Stadium Super Trucks compete in the first of two races during the 51st Grand Prix of Long Beach in Long Beach on Saturday, April 18, 2026. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Bill Hynes jumps a ramp in the first or two Stadium Super Truck races during the 51st Grand Prix of Long Beach in Long Beach on Saturday, April 18, 2026. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Max Gordon is closely followed off the ramp by his father Robby Gordon in the first or two Stadium Super Truck races during the 51st Grand Prix of Long Beach in Long Beach on Saturday, April 18, 2026. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Stadium Super Trucks compete during the 51st Grand Prix of Long Beach in Long Beach on Saturday, April 18, 2026. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Race fans pass the Pinks hot dog stand during the 51st Grand Prix of Long Beach in Long Beach on Saturday, April 18, 2026. (Photo by Dean Musgrove, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Race fans exit one of the pedestrian bridges during the 51st Grand Prix of Long Beach in Long Beach on Saturday, April 18, 2026. (Photo by Dean Musgrove, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Race fans walk past the Formula Draft Hall Of Fame Statue during the 51st Grand Prix of Long Beach in Long Beach on Saturday, April 18, 2026. (Photo by Dean Musgrove, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Race fans move along a pedestrian bridge during the 51st Grand Prix of Long Beach in Long Beach on Saturday, April 18, 2026. (Photo by Dean Musgrove, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Race fans relax at the food trucks during the 51st Grand Prix of Long Beach in Long Beach on Saturday, April 18, 2026. (Photo by Dean Musgrove, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
People relax between race events in the food area behind Shoreline Dr. during the 51st Grand Prix of Long Beach in Long Beach on Saturday, April 18, 2026. (Photo by Dean Musgrove, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Race fans move about between events during the 51st Grand Prix of Long Beach in Long Beach on Saturday, April 18, 2026. (Photo by Dean Musgrove, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Race fans pass the King Taco stand during the 51st Grand Prix of Long Beach in Long Beach on Saturday, April 18, 2026. (Photo by Dean Musgrove, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Landon Elms (5) and his father Logan from Bakersfield, enjoy the second day of racing during the 51st Grand Prix of Long Beach in Long Beach on Saturday, April 18, 2026. (Photo by Dean Musgrove, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
IMSA GTD winners Aaron Telitz, center left, and Benjamin Pedersen, center right, alongside second place finishers Robby Foley, far left, Patrick Gallagher, second from left, and third place finishers Manny Franco, second from right and Albert Costa, right, during the 51st Grand Prix of Long Beach in Long Beach on Saturday, April 18, 2026. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)
IMSA GTP winners, Renger van der Zande, center left, alongside Nick Yelloy, center right, with second place finishers Jack Aitken, far left, Frederik Vesti, second from left, and third place finishers Laurens Vanthoor, second from right and Kevin Estre, far right, during the 51st Grand Prix of Long Beach in Long Beach on Saturday, April 18, 2026. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)
The Vasser Sullivan Racing GTD car (12) speeds through the hairpin in the IMSA race during the 51st Grand Prix of Long Beach in Long Beach on Saturday, April 18, 2026. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)
The Wright Motorsports GTD car (120) races out of the hairpin in the IMSA race during the 51st Grand Prix of Long Beach in Long Beach on Saturday, April 18, 2026. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)
A group of GTP cars race into the hairpin in the IMSA race during the 51st Grand Prix of Long Beach in Long Beach on Saturday, April 18, 2026. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)
The BMW M Team WRT GTP car (25) rests against the wall after crashing at turn 8 in the IMSA race during the 51st Grand Prix of Long Beach in Long Beach on Saturday, April 18, 2026. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)
The BMW M Team WRT GTP car (25) races through the field in the IMSA race during the 51st Grand Prix of Long Beach in Long Beach on Saturday, April 18, 2026. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)
Motorsport fans watch the IMSA race during the 51st Grand Prix of Long Beach in Long Beach on Saturday, April 18, 2026. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)
Motorsport fans watch the IMSA race during the 51st Grand Prix of Long Beach in Long Beach on Saturday, April 18, 2026. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)
The Acura Meyer Shank Racing GTP races into turn 8 in the IMSA race during the 51st Grand Prix of Long Beach in Long Beach on Saturday, April 18, 2026. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)
The AO Racing GTD car (177) races ahead of the BMW M Team WRT GTP car (25) in the IMSA race during the 51st Grand Prix of Long Beach in Long Beach on Saturday, April 18, 2026. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)
The Vasser Sullivan Racing GTD car (89) speeds out of the hairpin in the IMSA race during the 51st Grand Prix of Long Beach in Long Beach on Saturday, April 18, 2026. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)
The Acura Meyer Shank Racing GTP (93) car hustles around the track in the IMSA race during the 51st Grand Prix of Long Beach in Long Beach on Saturday, April 18, 2026. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)
The Vasser Sullivan Racing (12) car leads the GTD field in the IMSA race during the 51st Grand Prix of Long Beach in Long Beach on Saturday, April 18, 2026. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)
The Wright Motorsports GTD car races around the track in the IMSA race during the 51st Grand Prix of Long Beach in Long Beach on Saturday, April 18, 2026. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)
The Acura Meyer Shank Racing GTP car (93) leads the field into turn one in the IMSA race during the 51st Grand Prix of Long Beach in Long Beach on Saturday, April 18, 2026. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)
Members of the U.S. Army Golden Knights parachute onto the track before the start of the IMSA race during the 51st Grand Prix of Long Beach in Long Beach on Saturday, April 18, 2026. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)
GTP cars hustle around the track in the IMSA race during the 51st Grand Prix of Long Beach in Long Beach on Saturday, April 18, 2026. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)
A GTP car hustles around the track in the IMSA race during the 51st Grand Prix of Long Beach in Long Beach on Saturday, April 18, 2026. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)
The DXDT Racing (36) car leads the GTD field into turn one in the IMSA race during the 51st Grand Prix of Long Beach in Long Beach on Saturday, April 18, 2026. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)
The Windward Racing GTD car (57) hustles around the track in the IMSA race during the 51st Grand Prix of Long Beach in Long Beach on Saturday, April 18, 2026. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)
The Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing GTP car makes its way through the track in the IMSA race during the 51st Grand Prix of Long Beach in Long Beach on Saturday, April 18, 2026. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)
The DXDT Racing (36) car leads the GTD field into turn one in the IMSA race during the 51st Grand Prix of Long Beach in Long Beach on Saturday, April 18, 2026. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)
Vasser Sullivan Racing drivers, Aaron Telitz, left, and Benjamin Pedersen, celebrate after winning the GTD class in the IMSA race during the 51st Grand Prix of Long Beach in Long Beach on Saturday, April 18, 2026. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)
Cadillac Whelen GTP driver Frederik Vesti, left, pours champaign over IMSA race winner, Acura Meyer Shank Racing GTP driver Renger van der Zande during the 51st Grand Prix of Long Beach in Long Beach on Saturday, April 18, 2026. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)
Acura Meyer Shank Racing GTP driver, Renger van der Zande, sprays champaigne after winning the IMSA race during the 51st Grand Prix of Long Beach in Long Beach on Saturday, April 18, 2026. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)
Vasser Sullivan Racing driver Benjamin Pedersen, center left, celebrates after winning the GTD class in the IMSA race during the 51st Grand Prix of Long Beach in Long Beach on Saturday, April 18, 2026. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)
Acura Meyer Shank Racing GTP driver, Renger van der Zande, left, kisses his teammate, Nick Yelloly, as they celebrate after winning the IMSA race during the 51st Grand Prix of Long Beach in Long Beach on Saturday, April 18, 2026. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)
Acura Meyer Shank Racing GTP drivers, Renger van der Zande, left and Nick Yelloly celebrate after winning the IMSA race during the 51st Grand Prix of Long Beach in Long Beach on Saturday, April 18, 2026. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)
Acura Meyer Shank Racing GTP driver, Renger van der Zande, sprays champaigne after winning the IMSA race during the 51st Grand Prix of Long Beach in Long Beach on Saturday, April 18, 2026. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)
Acura Meyer Shank Racing GTP drivers, Renger van der Zande, left and Nick Yelloly celebrate after winning the IMSA race during the 51st Grand Prix of Long Beach in Long Beach on Saturday, April 18, 2026. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)
Cars make the turn away from Seaside Way in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship during the 51st Grand Prix of Long Beach in Long Beach on Saturday, April 18, 2026. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Cars make the turn away from Seaside Way in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship during the 51st Grand Prix of Long Beach in Long Beach on Saturday, April 18, 2026. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Cars make the turn away from Seaside Way in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship during the 51st Grand Prix of Long Beach in Long Beach on Saturday, April 18, 2026. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
A photographer crouches down to get a low angle perspective of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship during the 51st Grand Prix of Long Beach in Long Beach on Saturday, April 18, 2026. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Eventual winner, the Acura Meyer Shank Racing team #93 heads towards the hairpin turn in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship during the 51st Grand Prix of Long Beach in Long Beach on Saturday, April 18, 2026. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Spectators peer through the fence for the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship during the 51st Grand Prix of Long Beach in Long Beach on Saturday, April 18, 2026. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Spectators peer through the fence for the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship during the 51st Grand Prix of Long Beach in Long Beach on Saturday, April 18, 2026. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Seara and Paymon pose for their courtesy Grand Prix magazine cover from Box Of Cheese photo experiences in the Lifestyle and Expo Center during the 51st Grand Prix of Long Beach in Long Beach on Saturday, April 18, 2026. (Photo by Dean Musgrove, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
A couple pose for a photo at the Welcome Race Fans sigh during the 51st Grand Prix of Long Beach in Long Beach on Saturday, April 18, 2026. (Photo by Dean Musgrove, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Seara and Paymon pose with their courtesy Grand Prix magazine cover from Box Of Cheese photo experiences in the Lifestyle and Expo Center during the 51st Grand Prix of Long Beach in Long Beach on Saturday, April 18, 2026. (Photo by Dean Musgrove, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
A young race fan tests his reaction time at the Box Of Cheese photo experiences in the Lifestyle and Expo Center during the 51st Grand Prix of Long Beach in Long Beach on Saturday, April 18, 2026. (Photo by Dean Musgrove, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Race fans try out a game of Red Ball Tennis in the Lifestyle and Expo Center during the 51st Grand Prix of Long Beach in Long Beach on Saturday, April 18, 2026. (Photo by Dean Musgrove, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Race cars on display in the Lifestyle and Expo Center during the 51st Grand Prix of Long Beach in Long Beach on Saturday, April 18, 2026. (Photo by Dean Musgrove, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Race fans taste chocolate at the Chocolate Moonshine Company booth at the Lifestyle and Experience Center during the 51st Grand Prix of Long Beach in Long Beach on Saturday, April 18, 2026. (Photo by Dean Musgrove, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Families file in for the 51st Grand Prix of Long Beach in Long Beach on Saturday, April 18, 2026. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Fans file in for the 51st Grand Prix of Long Beach in Long Beach on Saturday, April 18, 2026. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
An interactive Acura experience sits on top of a parking garage at the 51st Grand Prix of Long Beach in Long Beach on Saturday, April 18, 2026. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
The new Formula DRIFT Hall of Fame sits on the main concourse during the 51st Grand Prix of Long Beach in Long Beach on Saturday, April 18, 2026. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Attendees walk past the recently-installed Formula DRIFT Hall of Fame on the main concourse during the 51st Grand Prix of Long Beach in Long Beach on Saturday, April 18, 2026. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
9-month-old Mona Yamada arrives for her first Grand Prix of Long Beach on Saturday, April 18, 2026. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Rachel Brogan and her boyfriend, Chris Veliz, participate in the Acura G-Force Experience during the second day of the Grand Prix of Long Beach on Saturday, April 18. (Photo by Madeline Armstrong, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Rachel Brogan and her boyfriend, Chris Veliz, participate in the Acura G-Force Experience during the second day of the Grand Prix of Long Beach on Saturday, April 18. (Photo by Madeline Armstrong, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Indycar driver Marcus Ericsson hustles down the back stretch in a NTT Indycar Series practice session during the 51st Grand Prix of Long Beach in Long Beach on Saturday, April 18, 2026. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)
Indycar driver David Malukas speeds down the back stretch in a NTT Indycar Series practice session during the 51st Grand Prix of Long Beach in Long Beach on Saturday, April 18, 2026. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)
Indycar driver Romain Grosjean hustles down the back stretch in a NTT Indycar Series practice session during the 51st Grand Prix of Long Beach in Long Beach on Saturday, April 18, 2026. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)
Trackside workers watch the second practice session for the NTT Indycar Series during the 51st Grand Prix of Long Beach in Long Beach on Saturday, April 18, 2026. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)
Indycar driver Alexander Rossi speeds down the backstretch in a NTT Indycar Series practice session during the 51st Grand Prix of Long Beach in Long Beach on Saturday, April 18, 2026. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)
A photographer captures the NTT Indycar Series action during a practice session during the 51st Grand Prix of Long Beach in Long Beach on Saturday, April 18, 2026. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)
Jim Liaw, president and CEO of the Long Beach Grand Prix Association, looks on at the Motorsports Walk of Fame induction ceremony in Long Beach on Thursday, Apr. 16, 2026. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Identical Porsche 911 GT3 cars compete in the Porsche Carrera Cup on day two of the 51st Grand Prix of Long Beach in Long Beach on Saturday, April 18, 2026. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Spectators get close to the track for the Porsche Carrera Cup on day two of the 51st Grand Prix of Long Beach in Long Beach on Saturday, April 18, 2026. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Young crew members spiff up a Stadium Super Truck in the Lifestyle Expo during the 51st Grand Prix of Long Beach in Long Beach on Saturday, April 18, 2026. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Identical Porsche 911 GT3 cars compete in the Porsche Carrera Cup on day two of the 51st Grand Prix of Long Beach in Long Beach on Saturday, April 18, 2026. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Stadium Super Trucks compete in the first of two races during the 51st Grand Prix of Long Beach in Long Beach on Saturday, April 18, 2026. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
ExpandLONG BEACH — Renger van der Zande made sure Acura was accurate in the event bearing the manufacturer’s name.
Read more 2026 Grand Prix of Long Beach: Rosenqvist posts best finish, Brabham wins Stadium Super Trucks race
After teammate Nick Yelloly earned the pole on Friday, van der Zande secured the win in the IMSA Grand Touring Prototype Round 3 race on Saturday at the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach.
“This is home ground for Acura,” van der Zande said. “They gave me the car in (position one), and that’s the easiest to drive it home.”
The Dutchman, driving the No. 93 Acura ARX-06 for Meyer Shank Racing, crossed the finish line more than eight-tenths of a second ahead of Long Beach first-timer Frederik Vesti.
“(Vesti) didn’t make it too easy,” van der Zande said. “It was high-intensity, and I came out of the car a little red because I was working hard out there.”
Leading the final 6-plus minutes of 70 laps over the 100-minute race, van der Zande won for the third time at Long Beach and sixth time in the last 10 races overall.
“It was a nail-biting finish, but I knew the guy behind the wheel could do the job,” Yelloly said. “He knows this place like the back of his hand.”
Recent industry speculation has put Torrance-based Acura’s future with IMSA in doubt.
“I’m just trying to win,” van der Zande said. “Winning races is the best solution to a lot of things.”
Vesti and Jack Aitken finished second as the No. 31 Cadillac V-Series R made its fifth consecutive podium dating to last season.
Read more 2026 Grand Prix of Long Beach: Alex Palou earns elusive 1st win
“You need to have a good start, have a good stop and not make mistakes,” Aitken. “We pretty much hit those boxes, so it (stinks) to not get the win.”
In the race’s most significant incident, former IMSA champion Ricky Taylor wiggled from a bump and crashed into the tire barrier on Turn 6, catching fire briefly to cause a full-course yellow flag caution with 24 minutes remaining.
On the 30th anniversary of Jimmy Vasser’s win at the 1996 Grand Prix of Long Beach, Vasser Sullivan Racing’s Aaron Telitz and Benjamin Pedersen teamed to claim the IMSA Grand Touring Daytona Round 3 race.
“We had one goal, and that was to get to the front and get this Vasser Sullivan team another victory,” Telitz said. “We just need to keep having good races. We don’t need to set the world on fire or anything. We just need to have solid races, and it feels like we’ll be in the hunt.”
Driving the No. 12 Lexus RCF GT3, Telitz cruised to a win by more than 5 seconds over Patrick Gallagher and Robby Foley in the No. 96 Turner Motorsports BMW M4 GT3 EVO
Vasser Sullivan Racing doubled its success this weekend after Frankie Montecalvo claimed the GTD pole on Friday and Telitz got the race win on Saturday, the team’s first since winning at Long Beach in 2024.
“We’ve gone a long time without a win and everyone on the team felt that,” Telitz said. “It was awesome to be able to secure that hardware.”
The IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship next races at Laguna Seca in Salinas, May 1-3.
Read more Santa Anita consensus picks for Saturday, May 9, 2026