Andy McDermid, American Sedan champion. (Photo: Mark Weber/SCCA)
The final eight of 28 National Champions were crowned during the SCCA National Championship Runoffs at Road America on Sunday, completing 28 races in three days at the four-mile circuit. 527 drivers participated in the week-long National Championship event that culminated on a rainy day in Elkhart Lake, Wis.
Race 21: Gauper Splashes To First SCCA National Championship in H Production
Local driver Greg Gauper, of Hubertus, Wis., used his local knowledge to splash around a wet Road America circuit and win the H Production National Championship at the 48th SCCA National Championship Runoffs on Sunday morning. Dick Gagliardi, of Arlington Heights, Ill., and Jason Isley, of Coto De Caza, Calif., completed the podium.
Gauper’s No. 15 Rana Mort Racing Honda Civic started third on the grid, but was quickest during Monday’s qualifying session during a downpour. With overnight rains soaking the track, Gauper’s rain set-up would come in handy for the 13-lap race.
The eventual National Champion started the race behind Gumout polesitter Mike Moser, of Milwaukee, Wis., in the No. 01 ETE Reman/Goodyear/Alchemy Honda CRX and Chris Albin, of Maryland Heights, Mo., in the No. 3 Hoosier/247-parts.com/AMT engines Volkswagen Golf GTI. Moser and Albin were joined by Ron Bartell’s No. 4 Hoosier Tires MG Midget up front in the early laps, before Albin fell out of the race with mechanical issues after the first lap. That left Moser and Bartell to battle for the lead.
Gauper and Gagliardi’s No. 0 Loop Racing/Tel Systems Volkswagen Scirocco both moved past Bartell on lap three, and Gauper moved into the lead past Moser in turn eight on the same lap. Moser and Bartell both spun off later in that lap, taking them out of contention.
With Gauper in the lead, he spent the remaining 10 laps holding off a charging Gagliardi, with Jason Isley’s No. 99 Racer.com/Goodyear/AST-USA/Toyota Toyota Yaris pulling to the rear of that battle on a handful of occasions.
Gauper, using strong runs through the Carousel on every lap, held off charges from Gagliardi to finish the 13-lap, 52-mile race exactly three seconds in the lead.
Gagliardi, making his first Runoffs appearance, finished second and turned the Hawk Fastest Lap of the race in 3:11.959 (75.016 mph).
Isley, a four-time SCCA Solo National Champion, started 12th and used his car control to bring the Yaris – SportsCar Magazine’s project car for the past two seasons – through the field and into the lead battle. In his first time road racing in the rain, Isley lost touch with the leaders in the later laps and then fell back to James Rogerson’s No. 66 Hoosier/MSR Houston/Over 50 Racing Honda Civic. When Isley locked up the tires on the final lap going into turn five and ran wide, Rogerson moved into third place.
The Toyota got a run down the backstraight to Canada Corner, moving back into third and holding the gap to the checkered flag for his first Runoffs podium finish and the Sunoco Hard Charger Award for improving nine positions.
Rogerson, of Pearland, Texas, finished fourth, followed by Mat Brannon‘s No. 2 Midwest-Bayless Italian Auto Fiat X 1/9.
ELKHART LAKE, Wis. - Provisional Results from Sunday’s H Production National Championship Race, part of the 48th SCCA National Championship Runoffs at Road America with finish position, starting position in parenthesis, driver, hometown, car and laps complete.
1, (3), Greg Gauper, Hubertus, WI, Honda Civic, 13.
2, (4), Dick Gagliardi, Arlington Heights, IL, Volkswagen Scirocco, 13.
3, (12), Jason Isley, Coto De Caza, CA, Toyota Yaris, 13.
4, (5), James Rogerson, Pearland, TX, Honda Civic, 13.
5, (8), Matt Brannon, Columbus, OH, Fiat X 1/9, 13.
6, (7), Ron Bartell, Madbury, NH, MG Midget, 13.
7, (10), Brad Davis, Summerville, SC, Mini Cooper, 13.
8, (13), Terry Boylan, Lakeland, FL, Honda CRX, 13.
9, (15), Jerry Oleson, Aurora, CO, Austin-Healey Sprite, 13.
10, (14), Bob Eichelberger, Imperial, MO, Austin-Healey Sprite, 12.
11, (20), Rocky Entriken, Salina, KS, Triumph Spitfire, 12.
12, (9), Gary Wittman, Costa Mesa, CA, Austin-Healey Sprite, 12.
13, (18), Mike Cummings, Martinez, CA, Austin-Healey Sprite, 12.
14, (1), Mike Moser, Milwaukee, WI, Honda CRX, 12.
15, (11), Jack Schulz, Monett, MO, MG Midget, 11.
16, (21), Rob Horrell Jr, Memphis, TN, Austin-Healey Sprite, 11.
DNF, (16), Keith Church, Greensboro, NC, Toyota Corolla, 3.
DNF, (2), Chris Albin, Maryland Heights, MO, Volkswagen Golf GTI, 3.
DNF, (19), A. L. (Tony) Drum, Mount Holly, NC, Austin-Healey Sprite, 3.
DNS, (6), Jamie Blust, Castle Rock, CO, Triumph Spitfire, 0.
DNS, (17), Tom Broring, Derwood, MD, Triumph Spitfire, 0.
Time of Race: 42:23.903
Winner's average speed: 73.558 mph
Hawk Fastest race lap: #0 Dick Gagliardi 3:11.959 (75.016 mph)
Lap Leaders: 1-2, #01 Mike Moser, 3-13, #15 Greg Gauper.
Sunoco Hard Charger: #99 Jason Isley
Race 22: McDermid Defends American Sedan Title at SCCA National Runoffs
Andy McDermid, of Williamston, Md., successfully defended his American Sedan title today and, in the process, captured his sixth overall A Sedan National Championship at the 48th SCCA National Championship Runoffs at Road America. 11-time Runoffs Champion John Heinricy, of Holly, Mich., finished second, while David Venhaus, of Milwaukee, was third.
Early this morning, it rained at Road America and the track conditions were still quite wet to start the A Sedan race. At the race start, Heinricy, third on the grid in the No. 54 TAR/Hoosier/Hawk/Mobil 1 Pontiac Firebird, got a great start coming down the front straight and took the lead in Turn One. Unfortunately, he could not make the lead stick because McDermid, the Gumout pole winner, passed Heinricy in Turn Two.
From there, McDermid was able to make his No. 24 WeatherTech/Felice Perf Eng Ford Mustang stick to track, while other drivers, including Heinricy, had significant slides or spins that cost them positions on the track. McDermid held the top spot for all 13 laps winning by 25.838-seconds over Heinricy.
Both McDermid and Heinricy started the race on slick tires, despite the wet conditions and the subsequent rain that fell late in the race. Heinricy’s tire choice may have led to a major slide in the Carousel that cost him any shot at chasing down McDermid, who was more than seven seconds in front of Heinricy at the time.
After the race, Heinricy said that intermediate tires might have been the correct choice, but he said that was tough choice to make before the race given the conditions and radar. Heinricy eventually recovered from the spin to finish second.
Venhaus started ninth in the No. 80 CSR Bobcat Illumination Optics/Axis Ford Mustang and knifed through traffic to be in the top five by lap three. Venhaus spent the first half of the race locked in a battle with Michael Lavigne, of Hooksett, N.H., for third. On lap nine, Lavigne got a little too deep in Canada Corner and slid off track into the gravel. This allowed Venhaus to inherit third, which is where he finished.
Daniel Richardson, of Rockville, Md., finished fourth in the No. 15 Performance Auto Works/Goodyear Chevrolet Camaro. Richardson was also the Sunoco Hard Charger for advancing 11 positions.
Tom Ellis, of Sunrise, Fla., drove the No. 57 Palm Express/Steeda/Dawson/Hoosier Ford Mustang to a fifth-place finish.
ELKHART LAKE, Wis. - Provisional Results from Sunday’s American Sedan National Championship Race, part of the 48th SCCA National Championship Runoffs at Road America with finish position, starting position in parenthesis, driver, hometown, car and laps complete.
1, (1), Andy McDermid, Williamston, MI, Ford Mustang, 13.
2, (3), John Heinricy, Holly, MI, Pontiac Firebird, 13.
3, (9), David Venhaus, Milwaukee, WI, Ford Mustang, 13.
4, (15), Daniel Richardson, Rockville, MD, Chevrolet Camaro, 13.
5, (8), Tom Ellis, Sunrise, FL, Ford Mustang, 13.
6, (11), Aaron Bailey, Shasta Lake, CA, Pontiac Firebird, 12.
7, (10), Jim Wheeler, Lenexa, KS, Pontiac Trans Am, 12.
8, (6), Thomas West, Standish, ME, Chevrolet Camaro, 12.
9, (17), Kelly Lubash, Stamford, CT, Chevrolet Camaro, 12.
10, (18), Jerry Post, Sunset, SC, Chevrolet Camaro, 12.
11, (13), Pat Wilmot, Roswell, GA, Ford Mustang, 12.
12, (14), Chris Pedersen, Mundelein, IL, Ford Mustang, 12.
13, (21), Christopher Qualls, Los Angeles, CA, Ford Mustang, 12.
14, (19), Dennis Careri, Boxford, MA, Ford Mustang, 12.
15, (5), Michael Lavigne, Hooksett, NH, Ford Mustang, 12.
16, (20), Tom Himes, Slidell, LA, Ford Mustang, 12.
17, (22), Scott Sanda, Western Springs, IL, Cadillac CTS-V, 11.
18, (12), Joseph Trapani, Dushore, PA, Chevrolet Camaro, 11.
19, (16), Scott Schweitzer, Lake Orion, MI, Ford Mustang, 11.
DNF, (4), Jeffrey Werth, Silver Spring, MD, Chevrolet Camaro, 4.
DNF, (2), Tom Sloe, Newbury, OH, Ford Mustang, 3.
DNF, (7), Edward Hosni, Galloway, OH, Ford Mustang, 2.
Overall Time of Race: 37:21.456
Average Race Speed: 83.517 mph
Margin of Victory: 25.838 seconds
Hawk Fastest Race Lap: #24 Andy McDermid, 2:50.677 (84.370 mph)
Sunoco Hard Charger: #15 Daniel Richardson
Lap Leaders: #24 Andy McDermid Laps 1 – 13
Race 23: Novak Takes Second SCCA National Championship in Challenging Formula 1000 Race
ELKHART LAKE, Wis. (September 25, 2011) – In challenging conditions, Brian Novak, of Dearborn. Mich., took advantage of a late-race spin by Gumout polesitter Brandon Dixon, of Tuscaloosa, Ala., to win the Formula 1000 national title and his second SCCA National Championship Runoffs gold medal. Dixon wound up second followed by Lucien Pancea, of Bellevue, Wash., in third.
While never really rained during the 13-lap event, wet track conditions proved challenging. For the first two-thirds of the race, Dixon – the defending Formula 1000 National Champion – seemed to have done the best job of managing the conditions in his No. 7 Citation Engineering/Hoosier Tire Citation F1000 Suzuki running on full wet weather tires.
Dixon built a lead of more than nine seconds at one point, but Novak’s No. 70 Dude Vodka/Hoosier Tire/NovaRace Piper F1000 Suzuki began to grow larger in his mirrors as the laps clicked down. As they crossed the stripe to complete Lap 10, Novak – who was also running on full wets – closed the gap to 1.6 seconds behind Dixon and it appeared a late-race battle was about to begin. Unfortunately for Dixon, treacherous conditions in turn three reared their ugly head and forced him to spin onto the grass to the inside on the exit of the turn.
That was all Novak needed to take the lead and he cruised for the remaining three laps to win by 7.877 seconds over Dixon, who managed to continue after the spin. It was Novak’s first SCCA National Championship since taking the Formula 500 title at Heartland Park Topeka in 2007.
Dixon came up one position shy of making it back-to-back Formula 1000 titles and settled for a silver medal. It was his seventh appearance at the SCCA National Championship Runoffs.
Driving the No. 6 Newport Hills Villa Stohr F1000 Suzuki, Pancea took the bronze medal after an extremely close battle with Glenn Cooper, of Roswell, Ga. Pancea and Cooper made wheel-to-wheel contact exiting turn one on lap nine, which forced Cooper to spin while Pancea managed to continue without significant damage.
He went on to take his first medal in his third Runoffs appearance, topping a previous best run of sixth in Formula Mazda in 2008. Pancea won the Sunoco Hard Charger Award after starting sixth and also ran the Hawk Hot Lap at 2:38.508 (90.847 mph).
Despite the contact with Pancea and spin, Cooper managed to continue and came home fourth in the No. 43 Ralf Firman Racing/Hoosier Tire RFR F1000 Suzuki. Jeremy Hill, of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, completed the top five in the No. 00 Hoosier Tire PHOTON VD07 Suzuki. Hill qualified on the outside of the front row but was moved to the rear of the field after arriving late to the grid due to a last-minute switch to dry tires.
ELKHART LAKE, Wis. - Provisional Results from Sunday's Formula 1000 National Championship Race, part of the 48th SCCA National Championship Runoffs at Road America with finish position, starting position in parenthesis, driver, hometown, car and laps complete.
1, (3), Brian Novak, Dearborn, MI, Piper F1000 Suzuki, 13.
2, (1), Brandon Dixon, Tuscaloosa, AL, Citation F1000 Suzuki, 13.
3, (6), Lucian Pancea, Bellevue, WA, Stohr F1000 Suzuki, 13.
4, (4), Glenn Cooper, Roswell, GA, RFR F1000 Suzuki, 13.
5, (2), Jeremy Hill, Toronto, ON, PHOTON VD07 Suzuki, 12.
6, (9), Christopher Ash, Parker, CO, Speads RM 11 A Suzuki, 12.
7, (10), Terry Biner, Sandy, UT, Firman F1000 Suzuki, 12.
DNF, (7), William McLaughlin, Mooresville, IN, Firman RFR09 Suzuki, 1.
DNF, (8), Mike Beauchamp, Green Bay, WI, Van Diemen/Novak RF99 Suzuki, 0.
DNS, (5), J.R. Osborne, Englewood, CO, Stohr F1000 BMW, 0.
Time of Race: 35:30.614
Winner's average speed: 87.862 mph
Hawk Fastest race lap: #17 Lucian Pancea 2:38.508 (90.847 mph)
Lap Leaders: 1-10, #7 Brandon Dixon, 11-13, #70 Brian Novak.
Sunoco Hard Charger: #17 Lucian Pancea
Race 24: Grand Survives Downpour For Second-Straight Touring 2 Title
Marty Grand, of Manassas Park, Va., captured his second-consecutive Touring Two title in a downpour at the 48th SCCA National Championship Runoffs at Road America. Chad Gilsinger, of Marysville, Ohio, and Brian Kleeman, of Baltimore, Md., completed the podium after many of the competitors crashed on the final lap.
The course was damp but drying at the start of the Black Magic Touring 2 race scheduled for 13 laps around the four-mile circuit. Gumout polesitter Andrew Aquilante battled intensely with Grand in his No. 32 Phoenix/Hoosier/Hawk Ford Mustang GT in the opening laps. Grand’s No. 43 AMS Performance/TRE/Hoosier/Carbotech Mitsubishi Evo IX had the advantage of all-wheel drive, while Aquilante’s Mustang had the power down the straights.
On lap six, Aquilante had pulled out a gap, and Grand fell into the grips of second-starting Tony Rivera’s No. 11 Brass Monkey Racing/Nissan/Hoosier Nissan 370Z NISMO and Jay Patel’s fourth-starting No. 12 Fall-Line/Porsche Exchange/Weathertech Porsche 996. Grand started the race on wet tires, while the others at the front of the grid were on dries.
By lap seven, rain began to fall. Mark Boden, who changed cars and started 25th in the No. 78 Fall-Line Motorsports Porsche 996 worked his way through the slippery conditions up to third, behind Aquilante and Rivera. The rain helped Grand’s resurgence, and as it began to pour and puddle, he and Boden worked past Rivera. On lap 10, Boden slid off course multiple times, and Aquilante, ahead by 12 seconds at one point, spun in turn 12 and brushed the wall.
Aquilante pitted with damage, promoting Grand to the lead and Rivera to second. Rivera skidded off, through the turn three gravel and into the tires, and was later joined by the cars of Jason Ott, Kris Von Sydow and David Muramoto. The mess brought out a full course caution and race control elected to checker the race three laps early due to the treacherous conditions.
Under caution, Grand won with a margin of victory of 1:35.754 over Gilsinger, averaging 79.614 mph.
Gilsinger, the 2010 Touring 3 National Champion, started 15th in his No. 07 BFG/HPD/H&R/Recaro/BRM Acura TX-SH AWD and survived the conditions to finish second.
Kossoff was running 10th in his No. 2 Kossof Motorsports BMW M3 when the rain came, and gained several positions each lap as cars slid off or pitted. He crossed the finish line in third place, but was penalized three positions after the race for passing under a yellow flag.
Brian Kleeman, of Baltimore, Md., started last in his No. 88 ICS Learning Group/DWW Motorsports Nissan 350Z and was elevated to third after Kossoff’s penalty to earn the Sunoco Hard Charger award.
Bill Baten, of Indianapolis, Ind., was scored in fourth on the final result in his No. 98 Hoosier/Marks ADR/VanWinkle Chevrolet Camaro. Todd Napieralski, of Chelsea, Mich., was scored in fifth in his No. 33 Total Performance Racing Chevrolet Camaro.
Aquilante earned the Hawk Fastest Race Lap with a best time of 2:38.015 (91.131 mph).
ELKHART LAKE, Wis. – Results from Friday’s Black Magic Touring 2 SCCA National Championship race from Road America, with finishing position, starting position in parentheses, driver, hometown, car and laps complete.
1, (3), Marty Grand, Manassas Park, VA, Mitsubishi Evo IX, 10.
2, (15), Chad Gilsinger, Marysville, OH, Acura TL SH-AWD, 10.
3, (26), Brian Kleeman, Baltimore, MD, Nissan 350Z, 10.
4, (12), Bill Baten, Indianapolis, IN, Chevrolet Camaro, 10.
5, (11), Todd Napieralski, Chelsea, MI, Chevrolet Camaro, 10.
6, (13), Alan Kossof, Wheeling, IL, BMW M3, 10.
7, (7), Andy Wolverton, Papillion, NE, Pontiac Solstice GXP, 10.
8, (19), Richard Baldwin, Madisonville, LA, Nissan 350Z, 10.
9, (17), Bill Steinhoff, Plantation, FL, Nissan 350Z, 10.
10, (20), Randy Tauro, Hollis, NH, Nissan 350Z, 10.
11, (22), Richard Kulach, Keller, TX, Nissan 370Z, 10.
12, (9), Don Knowles, Pittsboro, NC, Pontiac Solstice GXP, 10.
13, (18), Dan Spirek, Parker, CO, BMW Z4 M Coupe, 10.
14, (24), Joey Wang-DeFilippis, Fort Lee, NJ, Mitsubishi Evo MR, 10.
15, (14), Michael Pettiford, Louisville, CO, Pontiac Solstice GXP, 10.
16, (2), Tony Rivera, Missouri City, TX, Nissan 370Z NISMO, 9.
17, (1), Andrew Aquilante, Chester Springs, PA, Ford Mustang GT, 9.
18, (25), Mark Boden, Winnetka, IL, Porsche 996, 9.
19, (10), Kris Von Sydow, Barrington, IL, BMW M3, 9.
20, (6), Jason Ott, Thornton, CO, BMW Z4 M Coupe, 9.
21, (4), Jay Patel, Crown Point, IN, Porsche 996, 9.
22, (8), John Kachadurian, Chicago, IL, BMW M3, 9.
23, (16), Tim Hund, Norfolk, VA, Mitsubishi Evo, 9.
24, (21), Charlie Vehle, Washington, TX, BMW M3, 9.
25, (23), David Muramoto, Aurora, CO, Nissan 350Z, 8.
DNS, (5), Joe Koenig, Glenview, IL, Porsche 996, 0.
Time of Race: 30:08.724
Winner's average speed: 79.614 mph
Hawk Fastest race lap: #32 Andrew Aquilante 2:38.015 (91.131 mph)
Lap Leaders: 1-3, #43 Marty Grand, 4-8, #32 Andrew Aquilante, 9-10 #43 Marty Grand.
Sunoco Hard Charger: #88 Brian Kleeman
Race 25: Pritchard Scores Fourth Overall National Championship, First In E Production At SCCA Runoffs
ELKHART LAKE, Wis. (Sept. 25, 2011) – Justin Pritchard, of Granville, Ohio, earned his fourth overall National Championship and first in a tin top, capturing the E Production crown on Sunday at the 48th SCCA National Championship Runoffs. Greg Ira, from Plantation, Fla., and Sam Halkias, of Westerville, Ohio, completed the podium on a rainy Road America circuit.
With rain pouring down throughout the race and the field on rain tires, Pritchard moved his No. 55 Carriage & Motor Works/Hoosier Mazda RX-7 from his sixth starting position to third by the first corner, and trailed only Ira’s No. 2 First Coast Auto Sales Datsun 240Z by the end of the opening lap.
On the third corner of the third lap, Pritchard moved around Ira and into the lead. While a number of cars spun off the track and struggled on the wet surface, Pritchard pulled away from the field to a 39.339-second win, averaging 76.939 mph. The four-time champion also turned the Hawk Fast Lap of the race in 3:04.618 (77.999 mph).
Pritchard’s championship was his fourth in E Production, following a Formula Continental win in 1996 and back-to-back Formula F wins in 2002 and 2003. Ira drove alone for most of the race to earn his second-consecutive runner-up finish.
Sam Halkias’ No. 4 Catawba Island Marina Triumph TR6 and Kenneth Shreve’s No. 41 MBR LLC Mazda RX-7 battled for third position. Rob Coffey’s No. 02 David Hobbs Honda/CKPR Radio Honda Prelude moved past Shreve and was pressuring Halkias for third after nine laps, when Halkias spun going into turn one on lap 10.
Reentering the track, Halkias forced Shreve wide and into the grass, where he slid into the tire barrier and ended his race early. Halkias continued for his fourth career podium finish.
Austin Snader, of Brookshire, Texas, drove the No. 64 Snader Racing/Mazdaspeed/Rotary Inn Mazda RX-8 to a fourth-place finish. Jesse Prather, of Topeka, Kan., completed the top five in his No. 34 Jesse Prather Motorsports/Mazdaspeed/Carbotech Mazda MX-5.
Coffey started 28th on the grid in the No. 02 David Hobbs Honda/CKPR Radio Honda Prelude after missing the final three days of qualifying with a blown motor. The former ice racer moved through the field and finished third on the track, but was disqualified post race for technical non-compliance.
ELKHART LAKE, Wis. - Provisional Results from Sunday’s E Production National Championship Race, part of the 48th SCCA National Championship Runoffs at Road America with finish position, starting position in parenthesis, driver, hometown, car and laps complete.
1, (6), Justin Pritchard, Granville, OH, Mazda RX-7, 13.
2, (2), Greg Ira, Plantation, FL, Datsun 240Z, 13.
3, (4), Sam Halkias, Westerville, OH, Triumph TR6, 13.
4, (16), Austin Snader, Brookshire, TX, Mazda RX-8, 13.
5, (14), Jesse Prather, Topeka, KS, Mazda MX-5, 13.
6, (11), James Simaras, Oconomowoc, WI, Mazda RX-7, 13.
7, (12), Michael Sturm, Grafton, WI, Honda Prelude Si, 13.
8, (15), Sam Moore, Kannapolis, NC, BMW Z3, 12.
9, (9), Steven Hickham, Fort Lauderdale, FL, Mazda RX-8, 12.
10, (18), Gary Martz, Canton, OH, Mazda RX-7 Roadster, 12.
11, (20), Brian Haupt, Spring Hill, KS, Mazda RX-7, 12.
12, (21), John Longwell, Kittredge, CO, BMW 328iS, 12.
13, (31), Don Bunt, Rockford, IL, Datsun 240z, 12.
14, (8), Rick Kosdrosky, Granbury, TX, Caterham 7 America, 11.
15, (26), Sydney Davis, Cypress, TX, Mazda Miata, 11.
16, (22), Charlie Clark, Mission, KS, Mazda RX-7, 11.
17, (30), Guy Ruse, Boulder, CO, Mazda RX-7, 11.
18, (33), Ron Olsen, Barrington, IL, Mazda RX-7, 11.
19, (32), Rich Olsen, South Barrington, IL, Mazda RX-7, 11.
20, (19), Jeff Willert, East Troy, WI, Mazda RX-7, 11.
21, (5), Kenneth W Shreve, Sammamish, WA, Mazda RX-7, 9.
22, (24), Inness Eisele, Evergreen, CO, BMW 318i, 8.
23, (1), Jon Brakke, Fargo, ND, Mazda Miata, 8.
DNF, (3), Aaron Downey, Rossmoor, CA, Mazda RX-3, 5.
DNF, (29), Mark Weber, Saint Louis, MO, Mazda Miata, 4.
DNF, (13), Rick Kavitski, Freeland, PA, Mazda Miata, 4.
DNF, (17), Meredith Pritchard, Granville, OH, Mazda RX-7, 3.
DNF, (27), Rob Hummel, McHenry, IL, Mazda RX-7, 2.
DNF, (7), Mark Brakke, Coon Rapids, MN, Mazda Miata, 1.
DNF, (34), Jon Stautberg, Houston, TX, Mazda RX-7, 0.
DNF, (25), Bill Allman, Topeka, KS, Mazda RX-7, 0.
DNS, (10), Josh Carroll, San Ramon, CA, Mazda RX-7, 0.
DNS, (23), Sam Henry, Republic, MO, Mazda Miata, 0.
DQ, (28), Rob Coffey, Thunder Ray, ON, Honda Prelude, 13.
Time of Race: 40:33.078
Winner's average speed: 76.939 mph
Hawk Fastest race lap: #6 Justin Pritchard 3:04.618 (77.999 mph)
Lap Leaders: 1-2, #2 Greg Ira, 3-13, #55 Justin Pritchard.
Sunoco Hard Charger: #31 Don Bunt
Race 26: Mallinen Wins First-Career Formula Atlantic Title and Super Sweep at SCCA National Runoffs
Michael Mallinen, of Liberty Lake, Wash., persevered through the rain to capture his first-career Formula Atlantic National Championship, while also winning the Super Sweep at the 48th SCCA National Championship Runoffs at Road America. Jeff Kowalik, of Cape Coral, Fla., and David Wilcox, of Derby, Kan., completed the podium.
Mallinen started from the Gumout pole position in the No. 71 Hoosier Tires/TRD Swift Toyota and quickly came under attack by second-starting David Grant, and his brother third-starting Keith Grant, both of Germantown, Tenn. David and Keith both passed Mallinen on the first lap, respectively, and were running nose to tail for the first five laps.
During this time, the Grant brothers worked together to open up a more than 20 second lead over Mallinen. On lap six, the brothers were side-by-side at the stripe with the slight edge to David to lead that lap. Heading into Turn Three Keith, in the No. 40 Hoosier/Hasselgren/Polestar Swift 014a Toyota, got too deep into the turn and made contact with the back of David’s No. 12 Swift Toyota. The resultant contact spun both drivers, sending Keith into the gravel, while David stalled on track. Unfortunately, neither driver could get their respective machines going before Mallinen came down the hill to inherit the lead.
Though Mallinen was now the race leader, he was under fire by Kowalik in the No. 77 Northcentral/Mazda/Hoosier Swift 016a Mazda. On lap 10, Kowalik was less than a second behind Mallinen with three laps to go. Kowalik looked poised to catch the leader, but Mallinen had just enough to keep Kowalik at bay and won by 3.368-seconds.
Mallinen’s National Championship added to an already stellar season, in which he won the Southeast Division points title, the National points title and a key qualifying event in the regular season. The sum of his season’s work resulted in his first-career Formula Atlantic Super Sweep.
Kowalik started fourth and finished second, which was a career-best Runoffs finish for him.
Wilcox started eighth in the No. 10 Hoosier/TRD/Don Preston Racing Swift DB4 Toyota and pushed his way through some treacherous race conditions to be fourth by lap six. For the next seven laps, he was knocking on the door for third, but couldn’t quite get close enough to Bruce Hamilton’s, of Monkton, Md., No. 36 K-Hill Motorsports Swift 016a Mazda. On the last lap, Hamilton spun in Turn Eight, which allowed Wilcox to inherit the final podium spot.
Fabio Castellani, of Streamwood, Ill., finished fourth in the No. 97 Toyota 014 Toyota. Castellani was also the Sunoco Hard Charger for advancing eight positions during the race.
Lewis Cooper, of Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich., finished fifth in the No. 68 Martini/Voss Water/St. Charles Wine Swift 014 Toyota.
Keith Grant turned the Hawk Fastest Race Lap with a 2:34.738 (93.061 mph).
ELKHART LAKE, Wis. - Provisional Results from Sunday’s Formula Atlantic National Championship Race, part of the 48th SCCA National Championship Runoffs at Road America with finish position, starting position in parenthesis, driver, hometown, car and laps complete.
1, (1), Michael Mallinen, Liberty Lake, WA, Swift Toyota, 13.
2, (4), Jeff Kowalik, Cape Coral, FL, Swift 016a Mazda, 13.
3, (8), David Wilcox, Derby, KS, Swift DB4 Toyota, 13.
4, (12), Fabio Castellani, Streamwood, IL, Toyota 014 Toyota, 13.
5, (7), Lewis Cooper, Grosse Pointe Woods, MI, Swift 014 Toyota, 13.
6, (6), Jacek Mucha, Laval, QC, JMS 016CP Mazda, 13.
7, (10), Ahsen Yelkin, Canfield, OH, Swift 008a Toyota, 13.
8, (9), R Bruce Hamilton, Monkton, MD, Swift 016a Mazda, 12.
9, (5), Matt Miller, Orland Park, IL, Swift 016a Mazda, 12.
10, (11), Richard Zober, Newtown, PA, Swift 016a Mazda, 12.
11, (15), David Del Sol, South Miami, FL, Swift Swift Toyota, 8.
12, (3), Keith Grant, Germantown, TN, Swift 014a Toyota, 6.
DNF, (2), David Grant, Germantown, TN, Swift Toyota, 5.
DNF, (14), Charles C. Duncan, Broomfield, CO, Swift 016a Mazda, 4.
DNS, (13), William Goldkind, Holbrook, NY, Swift Toyota, 0.
Overall Time of Race: 35:50.352
Average Race Speed: 87.056 mph
Margin of Victory: 25.838 seconds
Hawk Fastest Race Lap: #40 Keith Grant, 2:34.738 (93.061 mph)
Sunoco Hard Charger: #97 Fabio Castellani
Lap Leaders: #12 David Grant Laps 1 – 5, #71 Michael Millinen Laps 6 – 13
Race 27: Lewis Picks Up Sixth Runoffs Gold Medal in Dominating GT-1 Performance
ELKHART LAKE, Wis. (September 25, 2011) – Michael Lewis, of Poway, Calif., had his way with the GT-1 field on a wet and rainy Sunday afternoon at Road America on his way to a sixth gold medal at the SCCA National Championship Runoffs. Simon Gregg, of Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., was second and Jim Bradley, of Gaston, Ind., finished third.
Lewis, the defending GT-1 National Champion, started second and slotted in behind Gumout polesitter Cliff Ebben, of Appleton, Wis., on the opening lap. Ebben pulled out to a healthy lead over the first two laps before disaster struck on Lap 3 when he spun his No. 36 Lamers Motor Racing/McMahon Group/Stumpf Ford Mustang in the Hurry Downs section of the four-mile circuit, making hard contact with the barrier at the exit of turn seven. Ebben avoided injury, but his race was over.
From there it was all Lewis, who steadily pulled away from the field for the remainder of the 13-lap event. He crossed the stripe 2:15.002 ahead of Gregg, and posted the Hawk Hot Lap on the final lap of the race at 2:49.355 (85.028 mph). The victory today was reminiscent of his first career Trans-Am Series victory, which came in a rain race at Road America in 2001.
Lewis now has 12 medals in SCCA National Championship Runoffs competition. It was his second consecutive GT-1 National Championship, and he also took a GT-1 title in 1995 and GT-3 National Championships in 1992, 1996 and 1997.
Despite a late-race spin, Gregg scored his best Runoffs result to date with a second-place run in the No. 59 Derhaag Motorsports Chevrolet Corvette. Gregg’s previous best results were fourth-place runs in GT-1 in 2010 and 2007.
Taking the final spot on the podium was Bradley in the No. 01 Optical One Chevrolet Corvette for his first Runoffs medal. Bradley also earned the Sunoco Hard Charger Award for his improvement from eighth on the starting grid.
David Fershtand, of Fort Worth, Texas, had a couple of great side-by-side battles with Bradley before settling for fourth in the No. 05 Fershtand Race Prepared Oldsmobile Cutlass. Denny Lamers, of Appleton, Wis., completed the top five in the No. 66 Lamers Motor Racing/McMahon Group Stumpf Ford Mustang.
ELKHART LAKE, Wis. - Final Results from Sunday's GT-1 National Championship Race, part of the 48th SCCA National Championship Runoffs at Road America with finish position, starting position in parenthesis, driver, hometown, car and laps complete.
1, (2), Michael Lewis, Poway, CA, Jaguar XKR, 13.
2, (4), Simon Gregg, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, Chevrolet Corvette, 13.
3, (8), Jim Bradley, Gaston, IN, Chevrolet Corvette, 13.
4, (7), David Fershtand, Fort Worth, TX, Oldsmobile Cutlass, 12.
5, (6), Denny Lamers, Appleton, WI, Ford Mustang, 12.
6, (10), Carl Janin, Dallas, TX, Chevrolet Camaro, 10.
7, (11), Chip Boatright, Mundelein, IL, Chevrolet Corvette, 10.
8, (3), Rick Dittman, Prairie View, IL, Chevrolet Corvette, 9.
DNF, (1), Cliff Ebben, Appleton, WI, Ford Mustang, 2.
DNF, (5), Kyle Kelley, Huntington Beach, CA, Chevrolet Camaro, 1.
DNS, (9), J. Richard Grant, Germantown, TN, Chevrolet Corvette, 0.
Time of Race: 37:38.304
Winner's average speed: 82.894 mph
Hawk Fastest race lap: #12 Michael Lewis 2:49.355 (90.847 mph)
Lap Leaders: 1-2, #36 Cliff Ebben, 3-13, #12 Michael Lewis.
Sunoco Hard Charger: #01 Jim Bradley
Race 28: John Fergus Takes Wet Seventh Sports 2000 National Championship
John Fergus, of Powell, Ohio, earned his seventh SCCA Sports 2000 National Championship at the SCCA Runoffs® at Road America. Alan Andrea, of Lake Forest, Ill., and Corey Fergus, of Powell, Ohio, completed the podium.
Fergus started second to son Corey but jumped to the lead on the wet course in his No. 00 Hoosier/Carbotech Brakes Carbir CS2. From there, the elder Fergus cruised to nearly a 20-second advantage before his engine went sour on the final lap. It didn’t matter, though, as he took the 14.274-second win for his seventh National Championship, the first since 2008.
Andrea had a glimmer of hope on the final lap, as Fergus’ car crossed the stripe to take the one-to-go sign sounding rough.
The battle behind John Fergus was intense, as Corey Fergus battled with fourth-gridded Bart Wolf’s No. 28 Goodyear/Obama Car Carbir CS2.8 and seventh-gridded Andrea’s No. 41 Comprep/Elite Engines Lola 89/90 each fought for the runner-up position.
Despite a first-lap spin exiting Turn Three, Wolf showed the way in second initially, before the rain again began to fall, which was when Andrea’s car came in, moving to the runner-up spot on lap 10. For his effort moving from seventh to second, Andrea earned the Sunoco Hard Charger award.
On the final lap, Corey Fergus moved his No. 07 Hoosier/Carbotech Brakes Carbir CS2 around Wolf into third, his fourth-straight podium after earning his third-straight Gumout Pole.
Wolf, of Elkhart Lake, Wis., held on to finish fourth and set the Hawk Performance Fastest Race lap with a 2:54.050 (82.735 mph). Tony Sleath, of Dearborn, Mich., finished fifth in his No. 13 Applied Vehicle Dynamics LLC/Goodyear Carbir CS2-A2.
ELKHART LAKE, Wis. – Results from Saturday’s Sports 2000 SCCA National Championship race from Road America, with finishing position, starting position in parentheses, driver, hometown, car and laps complete.
1, (2), John Fergus II, Powell, OH, Carbir CS2, 13.
2, (7), Alan Andrea, Lake Forest, IL, Lola 89/90, 13.
3, (1), Corey Fergus, Powell, OH, Carbir CS2, 13.
4, (4), M Bart Wolf, Elkhart Lake, WI, Carbir CS2.8, 13.
5, (5), Tony Sleath, Dearborn, MI, Carbir CS2-A2, 13.
6, (10), Jack Donnellan, Chickasha, OK, Lola 89/90, 12.
7, (11), Andrew Voruz, Minneapolis, MN, CS2.7 Carbir, 12.
8, (12), Charles Duncan, Cottage Grove, WI, Lola 88/90, 10.
DNF, (9), David Doran, Cincinnati, OH, Doran JE-1, 5.
DNF, (6), Michael Bautz, Machesney Pk, IL, Lola T90/90, 3.
DNS, (3), Mark Mercer, Aurora, CO, Lola 90/91, 0.
DNS, (8), Bruce Gurney, Albuquerque, NM, Carbir S-2000, 0.
Time of Race: 38:30.617
Winner's average speed: 81.017 mph
Hawk Fastest race lap: #28 Bart Wolf, 2:54.050 (82.735 mph)
Lap Leaders: 1-13, John Fergus
Sunoco Hard Charger: #41 Alan Andrea
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