Dateline: Friday, May 8th, 2026
Ladies, gentlemen, and cute little dogs, it is the Friday before a GT4 race weekend, and you know what that means. It’s time to check the GTWorld YouTube schedule to see when Jay (or James, or Uncle Jay, or Mr. Walker, or Dad, or Jim, etc, etc…) is doing his thing on track. It’s time to check the clock to see if you’ll have enough time to get home before the green flag drops. Most importantly, it’s time to check your email inbox and NOT see a newsletter from James Walker, Jr.
Q: Cute little dogs? Where?
A: I’m glad you asked. Here they are, barely containing themselves while Mom scoops their Charlie Postins-branded dinner.
We got the DNA tests back. They’re mutts.
Q: I thought your dad writes happy newsletters when he wins?
A: Usually. If you’re new here, it may be news to you that I, Walker Jr. Jr., am not the standard newsletter author. My dad used to write a newsletter after every race – win, lose, or tie. Even though you can’t really tie. He has been a little less regular about it in recent years but did tell me he was going to write one for COTA 2026.
Maybe it was the champagne talking, but alas, there were only two weeks in between COTA and Sebring, and I guess that’s not enough time to sit and think deeply about the written word when you run a company, teach a driving school, and still have to make it to the gym every morning. The plan was for me to write a little epilogue to my dad’s newsletter, with him doing the hard work of filling you in on the facts and reality. I held up my end of the deal. Since he has failed to do so, you will be getting only a small bit of the factual narrative, so I hope you watched the race.
Q: I promise I had a good excuse. Did he win?
A: Alright, I guess a brief summary is in order. James Walker, Jr. has won the GT4 Lonestar Enduro at COTA for the third year in a row! New partner, same result. James Clay has won it back-to-back as well in the Am class. After a wrecked Cayman ended qualifying early, the starting order for the race reverted to the results from the latest practice session, resulting in my dad “qualifying” on Am-class pole for the first time. This was a relief after the #36’s flying lap was paused by the red flag, but Ethan would like me to point out that my dad’s trophy case would not be much heavier if they gave out awards for qualifying.
My dad didn’t know a Cayman was an animal. Now you know too.
Q: Were the Jameses worthy of the unexpected pole position?
A: Darn right they were. Walker, Jr. and Clay kept it in between the lines all day, drove smartly to avoid slower cars and out-of-class competitors, suffered a 30-second penalty for a pit stop infraction [dad edit: I’ll fill you in on the details later], but finished the race flawlessly in order to bring it home on the top step of the podium for a much-needed positive finish. Congratulations to all on a great race and a well-deserved victory!
Q: Ok, I’m caught up now. Is this where your dad’s newsletter would have ended?
A: This is where my dad’s newsletter would have ended. “Click here to follow us!” Enjoy the epilogue. Good thing Amanda said she was looking forward to MY newsletter.
Dateline: Saturday, April 25, 2026
Q: Is this really necessary?
A: It’s not, but now that my dad has done the hard work of filling you in on the actual narrative and facts [Yuppie edit: LOL], I can share the fun stuff. Plus, Amanda quoted my Sonoma newsletter and said she was looking forward to the next one. With VIR off the 2026 calendar, COTA is now everybody’s adopted hometown race, and is always a great event, so I didn’t want to miss out.
Spoiler alert: I missed out. Don’t worry, I’m fine.
Q: No “see you in Austin” after all?
A: Nope. I will spare you the details, but I suppose I should be thankful that I started feeling bad before I got too far from home, rather than midway through my 600-mile weekend road trip. Maybe I should have a little more of the Josh Green attitude towards leaving it all behind the wheel while operating at far less than 100%. But there are always future races to attend.
Thanks Josh, now I feel like a wimp.
Q: Are you okay?
A: I told you, I’m fine. Just very poor timing and good friends who rightfully insisted I get checked out (thanks guys!). Nothing to worry about, I simply did not have a very good weekend…
BUT BIMMERWORLD DID!!!!
Said friends are still wrapping their heads around multi-class racing.
Q: Tell us honestly, would your dad and the other James have won if not for the late safety car?
A: It would have been pretty close. By my calculations, the #413 of the Lizards that Fly (and they were flying) had about a 105-second lead over the #36 of BimmerWorld with 35 minutes left, and the pit stop minimum is 95 seconds. It would have been a pretty close shootout towards the end after their driver change, and it would have been pretty tense, but we can fall back on hitting our marks all weekend in order to be there to seize the prize when the opportunity was presented. Preparation and execution produce results, sometimes. It’s a win!
In other words, you better be ready when the 5 (ceases to) roll by.
Q: Who taught you to give these nice corporate answers?
A: Unclear, but excellent work by everyone at BimmerWorld for propelling Mr. Walker Jr. to a third consecutive Lone Star Enduro victory! And we really need to give props to the crew for nailing three pitstops in a row with blinding speed and efficiency. Almost like they watched Cars a few times leading up to the race?
You will have your chance, Austin, you will have your chance.
Q: Is that where the 30-second penalty came from?
A: No, that’s another story. But rumor has it that the stewards are still in disbelief at how fast BimmerWorld serviced the car and have yet to pick up their fallen mustaches.
I don’t believe it! That was the fastest pit stop I’ve ever seen!
Q: Your dad really made sure you liked that movie, didn’t he?
A: I don’t remember watching another movie before the age of eleven.
Q: Did the car survive the whole weekend without anything falling off this time?
A: Barely. Observe how the right-side door has developed a personality of its own and opens just enough to keep you guessing now. I think this is an all-new door. I am not sure if the Vandals got theirs back. I told my dad to explain the politics behind the door-borrowing, so here’s hoping he did in his newsletter (which I told him to write).
Not again!
Q: Did the giving spirit continue in Texas?
A: The spirit of giving grew even stronger, perhaps influenced by our national motto, “Friendship”. With the KellyMoss team in need after a hard crash in qualifying, NolaSport surpassed Random Vandals in the generosity department by donating not just the door, but the entire car that comes attached to it! I guess they read the shirt that I was wearing at the urgent care. I’d be interested to see how much of a tax write-off The World’s Fastest Accountant can secure for his team after this episode.
Brother from another mother?
Q: Did BimmerWorld’s bad luck get transferred to the Cherry Garcias?
A: It would appear so. They were undoubtedly Grateful to have a strong car that was contending with BimmerWorld for the class lead but had to pull over and retire when it suddenly became Dead. They did start the race directly behind the black Hello Kitty sticker, so my theory has not been proven wrong yet. However, the pink machine came away victorious in a separate event this weekend: the Coolest Wheels competition. I really can’t tell you why, but I think the white wheels on the ACI Motorsports #21 look pretty awesome, and they should make them permanent. But you can look and decide for yourself. I will point out that bad luck only struck after they switched to basic, boring dark wheels at their pit stop.
Cherry Garcia a la mode.
Q: Does BimmerWorld at least get second place in the Coolest Wheels competition?
A: Nope, they got the race win, so they are not classified in this contest. That honor goes to the Silver-class Supra that Mr. Clay almost gobbled up (not in a good way) at the end of the race.
I didn’t know what these batteries were called and it took me way too long to find a picture of them.
Q: Even if your dad has boring wheels on his car, are you proud of him?
A: Of course! Excellent driving, young man, and brilliant racecraft (announcer quote). It’s a quick turnaround for Sebring in May (5:40 ET on 5/8 and 12:45 ET on 5/9), but that’s good because it gives the positive momentum and good vibes a chance to carry over into the next race. We have a pretty great team and pretty great drivers to root for. Guido would be very proud of them too.
Pitstop.
Q: Canonically speaking, wouldn’t Guido prefer to service Ferraris?
A: Canonically speaking, Guido is based on a 1959 BMW Isetta, so you can stop trying to flex your Cars knowledge around me. I’m sure he wouldn’t mind helping a fellow Bimmer out.
What a nice graphic this is.
See you in the chat room of the GTWorld livestream!
ZJW