SCCA: Ten More Champions Crowned On Day 2 Of Runoffs
Ten National Champions were crowned on Saturday at the SCCA National Championship Runoffs, joining the first 10 title winners from Friday at Road America...
Joel Weinberger gave Audi its first ever SCCA National Championship. (Photo: Jay Bonvouloir/SCCA)
Ten National Champions were crowned on Saturday at the SCCA National Championship Runoffs, joining the first 10 title winners from Friday at Road America. Among the day’s highlights: Joel Weinberger’s Super Touring Under win gave Audi it’s first-ever win at the SCCA Runoffs; Michael Mueller, from nearby Plymouth, Wis., scored a hometown win in Formula 500; and Kent Prather, of Topeka, Kan., earned his seventh-career National Championship with a win in GT-Lite.
Race 11: Fandozzi Scores First SCCA National Championship After Thrilling Touring 3 Finish
Kevin Fandozzi, of St. Joseph, Mich., started from the Gumout Pole Position and led the entire Touring 3 race at the 48th SCCA National Championship Runoffs, but he nearly saw his first National Championship gold medal get away on the final lap. Chris Puskar, of Charlotte, N.C., finished second and Rob Hines, of Arlington, Va., was third.
In a race that saw wet track conditions throughout the 13-lap distance, Fandozzi managed a reasonably comfortable lead for the first 12 laps despite running on dry tires in his No. 34 Insight Driven/Carbotech/Hoosier Chevrolet Cobalt SS. However, Puskar – who was using rain tires – closed the gap to 1.8 seconds at the stripe to begin the final lap and got all the way to Fandozzi’s bumper in the 14th and final turn for the run up the long front straightaway to the checkered flag.
With seconds remaining in the race, Puskar pulled out to attempt a pass but momentarily lost traction on the wet pavement. That bobble was just enough to allow Fandozzi to get away and win by 1.278 seconds. It was Fandozzi’s first National Championship and his second Runoffs medal, following a second-place run in Touring 3 last year.
Puskar started 11th in the No. 26 Old Dominion Metal/Hoosier/Red Line Oil Honda S2000 and took advantage of the wet conditions to quickly work his way up to a podium spot. He worked his way to second and to within five seconds of Fandozzi on Lap 7 before a spin dropped him back to third. But he battled back once more to earn his first SCCA National Championship Runoffs medal with the second-place result. He posted the Hawk Hot Lap at 2:57.216 (81.257 mph) and also earned the Sunoco Hard Charger Award for gaining the most positions in the race.
Hines came home third in the No. 44 Nissan/Goodyear/Carbotech/Red Line Nissan 350Z to score his fourth Runoffs medal and his first since a second-place performance in Touring 2 at Mid-Ohio in 2004. Hines is the 1999 Touring 2 National Champion.
Bill Steinhoff, of Plantation, Fla., came home fourth in the No. 87 Mangos Racing/Hoosier Nissan 350Z, and Mike Kramer, of Lewisburg, Tenn. rounded out the top five in the No. 19 BFGoodrich/Carbotech/Vette Sport/Red Line Saturn ION.
ELKHART LAKE, Wis. - Provisional Results from Friday's Touring 3 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), Kevin Fandozzi, Saint Joseph, MI, Chevrolet Cobalt SS, 13.
2, (11), Chris J Puskar, Charlotte, NC, Honda S2000, 13.
3, (4), Rob Hines, Arlington, VA, Nissan 350Z, 13.
4, (10), Bill Steinhoff, Plantation, FL, Nissan 350Z, 13.
5, (7), Mike Kramer, Lewisburg, TN, Saturn ION Red Line, 13.
6, (5), Chad Gilsinger, Marysville, OH, Honda S2000 CR, 13.
7, (13), James Leithauser, Westminster, CO, BMW Z4 Coupe, 13.
8, (9), Jeremy Lucas, Delaware, OH, Honda S2000 CR, 13.
9, (3), Richard Fisher, Glencoe, IL, Volkswagen GTI, 13.
10, (6), Sage Marie, Huntington Beach, CA, Honda S2000, 13.
11, (14), Cheyne Daggett, Iowa City, IA, Ford Mustang, 13.
12, (12), Tom Wickersham, San Ramon, CA, Honda S2000 CR, 12.
13, (15), Lynne Griffiths, Menlo Park, CA, Mazda RX-8, 12.
14, (8), Frank Levinson, Kettering, OH, Honda S2000 CR, 7.
DNF, (2), Brian Kleeman, Baltimore, MD, Nissan 350Z, 2.
DNS, (16), Michael Sullivan, Oakland, CA, Honda Club Racer, 0.
Overall Time of Race: 39:27.394
Average Race Speed: 70.074 mph
Margin of Victory: 1.278 seconds
Hawk Fastest Race Lap: 2:57.216
Fastest Race Lap Average Speed: 81.257 mph
Sunoco Hard Charger: #26 Chris Puskar
Lap Leaders: #34 Kevin Fandozzi – Laps 1-13.
Race 12: Mueller Dominates Formula 500 Race at SCCA National Championship Runoffs at Road America
Michael Mueller, of Plymouth, Wis., drove flag-to-flag in a dominant performance to win his first-career Formula 500 National Championship at the 48th SCCA National Championship Runoffs at Road America. Jeremy Morales, of Glen Head, N.Y., and C.J. McAbee, of Topeka, Kan., finished second and third, respectively.
Under semi-wet track conditions, Mueller started from the Gumout pole driving the No. 24 MJ Manufacturing/Fibeco/HRP Red Devil and opened up a more that 11-second lead by the end of the first lap. Though the track was wet, the sun was out and it looked like it might not take long for the track to dry. Teams had to make a tough tire decision. Given Mueller’s start, it was obvious that the rain tire was the correct choice.
By lap nine of the 13-lap race, Mueller led by nearly 55 seconds over McAbee in the No. 15 AJ’s Import Garage KBS Cyclone, who was second at that point. When the track started to dry significantly, Morales, who started with intermediate tires on the No. 10 JWR Mitchell Racing Services Scorpion, started turning lap times five and six seconds faster than Mueller and McAbee.
As the track dried, Mueller’s overall lead dwindled at bit. But, he still had enough to dominate the F 500 race, winning by 31.533-seconds over Morales.
Morales, who started seventh on the F 500 grid, dropped to 10th by the end of the first lap due to a spin. By the second lap, he was up to sixth, and to third by lap five. From there, he started to catch McAbee for second. He set the Hawk Fastest Race Lap of the race with a 2:43.550 (88.046 mph) when he caught and passed McAbee for second – which is where he finished.
McAbee was supposed to start fifth, but he was late to the grid so he had to start farther back in the field. Undaunted by his starting position, he drove his way to third by the end of the first lap. He held that position until he inherited second when Knuteson went off in Turn 12. On lap nine, Morales caught and passed McAbee, who finished third.
Michael Brent, of Bethel, Conn., finished fourth in the No. 47 Hoosier Tire/QRE Invader QC-1, and Steven Jondal, of Somerset, Wis., finished fifth in the No. 38 Milltronics/Jondal Machine Red Devil JS08.
Herb Noble, of Marion, Iowa, was the Sunoco Hard Charger for advancing 10 spots to finish seventh.
ELKHART LAKE, Wis. - Provisional Results from Saturday’s Formula 500 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 Mueller, Plymouth, WI, Red Devil, 13.
2, (7), Jeremy Morales, Glen Head, NY, Scorpion Scorpion, 13.
3, (5), Charles McAbee, Topeka, KS, KBS Cyclone, 13.
4, (2), Michael Brent, Bethel, CT, Invader QC-1, 13.
5, (9), Steven A Jondal, Somerset, WI, Red Devil JS08, 13.
6, (6), James Weida, West Lafayette, IN, Scorpion W1, 13.
7, (17), Herb Noble, Marion, IA, Scorpion , 13.
8, (16), Brian Brothers, Lake Orion, MI, TR1 Stinger, 13.
9, (12), William B Cobb, Cambridge, WI, CNB Milton Bana, 13.
10, (15), Keith Joslyn, Grand Island, NY, QRE Invader QC-1, 13.
11, (11), Kris Larsen, Kewaunee, WI, Scorpion KRL07, 13.
12, (4), Aaron Ellis, Farmington, MN, Ellis AE06, 12.
13, (18), Jeff Blumenthal, Independence, OH, QRE Invader QC-1, 12.
14, (23), Timothy Friest, Leavenworth, KS, KBS MK VII, 12.
15, (24), David Vincent, Leavenworth, KS, KBS MK VII, 12.
16, (8), Michael Vacek, Itasca, IL, QRE Invader QC-1, 12.
17, (27), Darrel Greening, Fond Du Lac, WI, Red Devil BR-2K2, 12.
18, (21), Joseph Palmer, Coppell, TX, NovaKar J9, 12.
19, (14), Jack Walbran, Saint Louis, MO, Scorpion , 11.
20, (25), Glen Smeal, San Marcos, TX, Red Devil T-2001, 11.
21, (19), Charlie Schlismann, Homewood, IL, KBS MK VII, 11.
22, (20), Chuck McAbee, Jacksonville, FL, QRE Invader, 11.
23, (10), David Lapham, Irvington, NY, QRE Invader, 10.
DNF, (3), Jason Knuteson, Danville, IN, Scorpion S1, 5.
DNF, (13), H Cory McLeod, Charlotte, NC, Red Devil F500, 0.
DNF, (22), Chris Hodde, McKinney, TX, KBS MK VII, 0.
DNS, (26), Carl Maier, Grand Prairie, TX, Maverick F500, 0.
Overall Time of Race: 37:30.849
Average Race Speed: 83.169 mph
Margin of Victory: 31.533 seconds
Hawk Fastest Race Lap: #10 Jeremy Morales, 2:43.550 (88.046 mph)
Sunoco Hard Charger: #44 Herb Noble
Lap Leaders: #24 Laps 1 – 13
Race 13: Goulart Wins Spec Miata Thriller for National Championship
Elivan Goulart, of Shelton, Conn., captured his third National Championship Saturday, winning the Spec Miata race at the 48th SCCA National Championship Runoffs® held at Road America in thrilling fashion with a last-lap pass for the lead over Steven Gorriaran, of Providence, R.I., who finished second.
Gumout polesitter Jim Drago got the jump on the field in his No. 2 East Street Racing Mazda Miata over third starting Gorriaran and his No. 44 Gorrila Racing/Driven Performance/Meathead Racing entry. Gorriaran, the 2009 National Champion, made a move for the lead between turns seven and eight. The two touched, and Drago slid sideways into the turn eight runoff and out of contention.
From there, Gorriaran battled second-starting Goulart (No. 73 SAC Racing/www.SCDA1.com) and fifth-starting Danny Steyn (No. 39 Adept Studios/Rossini Engines/Traqmate) for the lead. Goulart and Gorriaran broke away and worked together to make it a two-car battle for the win.
The penultimate lap saw the two trade the lead at least three times, with Gorriaran out front as they took the one lap to go signal. He held on through the turn one and five brake zones, but ran wide in turn eight, allowing Goulart to get a run on the outside entering the Carousel, where he took the lead for good.
Goulart beat Gorriaran to the stripe by 0.434-second, averaging 80.089 mph in the 13-lap, 52-mile race that was slowed for two laps by caution. Gorriaran earned his third runner-up finish. Gorriaran earned the Hawk Fastest Race Lap award for his record-setting 2:43.890 (87.864 mph).
Behind the leaders, the battle was fierce for the final step on the podium. Steyn ran in the top five all day, but fell back on lap 11 after contact with Voytek Burdzy’s No. 71 Advanced Autosports entry, promoting defending Champion Andrew Charbonneau to the spot. On the final lap, Sammy Valafar, of Las Vegas, Nev., made a move to take the spot, up from 13th in his No. 78 MiataPartsSource.com/SpecEStore.com entry.
Charbonneau finished fourth in his No. 1 Jeffy Boy Racing entry and then dashed off to run the next race in Showroom Stock B. Burdzy, of Algonquin, Ill., finished fifth.
Chip Van Vurst, of Pompano Beach, Fla., captured the Sunoco Hard Charger award in his No. 57 Autotechnik Miata, advancing from 35th and last to finish sixth after not turning a time during qualifying.
ELKHART LAKE, Wis. – Results from Saturday’s Spec Miata SCCA National Championship race from Road America, with finishing position, starting position in parentheses, driver, hometown, car and laps complete.
1, (2), Elivan Goulart, Shelton, CT, Mazda Miata, 13.
2, (4), Steven Gorriaran, Providence, RI, Mazda Miata, 13.
3, (13), Sammy Valafar, Las Vegas, NV, Mazda Miata, 13.
4, (9), Andrew Charbonneau, Delray Beach, FL, Mazda Miata, 13.
5, (8), Voytek Burdzy, Algonquin, IL, Mazda Miata, 13.
6, (35), Chip Van Vurst, Pompano Beach, FL, Mazda Miata, 13.
7, (5), Danny Steyn, Fort Lauderdale, FL, Mazda Miata, 13.
8, (10), Alexander Bolanos, Miami, FL, Mazda Miata, 13.
9, (17), Craig Berry, Tyler, TX, Mazda Miata, 13.
10, (23), Tom Brown, Muskego, WI, Mazda Miata, 13.
11, (12), Brian Ghidinelli, San Rafael, CA, Mazda Miata, 13.
12, (20), Adam Poland, Mount Vernon, TX, Mazda Miata, 13.
13, (7), Shawn Slattery, Chicago, IL, Mazda Miata, 13.
14, (11), Jerret Gerber, Dodgeville, WI, Mazda Miata, 13.
15, (19), Michael Collins, Mount Airy, MD, Mazda Miata, 13.
16, (22), Harry Manning, Racine, WI, Mazda Miata, 13.
17, (6), Tom Sager, Naperville, IL, Mazda Miata, 13.
18, (25), Charlie Campbell, Corry, PA, Mazda Miata, 13.
19, (24), Steven Powers, Mesa, AZ, Mazda Miata, 13.
20, (28), David Palfenier, Naperville, IL, Mazda Miata, 13.
21, (21), Tom Kraft, Des Moines, IA, Mazda Miata, 13.
22, (26), Tyler Dahl, Spanish Fork, UT, Mazda Miata, 13.
23, (30), Phil Cummings, Colorado Springs, CO, Mazda Miata, 13.
24, (31), Ted Cahall, Bellevue, WA, Mazda Miata, 13.
25, (29), David Pintaric, Canfield, OH, Mazda Miata, 13.
26, (32), James Suhr, Springboro, OH, Mazda Miata, 13.
27, (14), Christopher Haldeman, Anna, TX, Mazda Miata, 12.
28, (33), Randy Cummings, Herriman, UT, Mazda Miata, 12.
29, (1), Jim Drago, Memphis, TN, Mazda Miata, 10.
DNF, (15), David Bednarz, Ann Arbor, MI, Mazda Miata, 0.
DNS, (3), L. Patrick Sandlin, Cordova, TN, Mazda Miata, 0.
DNS, (16), Tom Fowler, Cumming, GA, Mazda Miata, 0.
DNS, (18), Tony Coello, East Troy, WI, Mazda Miata, 0.
DNS, (27), Luke Bickham, Dallas, TX, Mazda Miata, 0.
Time of Race: 38:57.386
Winner's average speed: 80.089 mph
Fastest race lap: #44 Steven Gorriaran, 2:43.890 (87.864 mph)
Lap Leaders: 1, #44 Gorriaran; 2-3, #39 Steyn; 4, #44 Gorriaran; 5-6, #73 Goulart; 7, #44 Gorriaran; 8-11, #73 Goulart; 12, #44 Gorriaran; 13, #73 Goulart
Sunoco Hard Charger: #57 Chip Van Vurst
Race 14: Scornavacchi Takes Emotional First SCCA National Championship In Showroom Stock B
Michael Scornavacchi, of Manheim, Pa., was visibly emotional in the moments following his Showroom Stock B victory in the 48th SCCA National Championship Runoffs at Road America. Joining Scornavacchi on the podium were Lee Niffenegger, of Santa Clarita, Calif., in second and Ed Zabinski, of Stockbridge, Ga., in third.
From third on the starting grid, Scornavacchi went three-wide with Gumout polesitter Toby Grahovec, of Chicago, and second-place starter Tim Myers, of Atlanta, Ga., at the drop of the green flag and nosed ahead into turn one. Grahovec reclaimed the lead heading into turn three and led the first two laps before Scornavacchi took the lead in turn three on lap three. He then pulled out into a healthy advantage over the next several laps, leading by more than four seconds at one point.
"My best friend became Toby Grahovec, because when Toby and Lee were going at it [for second place], I was looking in my mirror saying, 'Oh my goodness, this is great,'" Scornavacchi said. "In fairness, I was probably running 95 percent at the time. I knew if I ended up in a dogfight, I wanted the brakes. It's a very heavy car. The brakes are good, but if you punish them here for 13 laps, you're not going to have much left. I was probably going half a brake marker, earlier, the majority of the race, probably saving a half to three-quarters of a second if I needed it. I had a crew guy on the wall that was telling me the interval back to Lee."
Niffenegger gained ground on Scornavacchi as the laps wound down but could get no closer than 1.270 seconds at the checkered flag. It was Scornavacchi's first SCCA National Championship and his second Runoffs medal. He finished second in Showroom Stock B in 2009.
"It got a little close on the last lap,' Scornavacchi said. "I caught a SSC car coming down into [turn] five, but there was a yellow in five, so I couldn't pass him. I was totally out of the gas until I got through five and on the run up to sixth. Lee must have pulled a second and a half right there.
"I was a mess, actually, the whole lap afterwards. When I saw my wife and my son, I was pretty much a mess too. The Runoffs and I are a little like oil and water. We've had some great qualifying efforts and the races haven't gone well. We've had some great seasons and the races haven't gone well.
"The year Lee won it, he and I had a phenomenal battle with a couple laps to go and I swung wide and blew a tire out at the beginning of a curb, which allowed him to win and deservedly so. We had a loose wheel in 2009, which cost me, potentially a first or a second, I don't know, but it was early in the race. Last year, we broke a part in qualifying. We were on the pole on day one and I came up out of Canada, drove out of 13 and broke a ball joint and I hit the concrete wall so I never made the race. This race and I have not been friends."
Niffenegger drove the No. 21 Honda of Keene/HPD/BFG Honda Civic Si to his third consecutive second-place result in Showroom Stock B and also turned the Hawk Hot Lap at 2:42.083 (88.843 mph). It was the fifth Runoffs medal for the 2008 Showroom Stock B National Champion.
"For some reason there was a yellow in turn one [on the first lap]," Niffenegger said. "I still don't know why, but I got passed by a lot of guys. I don't know if everybody could see it. I was stuck behind somebody and I just kind of got swarmed. Then I got hit between [turns] one and three, took my mirror off, which thankfully, it finally came in the car and I was able to rip it off and throw it in the car so it wasn't flopping there in the wind. I got hit multiple times.
"It was kind of a rough race. It didn't really need to be that way. I didn't get up to Mike. Mike and I raced for the '08 [championship] and raced clean with each other. Ed was super clean. I've got to thank my teammate, Luke Wilwert. He gave me the draft, pointed me by and told me to go after these guys. He helped me out. It was a rough race. I think I had a car to win if I didn't have to come from ninth place on the first lap. Definitely, I think that's the most cars I've ever passed at the Runoffs, at least for position. It was definitely an eventful race."
Zabinski, the defending Showroom Stock B National Champion, went from fourth to third on the last lap in the No. 1 Ford Mustang to take the final podium spot. It was the fourth straight Runoffs medal for Zabinski, who also won the 2008 Touring 1 National Championship. Zabinski took the Sunoco Hard Charger Award after starting seventh.
"What happened is, we were running around in fourth and it looked like Toby Grahovec had some sort of mechanical problem," Zabinski said. "I've heard that he got stuck in fifth gear or something on the second-to-last lap and I was surprised to see him kind of burbling and going slow up the hill out of Canada Corner. I feel bad for him, but I was pretty happy to inherit third place. I'll definitely take that. I can't say I'm disappointed to be on the podium. This is a tough field. Every single driver in this whole field is really, really good. When you're in a field like that, you're just kind of satisfied to race with these guys."
Wilwert, of Marysville, Ohio, came home fourth in the No. 79 HPD/BFGoodrich/Alpinestars/Recaro Honda Civic Si. After leading the first two laps, Grahovec held to take fifth in the No. 84 Classic BMW/Hoosier Tire/Red Line BMW Z4.
Now in its 48th year, the SCCA National Championship Runoffs annually crowns Champions in the Sports Car Club of America's Club Racing classes. The live broadcast of all 28 National Championship races will be available throughout the weekend at www.SpeedcastTV.com/scca and later available On Demand from the same site.
Follow the action on Twitter @SCCAOfficial or the SCCA, Inc. Official Facebook page at facebook.com/sccaofficial. More information is available at www.scca.com.
ELKHART LAKE, Wis. - Provisional Results from Saturday's Showroom Stock B 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), Michael Scornavacchi, Manheim, PA, Ford Mustang V-6, 13.
2, (4), Lee Niffenegger, Santa Clarita, CA, Honda Civic Si, 13.
3, (7), Ed Zabinski, Stockbridge, GA, Ford Mustang, 13.
4, (6), Luke Wilwert, Marysville, OH, Honda Civic Si, 13.
5, (1), Toby Grahovec, Chicago, IL, BMW Z4, 13.
6, (9), Ralph Porter, Kokomo, IN, BMW Z4, 13.
7, (8), Christopher Childs, Pontiac, MI, Ford Mustang, 13.
8, (10), Robbie Davis, Dallas, TX, MINI Cooper S, 13.
9, (11), Stan Czacki, Elephant Butte, NM, Acura RSX Type S, 13.
10, (5), Andrew Charbonneau, Delray Beach, FL, Ford Mustang, 10.
11, (12), Michael Dalton, Evanston, IL, Pontiac Solstice, 9.
DNF, (2), Tim Myers, Atlanta, GA, Ford Mustang, 2.
DNS, (13), Rick Shively, Louisville, CO, BMW Z4, 0.
Overall Time of Race: 35:26.844
Average Race Speed: 88.018 mph
Margin of Victory: 1.270 seconds
Hawk Fastest Race Lap: #21 Lee Niffenegger, 2:42.083
Fastest Race Lap Average Speed: 88.843 mph
Sunoco Hard Charger: #1 Ed Zabinski
Lap Leaders: #84 Toby Grahovec 1-2, #25 Michael Scornavacchi.
Race 15: McCaughey Takes Back To Back SSC Titles At SCCA Runoffs
Mark McCaughey, of Faytetteville, Ga., drove to his second consecutive title in Showroom Stock C on Saturday during the SCCA National Championship Runoffs at Road America. Ali Naimi, of Morgan Hill, Calif., and Jonathan Start, of Caledonia, Mich., completed the podium.
McCaughey started second in his No. 18 Hoosier Tire/Carbotech/TRD Toyota Celica GTS and moved around Joel Lipperini’s No. 81 BFG/RaceLabz/Raceshopper/Red Line Hyundai Tiburon on the opening lap. Once in front, McCaughey slowly pulled away from the field, finishing the 13-lap, 52-mile race 7.518-seconds ahead, averaging 85.061 mph.
McCaughey turned the Hawk Fast Lap of the race, setting a new Runoffs record at 2:49.290 (85.061 mph).
Behind McCaughey, the action was fast and furious for second place. On lap 11, a five car train for the position ran two wide into Turn Five. Michael Crawford (No. 66 Planet Miata Acura Integra), Start’s No. 06 Hoosier/Red Line Oil MAZDA3, Brian Husting (No. 65 BFGoodrich Tires Chevrolet Cobalt, and Naimi’s No. 14 OffLineRacing.com/Hoosier/Mazda MAZDA3 went two-by-two into the corner.
Crawford appeared to lose the car under breaking, slamming into the back of Husting, ending both of their races early and leaving Naimi and Start to battle for second, with Lipperini behind.
Naimi and Start continued the nose to tail battle for the final two laps, with Naimi leading the pair of Mazdas across the stripe to complete the podium.
Naimi earned his best Runoffs finish, and second-career podium finish. Start took the bronze medal for the second consecutive year.
Tom Daly, of Minneapolis, Minn., drove his No. 02 Luther Westside VW/BFGoodrich Volkswagen Rabbit into fourth place on the final lap to earn the Sunoco Hard Charger Award, improving from his eighth starting position. Jim Ebben, of Appleton, Wis., completed the top five in his No. 4 Ford/Hoosier/Lamers Racing Ford Focus.
Lipperini was scored in sixth at the finish.
ELKHART LAKE, Wis. - Provisional Results from Saturday’s Showroom Stock C 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), Mark McCaughey, Fayetteville, GA, Toyota Celica GTS, 13.
2, (5), Ali Naimi, Morgan Hill, CA, MAZDA3, 13.
3, (4), Jonathan Start, Caledonia, MI, MAZDA3, 13.
4, (8), Tom Daly, Minneapolis, MN, Volkswagen Rabbit, 13.
5, (7), Jim Ebben, Appleton, WI, Ford Focus, 13.
6, (1), Joel Lipperini, Pittston, PA, Hyundai Tiburon, 13.
7, (9), Eric Van Cleef, Huntsville, AL, Toyota Corolla XRS, 12.
8, (10), Peter Keane, Cocoa Beach, FL, Acura Integra, 12.
9, (12), Steve Hendricks, Rosemount, MN, Volkswagen Rabbit, 12.
10, (13), James Place, San Antonio, TX, Acura GRS, 12.
11, (14), Steven Christopher, Olathe, KS, MAZDA3, 12.
12, (15), Brian Bogert, Schnecksville, PA, Toyota Yaris, 11.
13, (6), Michael Crawford, Pittston, PA, Acura Integra, 9.
14, (3), Brian Husting, Irvine, CA, Chevrolet Cobalt, 9.
DNF, (11), John Saucier, Oklahoma City, OK, MAZDA3, 0.
Time of Race: 37:53.687
Winner's average speed: 82.333 mph
Hawk Fastest race lap: #18 Mark McCaughey 2:49.290 (85.061 mph)
Lap Leaders: 1, #81 Joel Lipperini, 2, #18 Mark McCaughey, 3, #81 Joel Lipperini, 4-13, #18 Mark McCaughey.
Sunoco Hard Charger: #02 Tom Daly
Race 16: Prather Wins GT-Lite Race, Captures Seventh SCCA National Runoffs Title at Road America
Seven-time National Champion Kent Prather, of Wakarusa, Kan., cruised to victory in the GT-Lite race during the 48th SCCA National Championship Runoffs at Road America. Peter Shadowen, of Riviera Beach, Fla., and Brian Downey, of Bristow, Va., joined Prather on the podium, respectively.
Prather started from the Gumout pole in the No. 26 Prather Racing/Mazdaspeed/Moss Motorsports/Goodyear Mazda Miata and was side-by-side with Bobby Lentz, of Chantilly, Va., in the No. 60 FGR/Auto Expectations/Goodyear Nissan Sentra SER in Turn One at the race start. Coming out of Turn One, Lentz had the lead and held it for the first lap. Lentz had a transmission issue on lap two, which forced him out of the race.
When Lentz pulled into pit lane, Prather inherited the race lead and continued to string together fast race laps. Prather turned the Hawk Fastest Race Lap of the race with a 2:35.100 (92.843 mph), opening up a lead of more than eight seconds over the field by lap six of the 13-lap race. Prather was never seriously challenge over the remaining seven laps and cruised to a 3.398-second win over the defending GT-Lite National Champion Shadowen.
Prather’s car, which was a 185,000-mile street car before being converted into a racecar, has now won Championships in three different classes. Son Jesse Prather won three titles with the car – F Production in 2006 and 2007, E Production in 2008 and now GT-Lite with Kent behind the wheel in 2011.
Driving the No. 72 Road N Race Auto/Goodyear/HPD/Redline Honda CRX Si, Shadowen dropped from third to fifth on the race’s first lap. On lap two, he passed Luis Rivera, of Angelton, Texas, for fourth and was in second by the end of the lap after Lentz and Jim Hargrove, of Surrey, British Columbia, pulled into pit lane with mechanical issues.
Downey started fifth in the No. 63 FGR/Auto Expectations Nissan 200SX, spending eight laps locked in a back-and-forth battle with Rivera. On lap nine, Downey passed Rivera for the final time. Two laps later, Rivera spun and Downey no longer had to worry about pressure from Rivera, but had his hands full with a hard charging Chris Bovis, of Lawrence, Kan., who was now in the mix for the final podium spot. In the final laps, Downey fended off Bovis to finish third. This was a career-best Runoffs finish for Downey.
Bovis finished fourth in the No. 78 JDM Motorsport/Late Braking Marketing/Honda Honda CRX Si. Rivera finished fifth in the No. 12 Hoosier Tires/RPM Mazda RX-7.
Jon Goodale, of Conifer, Colo., was the Sunoco Hard Charger for advancing six spots to finish seventh.
ELKHART LAKE, Wis. - Provisional Results from Saturday’s GT-Lite 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), Kent Prather, Wakarusa, KS, Mazda Miata, 13.
2, (3), Peter Shadowen, Riviera Beach, FL, Honda CRX Si, 13.
3, (5), Brian Downey, Bristow, VA, Nissan 200SX, 13.
4, (8), Christopher Bovis, Lawrence, KS, Honda CRX Si, 13.
5, (6), Luis Rivera, Angleton, TX, Mazda RX-7, 13.
6, (7), Kyle Disque, Philadelphia, PA, Toyota Tercel, 13.
7, (13), Jonathan Goodale, Conifer, CO, Mazda MX-5 Miata, 13.
8, (11), Roy Lopshire Jr, Blue Springs, MO, Toyota Tercel, 13.
9, (12), Jim Stinehelfer, Tecumseh, KS, Mazda Miata, 13.
10, (14), Jim Speights, San Antonio, TX, Mazda Miata, 12.
11, (10), Bob Clark, Glendale, WI, Honda CRX Si, 10.
12, (9), Peter Zekert, Maryland Heights, MO, Nissan 200SX, 7.
DNF, (2), Robert Lentz, Chantilly, VA, Nissan Sentra SER, 2.
DNF, (4), Jim Hargrove, Surrey, BC, Honda Civic, 2.
Overall Time of Race: 34:01.797
Average Race Speed: 91.684 mph
Margin of Victory: 3.398 seconds
Hawk Fastest Race Lap: #26 Kent Prather, 2:35.100 (92.843 mph)
Sunoco Hard Charger: #04 John Goodale
Lap Leaders: #60 Laps 1, #26 Laps 2 – 13
Race 17: Forrer Repeats as SCCA C Sports Racing National Champion with Dominating Performance
Steve Forrer, of Fox Point, Wis., picked up his second straight C Sports Racing title and his fourth SCCA National Championship with a dominating run at the Runoffs at Road America on Saturday afternoon. Jacek Mucha, of Laval, Quebec, Canada, was second and Jim Downing, of Atlanta, was third.
Running in tandem with the D Sports Racing class, Forrer started from the Gumout Pole Position in the No. 84 K Hill Motorsports/Hoosier/Forrer Supply Ralt RT-41 Toyota and was never really challenged throughout the 13-lap race. In fact, despite starting nearly half a lap behind the D Sports field, Forrer made his way into the top five overall positions by the checkered flag. He gained most of his ground through the middle stages of the race with blistering lap times, including the Hawk Hot Lap at 2:02.782 (117.281 mph) on Lap 5.
He went on to win by 23.301 seconds over Mucha. In addition to winning the 2010 C Sports Racing National Championship, Forrer also scored back-to-back Formula Atlantic National Championships in 1996 and 1997.
Finishing second for the sixth time in C Sports Racing at the SCCA National Championship Runoffs was Mucha in the No. 07 Phoenix-Innotech JMS 016 Mazda. Mucha came up one position shy in his bid to win the SCCA Super Sweep, but adds a 2011 silver medal to his collection alongside CSR runner-up performances in 2000, 2002, 2004, 2007 and 2009.
Downing provided the highlight of the race with a spectacular pass in Road America’s ultra-fast kink [turn 11] on the penultimate lap to take third from Jason Miller, of Sheboygan Falls, Wis. The four-position improvement from his seventh-place starting spot gave Downing the Sunoco Hard Charger Award, and it was Downing’s second bronze medal at the Runoffs. The third-place result was his first since 2008 in C Sports Racing and is the latest chapter in a storied motorsports career.
A spin by Miller in the final turn on the final lap while taking one last shot at Downing allowed James French, of Sheboygan, Wis., to take fourth in the No. 44 Swift 014 Toyota. Brian French, also of Sheboygan, finished fifth in the No. 45 Motorsports Enterprises LTD Ralt RT-41 Toyota and Miller wound up sixth in the No. 8 Kohler/Millenium/Goodyear WynnFurst Kohler.
ELKHART LAKE, Wis. - Provisional Results from Saturday’s C Sports Racing 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), Steve Forrer, Milwaukee, WI, Ralt RT-41 Toyota, 13.
2, (2), Jacek Mucha, Laval, QC, JMS 016 CP Mazda, 13.
3, (7), Jim Downing, Atlanta, GA, Peach Day-02 Mazda, 13.
4, (4), James French, Sheboygan, WI, Swift 014 Toyota, 13.
5, (5), Brian French, Sheboygan, WI, Ralt RT-41 Toyota, 13.
6, (3), Jason Miller, Sheboygan Falls, WI, WynnFurst Kohler, 13.
7, (8), Jean-Luc Liverato, Alpharetta, GA, Stohr WF1 Suzuki, 11.
DNF, (9), David Watson, Kleinburg, ON, Stohr WF1 Suzuki, 4.
DNF, (10), Sam Souvall, Salt Lake City, UT, Stohr WF1 Suzuki, 1.
DNS, (6), William Goldkind, Holbrook, NY, Swift CSR Toyota, 0.
Overall Time of Race: 27:45.085
Average Race Speed: 112.427 mph
Margin of Victory: 23.301 seconds
Hawk Fastest Race Lap: #84 Steve Forrer, 2:02.782
Fastest Race Lap Average Speed: 117.281 mph
Sunoco Hard Charger: #63 Jim Downing
Lap Leaders: #84 Steve Forrer – Laps 1-13.
Race 18: Bootz Tops D Sports Racing For First National Championship At SCCA Runoffs
Tom Bootz, of Evansville, Ind., raced away from the field to his first National title on Saturday at the SCCA National Championship Runoffs in D Sports Racing. Gumout polesitter Lee Alexander, of Pahrump, Nev., and Jake Latham, of Broomfield, Colo., each earned podium finishes for the first time.
Bootz qualified third in his No. 36 Bootz Industries Stohr WF1 Suzuki and moved to the front at the green flag, leading the field into the first corner and growing the gap throughout the 13-lap, 52-mile race.
As cars battled for position and fell out of the race because of mechanical difficulties, Bootz ticked off lap after lap toward the checkered flag, including a Hawk Fast Lap of the race at 2:02.656 (117.402 mph), a new Runoffs record for the class.
The battle for second involved Alexander’s polesitting No. 48 Factory 48 Motorsports/APE Race Parts Stohr WF-0 Suzuki mixing it up with defending champion Lawrence Loshak’s No. 1 ETE Reman/Moon Supercycle/Goodyear Stohr WF1 Suzuki, with the pair swapping positions several times – first for third place, then second when Chris Farrell’s No. 58 C&M Manufacturing/GDR Engines/Hoosier/Red Line Stohr WF1 Suzuki fell out with mechanical difficulties.
Greg Bell, from Metcalfe, Ontario, also inserted himself into that mix, putting his No. 33 Stohr WF1 Suzuki on lap six into second place. Bell fell out of the race on lap seven, and when Loshak pulled to pit lane on lap nine, Alexander was alone in second place and on his way to his first Runoffs podium in just his second attempt.
Attrition moved Latham’s No. 5 SCR Performance/Rocky Soft/Sticky Vinyl Graphics Stohr 01D Suzuki up the field, making his pass on Henry Botkin’s No. 82 ReenWerks/Factory 48 Motorsports/C2 Racers Stohr WF1 Suzuki on lap 10 for what would become third place and the final podium spot. Botkin finished fourth.
David Locke finished fifth in the No. 18 Stohr WF1 Suzuki.
Richard Colburn earned the Sunoco Hard Charger, improving from 15th to eighth in his No. 97 Amari Metals/Sunshine Metals NosTendo Suzuki.
ELKHART LAKE, Wis. - Provisional Results from Saturday’s D Sports Racing 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), Tom Bootz, Evansville, IN, Stohr WF1 Suzuki, 13.
2, (1), Lee Alexander, Pahrump, NV, Stohr WF-0 Suzuki, 13.
3, (4), Jake Latham, Broomfield, CO, Stohr 01D Suzuki, 13.
4, (6), Henry Botkin, Jamul, CA, Stohr WF1 Suzuki, 13.
5, (10), David Locke, Lafayette, IN, Stohr WF1 Suzuki, 13.
6, (11), Jim Hallman, Kitchener, ON, Stohr WF1 Suzuki, 13.
7, (13), Steve Nicklin, Henderson, NV, Stohr WF1 Suzuki, 13.
8, (15), Richard Colburn, Northbrook, IL, NosTendo Suzuki, 13.
9, (14), Jim Vogel, Madison, WI, Stohr WF1 Suzuki, 13.
10, (7), Lawrence Loshak, Grafton, WI, Stohr WF1 Suzuki, 9.
11, (8), Michael Crowe, Jamestown, KY, Stohr WF1 Suzuki, 8.
12, (9), Greg Bell, Metcalfe, ON, Stohr WF1 Suzuki, 6.
13, (12), Dave Knaack, Neenah, WI, Stohr WF1 Suzuki, 6.
DNF, (2), Chris Farrell, Salt Lake City, UT, Stohr WF1 Suzuki, 5.
DNF, (16), Brian Lindstrand, Lake Villa, IL, Prince LSR Suzuki, 2.
DNS, (5), Garrett Kletjian, Hingham, MA, West WX-10 Suzuki, 0.
Time of Race: 26:47.133
Winner's average speed: 116.481 mph
Hawk Fastest race lap: #36 Tom Bootz 2:02.656 (117.402 mph)
Lap Leaders: 1-13, #36 Tom Bootz.
Sunoco Hard Charger: #97 Richard Colburn
Race 19: Weinberger Dominates STU National Championship Race
Joel Weinberger, of Hinsdale, Ill., led flag-to-flag to earn his first ever National Championship in the Super Touring® U class at the 48th SCCA Runoffs® at Road America. Marc Hoover, of Cameron Park, Calif., and Eric Heinrich, of Milton, Mass., completed the podium.
Weinberger, who lost a heartbreaker in 2010 in STU with a second-place finish, started his No. 3 Continental Audi/Castrol/BFGoodrich Tires Audi A4 on the Gumout Pole. He and second-starting Hoover went side-by side through Turn One, but Weinberger pulled out and sped away to win the 13-lap, 52-mile race by 6.026 seconds.
It marked the first-ever win for Audi at the Runoffs.
Winning the Runoffs is special for Weinberger’s family, but particularly because it is at Road America. Weinberger also earned the Hawk Fastest Race Lap with a record 2:27.859 (97.390 mph).
The battle looked like David versus Goliath, as Hoover battled the four-door sedan with his small, turbocharged No. 98 Hooverspeed/Redline/AMG/Hoosier Mazda Miata. Hoover was pleased with his result in the event that marked the 10th anniversary of his National Championship in D Sports Racing.
Heinrich had a more eventful run in his Gulf-liveried No. 10 ElephantMotorsports.com/BFGoodrich Tires BMW M3 E30. Heinrich battled the Mitsubishi Evo of defending T2 National Champion Marty Grand, the BMW of Michael Flynn and the Acura of Mathew Staal for much of the race. After starting third, he fell to fifth. On the 11th lap, Grand’s car sprung a leak in Turn Five and Flynn spun in Turn Eight, letting Heinrich climb back onto the final step on the podium.
Flynn recovered to finish fourth in his No. 26 Irish Mike’s Racing BMW 325 E46, followed by Staal’s No. 26 HPD/Honda Racing/BFGoodrich Acura RSX Type S.
Brian Laughlin, of Tulsa, Okla., earned the Sunoco Hard Charger award for advancing eight positions to finish 14th in his No. 25 Tulsa Radiology Assoc./Mazda/Hoosier Mazda Miata.
ELKHART LAKE, Wis. – Results from Saturday’s Spec Miata SCCA National Championship race from Road America, with finishing position, starting position in parentheses, driver, hometown, car and laps complete.
1, (1), Joel Weinberger, Hinsdale, IL, Audi A4, 13.
2, (2), Marc Hoover, Cameron Park, CA, Mazda Miata, 13.
3, (3), Eric Heinrich, Milton, MA, BMW M3, 13.
4, (4), Michael Flynn, Eustis, FL, BMW 325 E46, 13.
5, (6), Matthew Staal, Torrance, CA, Acura RSX Type S, 13.
6, (7), Michael Pettiford, Louisville, CO, Pontiac Solstice GXP, 13.
7, (8), Joseph McClughan, New Braunfels, TX, Mazda MPS 3, 13.
8, (12), John De Barros, Kennesaw, GA, Mazda 6, 13.
9, (11), Tom Wickersham, San Ramon, CA, Honda S2000 CR, 13.
10, (10), William B Niemeyer, Loveland, OH, Acura RSXS, 13.
11, (9), Ronald Pawley, Greenwood, AR, Lexus IS300, 13.
12, (14), Michael Lattanzio, Coraopolis, PA, BMW 325i, 13.
13, (13), Rich Walke, Hawthorn Woods, IL, Mazda RX-7, 13.
14, (22), Brian Laughlin, Tulsa, OK, Mazda Miata, 12.
15, (20), David Palfenier, Naperville, IL, Mazda Miata, 12.
16, (19), Tom Kraft, Des Moines, IA, Mazda Miata, 12.
17, (5), Marty Grand, Manassas Park, VA, Mitsubishi Evo IX, 11.
18, (23), Toby Grahovec, Chicago, IL, BMW Z4 3.0, 11.
DNF, (15), Michael Jones, South Bend, IN, Subaru Impreza WRX, 3.
DNS, (16), Jim Drago, Memphis, TN, Mazda Miata, 0.
DNS, (17), L. Patrick Sandlin, Cordova, TN, Mazda Miata, 0.
DNS, (18), Steven Gorriaran, Providence, RI, Mazda Miata, 0.
DNS, (21), Ted Cahall, Bellevue, WA, Mazda Miata, 0.
Time of Race: 32:42.174
Winner's average speed: 95.404 mph
Hawk Fastest race lap: #3 Joel Weinberger, 2:27.859 (97.390 mph)
Lap Leaders: 1-13, Joel Weinberger
Sunoco Hard Charger: #25 Brian Laughlin
Race 20: Cooper Captures First-Career Formula F SCCA National Runoffs Championship at Road America
Lewis Cooper, of Grosse Point, Mich., drove an impressive race capturing his first-career Formula F National Championship at the 48th SCCA National Championship Runoffs at Road America. William Valet, of Coram, N.Y., and Tim Kautz, of Geneva, Ill., completed the podium.
Cooper, the Gumout pole winner, got a great jump in the No. 0 Polestar/Martini/Voss Van Diemen RF00 Ford and took the early lead. He led the first four laps before Reid Hazelton passed him in the No. 01 Hoosier/Farley Engineering/Primus Racing/Linds Van Diemen RF92 Ford for the lead. This back-and-forth battle continued for the next four laps before Hazelton pulled into pit lane with a mechanical issue. At that point, Cooper had a more than 10-second lead and cruised to victory. He won by 12.146-seconds over Valet.
Valet, who started fifth in the Loyning’s Engines/Goodyear Tires Swift DB-6 Ford, spent most of the second half of the 13-lap race battling Kautz for position. In fact, on the last lap Valet was third and Kautz was second. Valet figured he’d settle for third, but got a good run on Kautz in Turn One and passed him for second, a position he did not relinquish.
Kautz started 11th in the No. 88 Braeburn/Two Dogg/Hoosier/Euroquipe Piper DF-3D Ford and it did not take him long to work his way through the field. By lap two, he was fifth and was second by lap nine. The defending Formula F National Champion worked hard to fend off a hard charging Valet, but had to settle for third on the final lap. Kautz was the Sunoco Hard Charger for advancing eight positions.
Russell Ruedisueli, of Rochester Hills, Mich, finished fourth in the No. 20 Goodyear/Williams Engines Van Diemen RF98 Ford. David Livingston, of Nashville, Tenn., finished fifth in the No. 85 Swift DB-3/89 Ford.
Hazelton turned the Hawk Fastest Lap of the race with a 2:21.053 (102.089 mph).
ELKHART LAKE, Wis. - Provisional Results from Saturday’s Formula F 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), Lewis Cooper, Grosse Pointe, MI, Van Diemen RF00 Ford, 13.
2, (5), William Valet, Coram, NY, Swift DB-6 Ford, 13.
3, (11), Tim Kautz, Geneva, IL, Piper DF-3D Ford, 13.
4, (10), Russell Ruedisueli, Rochester Hills, MI, Van Diemen RF99 Ford, 13.
5, (13), David H. Livingston Jr., Nashville, TN, Swift DB-3/89 Ford, 13.
6, (6), John Benson, Dade City, FL, Swift DB-1 Ford, 13.
7, (15), Wesley Cunningham, Houston, TX, Swift DB-6 Ford, 13.
8, (8), Bill Kephart, Colorado Springs, CO, Vestal 09F Ford, 13.
9, (12), Randy Acock, Robstown, TX, Van Diemen RF98 Ford, 13.
10, (16), James Stiehr, Evergreen, CO, Swift DB-6 Ford, 13.
11, (18), David Loken, Littleton, CO, Swift DB-1 Honda, 13.
12, (14), Allen Wheatcroft, Chicago, IL, Van Diemen RF98K Ford, 13.
13, (17), John Vlasis, Cudahy, WI, Piper DF-2H Honda, 13.
14, (19), Mark Keller, Snohomish, WA, Piper DF-05 Ford, 13.
15, (22), John Luxon, West Chicago, IL, Piper DF-2 Ford, 13.
16, (4), Cliff Johnson, Leawood, KS, Piper DF-5 Ford, 12.
17, (9), Mike Sauce, Arlington, TX, Sauce SVM1 Ford, 12.
18, (2), Scott Rubenzer, Brookfield, WI, Citation 95FF Ford, 10.
19, (3), Reid Hazelton, Burlington, WI, Van Diemen RF92 Ford, 8.
DNF, (7), Jeff Bartz, Plymouth, WI, Reynard Ford, 3.
DNF, (21), Stan Townes, Santa Clara, CA, Swift DB-1 Ford, 0.
DNS, (20), Dan Murphy, Eden Prairie, MN, Van Diemen RF00K Honda, 0.
Overall Time of Race: 30:54.768
Average Race Speed: 100.929 mph
Margin of Victory: 12.146 seconds
Hawk Fastest Race Lap: #01 Reid Hazelton, 2:21.053 (102.089 mph)
Sunoco Hard Charger: #88 Tim Kautz
Lap Leaders: #0 Lewis Cooper Laps 1 - 4, 6, 8 – 14, #01 Reid Hazelton Laps 5, 7
INDYCAR: Miller's Mailbag, 5.23
PHOTOS: 2012 Indy 500 Technical Gallery
INDYCAR: Series Calls For Chassis Modifications To Reduce Lift
INDYCAR: Susie Wheldon Planning Indy 500 Return
INDYCAR: Jeff Andretti Thriving 20 Years After Indy 500 Crash
VIDEO: James Hinchcliffe's Indy 500 Diaries
SPEED All Over 'Racing's Greatest Weekend'
