THE LINE - OCTOBER 15, 2014
Monday, October 13, 2014 at 08:23AM
(Photo by Alan Marler/HHP for GM/Chevy Racing)
Kevin Harvick (No. 4 Hendrick Motorsports Budweiser Chevrolet SS) qualified seventh but won the Bank of America 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway last Saturday night, leading 162 laps. It was his third NASCAR Sprint Cup Series win of the season and launched him into the Eliminator Round of the Chase. The race was chaotic at the end, with too much stupidity taking place on and off the track for words, so we've included a few NASCAR videos here, here, here and here. Dale Earnhardt Jr. Brad Keselowski and Jimmie Johnson each need a win at Talladega next Sunday to qualify for the next round of The Chase, a scenario that is Not Good for NASCAR.
(Photo by Mark Weber/SCCA)
Andrew Aquilante (No. 36 Phoenix Performance/Hoosier/Hawk Performance Ford Mustang), of Chester Springs, Pennsylvania, captured the Touring 1 title at the SCCA National Championship Runoffs® at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Scotty White (No. 0 GOT CDL?/Knight Transport/BFGoodrich Tires/Hawk Performance Dodge Viper), of Auburn, Washington, and Mark Boden (No. 47 Fall-Line Motorsports/Trim-Tex BMW M3), of Winnetka, Illinois, completed the podium positions. Aquilante survived an opening lap incident at the start, which collected Tire Rack polesitter William Brinkop (Chevrolet Corvette), to capture is fourth SCCA National Championship. Once taking the lead on the opening lap, Aquilante stayed at the front of the pack for the 20-lap race that averaged 85.153 mph around the 11-turn, 2.238-mile course. The 51st SCCA National Championship Runoffs® crowned Sports Car Club of America’s Club Racing National Champions at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Friday, October 10 through Sunday, October 12. Thank you to the SCCA for the photos and caption information, it is much appreciated.
(Jay Bonvouloir/SCCA)
Collin Jackson (No. 53 Nissan 240-SX), of Langley, British Columbia, Canada, extended his perfect record in SCCA National Championship competition, winning the GT-3 Runoffs® race at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. John Black (No. 17 Murillo Racing Nissan 350Z), of Olympic Valley, California, and John Goddard (Nissan 240-SX), of Lafayette, California, completed the podium.
Mike Anderson (No. 42 HASA/Whiteflyer Formula Mazda), of Anza, California, brought home his first SCCA National Championship Runoffs® title Saturday in Formula Mazda at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca after three runner-up finishes in four prior attempts. Houstonians Alan McCallum (No. 19 Alan McCallum Racing Formula Mazda) and Stuart Rettie (No. 21 Hillenburg Motorsports/Speed Connection Formula Mazda) finished second and third, respectively. Anderson started the 20-lap race on the Tire Rack pole and averaged 83.084 mph over the 11-turn, 2.238-mile course,
(Mark Weber/SCCA)
Joe Huffaker (No. 77 Huffaker Engineering Mini Cooper), of Petaluma, Calif., took the GT-Lite Championship at the SCCA Runoffs by 4.197 seconds, for his ninth championship. Troy Ermish (No. 88 Datsun 510 parts Outlet/LS Energy Nissan 510), of Tracy, Calif., and Jon Goodale (No. 04 Mazdaspeed/Hoosier/JoeApex.com Mazda Miata), of Conifer, Colo., completed the podium. The race averaged 75.446 mph in the 20-lap race around the 2.238-mile circuit.
(Mark Weber/SCCA)
Jeremy Grenier (No. 21 Ski Motorsports/Hoosier/ELR/KDD Citation Formula F Honda), of Charles Town, W. Va., broke away from the pack in the closing laps of the Formula F National Championship race to win his first SCCA National Championship Runoffs title. Chuck Horn (Swift DB6 Honda), of Los Gatos, Calif., and Ethan Shippert (Piper DL7 Honda), of Petaluma, Calif., completed the podium.
(Mark Weber/SCCA)
Mark Drennan (No. 10 NoWifeNoKids/TFB/Riverbed Mazda Miata), of San Jose, California, took the Spec Miata win at the SCCA National Championship Runoffs® with Andrew Carbonell (No. 79 BSI Racing Mazda Miata), of Miami, Florida, and Brian Ghidinelli (No. 12 Race Hero/Atlanta Motorsports Group/Miata Cage/TFB Mazda Miata), of San Rafael, California, completing the podium. Drennan led wire to wire in the 20-lap race that averaged 75.896 mph around the 11-turn, 2.238-mile circuit. But Erik Stearns (No. 97 East Street Racing/Eds 24 Hour Service 2000 Mazda Miata), of Van Buren, Ohio, was named 2014 SCCA Spec Miata National Champion Sunday after the first six cars from Friday’s race at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca were penalized following post-race inspection for unapproved modifications. Stearns started in 12th position, moved into the top 10 on lap three, and advanced to seventh on lap seventeen, a position he would hold until the checkered flag.
Twenty-one-year-old Nigel Saurino (No. 57 The Race Shop/Kelley Engines/Hoosier MG Midget), of Tulsa, Oklahoma, raced to a 8.243-second win on Friday at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca to take the F Production title in his first SCCA National Championship Runoffs appearance. Joe Huffaker (No. 77 Huffaker Engineering MG Midget), of Petaluma, Calif., and Eric Prill (No. 7 MaxtonsFight.org/Jesse Prather Motorsports/Hoosier Mazda Miata), of Topeka, Kan., joined Saurino on the podium. Saurino covered the 20-lap, caution-free race at an average speed of 78.692 mph.
(Jay Bonvouloir/SCCA)
Dylan Olsen (No. 13 Shock Shop/Correct Car SUV/Nutter Ford Mustang), of Kelso, Washington, won his first SCCA National Championship Runoffs title in his first attempt, taking advantage when several American Sedan favorites hit trouble during the 20-lap shootout at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Bill Baten (No. 8 Van Winkle Baten/Marks ADR/Hoosier Chevrolet Camaro), of Indianapolis, Indiana, finished second, and Tire Rack polesitter Andy McDermid (No. 24 WeatherTech/Felice Perf Eng/T&A Shocks Ford Mustang), from Howell, Michigan, finished third after holding a big lead. In his rookie Runoff appearance, the 23-year-old Olsen took the American Sedan victory by 2.029 seconds, averaging 78.842 mph.
(Jay Bonvouloir/SCCA)Chris Farrell (No. 58 C&M Manufacturing/GDR Engines/Hoosier/Geartro Stohr WF1 Suzuki), of Salt Lake City, Utah, proved to be the class of the Prototype 1 field at the SCCA National Championship Runoffs® at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, as he took a flag-to-flag win. Lee Alexander (No. 48 Factory48/APE Raceparts Stohr WF1 Suzuki), of Las Vegas, Nevada, finished second, ahead of Jim Devenport (No. 23 Cranbrook Group Inc. Norma M20FC Honda), of Modesto, California, in the newly-formed class. Farrell dominated the race, leading from the Tire Rack pole and finishing with a four-second lead in a race that included one restart at the midway point. Farrell averaged 82.649 mph around the 11-turn, 2.238-mile circuit.
Tire Rack Pole sitter Andrie Hartanto (Honda S2000), of Concord, Calif., won the Street Touring Under division in the 2014 SCCA National Championship Runoffs at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, cruising to the STU title over Rylan Hazelton (No. 49 Driving Ambition/HPD/Comptech Honda S2000), of Santa Cruz, Calif., and Anthony Simmers (No. 45 RebayReseller.com/Hoosier/Vaslet Volkswagen GTI), of Boulder, Colo. Hartanto crossed the finish line with a 5.373-second margin of victory, averaging 73.349 mph.
(Jay Bonvouloir/SCCA)Though chaos reigned at the beginning of the race, David Daughtery (No. 8 Nissan/Hoosier/Carbotech/Enkei Nissan 370Z ), of Fortville, Ind., came out victorious through a side-by-side battle to capture his eighth SCCA National Championship in Touring 3 on Friday at the SCCA National Championship Runoffs. Tom Wickersham (No. 01 Maine Straight/Competition Autowerks Ford Mustang), of San Ramon, Calif., and Marc Feinstein (No. 93 German Perf Service/Hoosier/AWE Audi S4), of Cambridge, Mass., joined Daughtery on the podium.
Cliff Ira (No. 36 Fira Motorsports Acura Integra GSR), of Kansas City, Missouri, nursed his a wounded car to a barn-burner of an SCCA National Championship Runoffs® Super Touring Lite win at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in his first trip to the event. Brian Laughlin (No. 27 Tulsa Radiology/Mazda/Hoosier/Jesse Prather Motorsports Mazda Miata), of Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Spencer Trenery (No. 8 Fantasy Junction/TOP1 Motors Acura Integra), of Berkeley, California, completed the podium. Ira’s No. 36 Fira Motorsports Acura Integra GSR was billowing smoke as it crossed the finish line, averaging 78.189 mph around the 11-turn, 2.238-mile course.
(Mark Weber/SCCA)David Ferguson (No. 75 Veracity Racing Data/Mazda Mazda Van Diemen RFS-03), of Paso Robles, Calif., played a smart and patient Prototype 2 race at the 2014 SCCA National Championship Runoffs to win his first gold medal. Mark Mercer (No. 34 Hoosier Tire/Ferenco Lola 90 Mazda), of Aurora, Colo., and Fabian Okonski (No. 4 SimplicityinSoundMobileAudio/GDRE Stohr 01D Suzuki), of Los Gatos, Calif., completed the podium at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Okonski was crowned the Prototype 2 Champion after David Ferguson and Mark Mercer were each penalized one position.
Matt Reynolds (No. 71 Reynolds Brother’s Racing/Jesse Prather Motorsports/Vintage Connection Mazda Miata), of Boerne, Texas, earned his first SCCA National Championship Saturday, winning E Production at the 2014 SCCA National Championship Runoffs® at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Jim Daniels (No. 76 WebLaps.com Mazda Miata), of Germantown, Tennessee, and Aaron Downey (No. 5 roundpeg.com/Mazdaspeed/Carbotech Mazda RX-3), of Rossmoor, California, completed a Mazda podium sweep. One year after having a Championship taken away due to on-track contact, Reynolds’ run was clean and dominant, leading all but one of the 20 laps around the 2.238-mile circuit on his way to a 20.276-second victory.
(Jay Bonvouloir/SCCA)Andrew Aquilante (No. 36 Phoenix Performance/Hoosier/Hawk Chevrolet Corvette), of Phoenixville, Pa, defended an SCCA National Championship for the second time last weekend, repeating in GT-2 at the SCCA National Championship Runoffs on Saturday in a route. Spencer Trenery (No. 55 Fantasy Junction Porsche GT3), of Berkeley, Calif., and Mark Boden (No. 4 Fall-Line Motorsports Porsche GT3), Winnetka, Ill., ran second and third at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Aquilante turned the race’s fast lap of 1:30.267 (89.255 mph) on lap two, and the now five-time National Champion covered the 20-lap race in 30:33.904 for a 87.865 mph average on his way to a 26.561-second margin of victory. It’s his second Championship at the 2014 Runoffs and fourth in two years, following his also successful defense of his Touring 1 crown. “It feels pretty good,” Aquilante said. “You try not to look at the record book and say I want to win this many, because each championship has things that have to come together. I hate to say it, but luck is a part of it. Even here, the low voltage light came on with five to go, and so you never quite know if you’re going to make the end of the race over something stupid. We’re a family organization, we’re a small organization, and we’re real tight knit. I spent the last three weeks building this car, and it’s for one of our customers, John Yarish. I have to thank him for letting me use it. It feels really good in that sense, and it’s a proud achievement to come at it from both sides.”
Defending Formula Enterprises Champion Scott Rettich (No. 17 Alliance Autosport/PDI Comms Systems SCCA Formula Enterprises/Ford), of Columbus, Ohio, cruised to victory at the 2014 SCCA National Championship Runoffs. Robin Shute (No. 49 RobinShuteRacing.com/Bulldog Motorsport Formula Enterprises), of Newark, Calif., and Reece Everard (No. 61 SCCA Formula Enterprises), of Lake Orion, Mich., completed the FE podium at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. The win not only earned Rettich his fourth FE crown, but also his fourth SCCA Club Racing Super Sweep, awarded to drivers who win a Majors Conference Championship, one of 10 key Majors races, win the National point standings and the Runoffs in a single class.
Robert Allaer (No. 52 Martini/Coors Light/LTD Motorsports Van Diemen RF02/Ford), of Lithia, Florida, led flag-to-flag to capture the Formula Continental® title at the SCCA National Championship Runoffs® on Saturday at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, holding off 16-year-old Andrew Evans (No. 62 Van Diemen RF02), of Sammamish, Washington, for the title. Zach Craigo (No. 27 Rocky Mountain Medical Lasers Van Diemen RF02/Ford), of Denver, Colorado, finished a distant third. Allaer led from the Tire Rack Pole Position and claimed his first National Championship with a deceptive 1.038-second margin of victory after averaging 84.631 mph in the 20-lap race. Evans had closed to the rear of Allaer’s machine on lap 16, and the battle was on. With Allaer’s tires starting to fade, Evans was putting on the pressure. The pair caught a lapped car at either the best or worst time, depending on each driver’s perspective. Evans was held up coming down the hill through Turns Nine, 10 and 11, and Allaer began the final lap with a nearly two-second advantage, which turned out to be insurmountable. Allaer also turned the fastest lap of the race with a class-record 1:27.435 (92.146 mph).
Andrew Longe (No. 02 Trianon/FALL-LINE Motorsports Porsche 911/997), of Naples, Fla., survived a chaotic race start and a wild battle with Kyle Kelley (No. 79 UPR.com Chevrolet Corvette), of Hunington Beach, Calif., to take the Touring 2 victory at the 2014 SCCA National Championship Runoffs®. Kelley and Matt Slavens (Porsche 911/996), of Davenport, Iowa, completed the podium at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. At the white flag, Longe had a 0.741-second lead on Kelley, who was doing everything in his power to catch the Porsche. As the pair exited Turn 10, Kelley got inside of Longe for the final turn. The pair exited Turn 11 dead even and drag raced to the finish, where Longe was victorious by 0.047-second, the fifth-closest finish at the Runoffs in the modern transponder era.
Daniel Bender (No. 15 Bravo Trailers/BFGoodrich Tires/Autobarn Mazda Mazda MX-5), of Northbrook, Illinois, notched his first National Championship title in Touring 4 in convincing fashion at the SCCA National Championship Runoffs® at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Tom Wickersham (No. 01 Maine Straight/Competition Autowerks Mazda MX-5), of San Ramon, California, came home second, followed by Izzy Sanchez (No. 78 Corona Bumper Service Mazda RX-8), of San Mateo, California.
In his first-ever trip to the SCCA National Championship Runoffs® Kyle Keenan (No. 44 Kia Motors of America Kia Rio), of Vancouver, Wash., ran away from the B-Spec field for the win. Travis Washay (No. 30 Indian Summer Racing/Northern Cross Mini Cooper), of Milford, Conn., and David Daughtery (Nissan Versa), of Fortville, Indiana, finished second and third, respectively. Tire Rack Pole winner John Heinricy (No. 35 Matick Chevy/Hoosier/Hawk Chevrolet Sonic), of Clarkston, Michigan, dropped out of the race setting-up Keenan for the victory.
One day after narrowly missing out on his first SCCA National Championship in the Touring 2 class, Kyle Kelley (No. 3 UPRacing.com/Jamison Engineering/1st Class Chevrolet Corvette), of Huntington Beach, California, won the GT-1 class at the SCCA Runoffs® at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Kenneth Davis (No. 65 Davis Stone.com Chevrolet Corvette), of Escondido, California, and Elmer Shannon (No. 07 Spectra Holdings/Gateway Racing/Eatmon Chevrolet Corvette), of Oakland, California, completed the top three. Tire Rack Pole Winner Michael Lewis (No. 12 Goodyear/Cyclo/RedLine Oil Jaguar XKR), of Poway, California, broke the rear end of his Jaguaas the green flag waved. With Lewis’ departure, Kelley was the class of the field, turning a fastest lap of 1:27.746 (91.820 mph) en route to a 30.277-second victory in the 20-lap, 44.76-mile race. The race was slowed by one caution for two laps.
(Jay Bonvouloir/SCCA)
Brian Novak (No. 73 Hoosier/NovaRace/AiM NovaKar J360/Rotax), of Dearborn, Michigan, won the Formula 500 Championship at the SCCA National Championship Runoffs® at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Wiley ‘Clint’ McMahan (No. 36 Metalloid/Formula 600 Challenge Maverick Nova/Suzuki), of Covington, Georgia, and Jeff Jorgenson (No. 84 Veskimo Cooling Quadrini Racing Invader QC1/Rotax), of San Francisco, California, completed the podium.
Cliff White (No. 58 Cottage Senior Living/Valvoline Spec Racer Ford ), of Huntsville, Alabama, won the Spec Racer® Ford race at the 2014 SCCA National Championship Runoffs®, by 0.065-second over Mike Miserendino (No. 11 MBI Racing Spec Racer Ford), of Bakersfield, California. It was the closest SRF finish in Runoffs history. T.J. Acker (No. 62 MBI Racing/Cindescency Spec Racer Ford), of Santa Clarita, California, completed the podium at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. The margin of victory was 0.065-seconds and it is the second SRF title for White.
(Jay Bonvouloir/SCCA)J.R. Osborne (No. 83 Ralph Firman/Hoosier/GeartronicsMoo RFR 1000/Kawasaki), of Englewood, Colorado, won Sunday's Formula 1000 race, claiming his fourth career National Championship with a 5.693-second win. Alex Mayer (No. 77 Mayer Motorsports/Autoworks JDR F1000/Suzuki), of Harleysville, Pennsylvania, and Gary Hickman (No. 76 Edge Engineering Phoenix F1000/Suzuki), of Alpine, California, completed the podium. Osborne led flag-to-flag from the Tire Rack Pole Position, turning the fastest lap of the race on lap six with a 1:24.701 (95.120 mph).
Lawrence Loshak (No. 1 ETE Reman/HYPERformance/RWM/Hoosier Honda CRX), of Grafton, Wisconsin, won the 2014 H Production title at the SCCA National Championship Runoffs® Sunday at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Jason Isley (No. 99 TRD/Hoosier/OS Giken/Racer.com Toyota Yaris), of Coto De Caza, California, finished second, while Steven Hussey (No. 37 Linn Speed/CW Horton Honda CRX), of Capitola, California, completed the podium. Loshak took the early lead after starting on the Tire Rack pole. However, Isley stayed close and was even able to record one lap as the official leader. On lap four, Loshak retook control of the race and went on to the win averaging 75.503 mph around the 11-turn, 2.238-mile circuit. The win marks Loshak’s fifth National Championship.
(Mark Weber/SCCA)Seventeen-year-old Conner Kearby (No. 56 GK Motorsports Swift 016a Mazda), of Corpus Christi, Texas, was the youngest winner of this year’s SCCA National Championship Runoffs®, claiming the Formula Atlantic title over Sedat Yelkin (No. 75 EVERCLEAR LUBRICANTS Swift 014a Mazda), of Austintown, Ohio. Bruce Hamilton (No. 36 Team K-Hill Swift 016a Mazda), of Monkton, Maryland, was third at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Kearby's drive from the sixth grid position earned him his first Runoffs victory in only his second appearance, finishing 2.836 seconds ahead of Yelkin. “Honestly, this is crazy,” Kearby smiled. “I had the pole and then a lot of stuff went down and then I was P6. I figured I’d just make the best out of it. I never thought I’d be up here, but I tried my best.” Kearby’s drive also earned him the Sunoco Hard Charger Award, the GoPro Hero Move of the Race Award and he is now eligible for the Mazda SportsCar Racing Academy Club Racer Shootout and a $75,000 ride in the 2015 SCCA Pro Racing Mazda MX-5 Cup.
Toyota and Toyota Racing Development introduced the new 2015 Toyota Camry race car in Charlotte over the weekend. The revised "Gen-6" configuration machine will compete in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) competition beginning next season.
Audi is creating a one-make series for its TT in Europe. The Audi Sport TT Cup will be held as part of the DTM season starting in 2015. The racing version of the new Audi TT weighs 1,125 kilograms and delivers 228 kW (310 hp). By means of a so-called push-to-pass feature the output of the two-liter TFSI engine can be briefly boosted by 22 kW (30 hp). There will be two Audi Sport TT Cup races at each of six DTM events in Germany and neighboring countries. Audi's quattro GmbH will prepare and field the 24 cars. Six cockpits will be reserved for a changing array of guest drivers, while interested drivers from around the world can apply for the other eighteen places on the grid at: www.audi-motorsport.com. Markus Winkelhock will be on hand to coach the participants of the Audi Sport TT Cup. The former Audi DTM driver and winner of this year’s 24-hour races at the Nürburgring and at Spa has already tested the TT Cup machine. “The Audi TT cup is a genuine race car, ideal for rookies, yet challenging to drive," Winkelhock said. "You immediately feel that you’re sitting in an Audi and recognize the close kinship with the brand’s other race cars.”