result. I went from comfortably inside the top 10 back to 20th so now I'm on the back foot again, trying to accumulate points.

R: You suffered some misfortune at Watkins Glen. How do you bounce back from that heading into the next race at Road America?

BH: Despite the obvious bad result, I actually felt fast and comfortable going into Watkins Glen. Probably the best I've been in the Supercar for some time. So I can take some of that confidence into Road America. I treat the hardware issue that I sustained like a part failure on a real-life car, it was outside of my control and there was nothing I could do about it so I try not to dwell on that too much.

R: Did you expect to be in this position at this point in the season? How does your current standing compare to your initial expectations?

BH: I'm fairly realistic with my expectations. I have managed to place inside the top 20 both in 2022 and in 2023 so I feel like that's where I should be again this year. I feel like I'm a good points racer and should probably be capable of getting close to the top 10 over the season but a DNF at Watkins Glen probably puts an end to that. After Round 1 at Sebring I probably wouldn't have even expected to be near the top 20 so I can't be too disappointed with where I'm at, especially with a bad result behind me.

R: How has your team supported you throughout the season, and what role do they play in your preparation and strategy?

BH: I'm really fortunate to be a part of Synergy Sim Racing. I'm not a very proactive driver when it comes to testing and preparation and luckily for me I can lean pretty heavily on my teammates when it comes to preparing car setups. I usually have an idea of my strategy going into a race and I adapt on the fly. I think my experience helps me a lot there and I tend to be pretty good at that part of the racing. Of course, having a number of other drivers to bounce ideas off of is certainly beneficial and I often find myself comparing potential outcomes with my teammates who might have a completely different approach to the strategy.

R: Does being on the edge of the top 20 add extra pressure to perform, and how do you ensure that this pressure drives you positively rather than hindering your performance?

BH: I think the pressure around the top 20 is worse at the end of the season if you're close to the bubble. This early on there's a lot to still play out including enduros so it's not worth worrying about the points too much yet. I think my experience helps me out with handling that pressure as well. I've been around a long time and manage my nerves quite comfortably. I know I can only go out and do my best. Trying to force a better result than I'm capable on any given night won't yield a benefit so I just go about my business and let the points take care of themselves.