For Aaron Jeansonne, Long Beach represented more than just another weekend on the Porsche Carrera Cup North America calendar. It was a test, a reset, and ultimately, a major confidence boost.
Heading into the event, the famed Southern California street circuit was the only track on the schedule that Jeansonne had never raced on. With no testing available and very little room for error, the weekend already carried a degree of uncertainty. That challenge grew even more complicated when an internal gearbox issue limited his opening practice session to only a few laps.
“Long Beach was a huge weight lifted off our shoulders,” said Jeansonne. “It was the only track on the calendar that I had not been to, and with Tom Sargent showing up to race with us, it really shook things up. To basically miss Practice 1, be on the back foot, and still come through with the results we needed said a lot about our program.”
Jeansonne went on to finish second in both races, collecting valuable points while also setting the fastest lap in each outing. More importantly, he was the only driver able to consistently pressure Sargent throughout the weekend, closing in on the Porsche Motorsport North America Selected Driver. Kellymoss’s ability to recover from early mechanical setbacks and deliver race winning pace reinforced why the team remains one of the benchmark programs in Carrera Cup.
“He fired off really quickly in both races, but we were able to set the fastest lap and close in on him,” Jeansonne added. “To be the only car to challenge Tom all weekend was something I was really proud of.”
On a street course like Long Beach, losing practice time can be costly. The narrow margins, concrete walls, and lack of runoffs leave little room to build confidence gradually. But Jeansonne credited the team for giving him a car capable of fighting when it mattered most.
“At a street course with no testing, that could have been really challenging,” he said. “We had to dig deep. Kellymoss gave me a great car, and when it mattered, I was glad I was able to do the job.”
With four podium finishes in as many races, Jeansonne now heads to Miami firmly in the championship fight. After Long Beach, he sits just five points out of the Drivers’ Championship lead, while Kellymoss is only one point back in the Team Championship standings.
Still, Jeansonne is not treating Miami any differently.
“It’s the same pressure all year, so I don’t feel any different about that,” he explained. “Miami is a track I raced at last year in the series. Tyler Maxson was there as well, but a lot of the front runners were not, so having some familiarity gives me confidence.”
Miami, like Long Beach, presents the unique challenge of a street circuit where teams cannot test beforehand. Preparation becomes even more critical, with drivers relying heavily on simulator work, data, onboard video, and team resources before ever turning a real lap.
“Thankfully, both Long Beach and Miami are scanned and on the sim, so for me, it has been about putting in the preparation there, studying video and data, and looking at our performances so far this year to understand our strengths and weaknesses.”
“The goal now, with the strength we’ve had in the car, is to go to Miami and try to take control of this championship,” he said. “We want to maximize points and win races.”
While the competitive side of the season continues to build, Jeansonne’s connection with Racing For Children has also become an important part of his 2026 campaign. Through the program, children serve as honorary crew chiefs, building a personal connection with the team and the races throughout the season.
“It’s been a lot of fun developing that relationship with the crew chiefs and the kids we are racing for,” he said. “We’ve had a podium in all four races this year, and to have our senior crew chief Molly come up with me every time has been really special.”
There is still one celebration Jeansonne is saving. “She hasn’t let me spray her with champagne yet,” he joked. “One of these days I’ll get her. I’ll probably wait until we’re on the top step.” Jeansonne leaves California and heads to Miami with momentum on his side and confidence building. The mission is simple: keep stacking points, keep fighting at the front, and keep pushing toward that top step.
