It took each of her allotted three runs, but Mandy Owen, of Phoenix, Arizona, did what she needed to do to earn her second consecutive National Championship in E Street Prepared Ladies. At the controls of her No. 96 Goodspeed Performance Subaru WRX, Owen entered Wednesday’s competition with the class lead.
After second runs, Owen’s lead was gone due to a cone penalty during her first run and a clean, but slow, second run. Donna Marx, in the No. 66 Thanks Jeff Cox Ford Mustang, set the fastest time of the class on the East Course, and took over the lead. With the leader in the clubhouse, Owen put down a clean run that was good enough to earn her the Championship by 0.198-second.
“I am floored I was able to come away with the win,” Owen said. “I started the day with the lead and had two horrible runs. Donna was running so well, and I knew my back was against the wall. All I wanted to do on my last run was have a clean lap with a fairly decent time, since the first two weren’t.
“I came across the line and saw my time and though ‘I didn’t do it, it wasn’t enough.’ It wasn’t until I got back to the grid that I found out I had taken the win. It’s kind of crazy. I’m just flabbergasted.”
In D Street, Michael Wood, of Alamo, California, pulled off the win in his No. 98 Thanks Justin Subaru WRX. Wood started Wednesday’s competition in third, with a 0.301-second gap to overcome. On his final run of the meet, Wood laid down the fastest time of all drivers in the class, which allowed him to seal the National title.
“This sounds cliché, but this week was all about having fun,” Wood said. “Prior to this event, I had a total of six runs in this car in San Diego. I was fortunate enough to do well there, so I asked Justin for the co-drive.
“The results were beyond expectations. This win is a little bittersweet as this class lost a great man earlier this year. Honestly, I would be happy if I could have been second to Jim . I’m stoked. It’s a nice surprise to have won.”
Rachel Kerswill, of Reno, Nevada, took home top honors in C Street Ladies. Kerswill (No. 88 MAZDASPEED Mazda RX-8) earned the title while facing some stiff competition, namely multi-time National Champion Meredith Brown.
Heading into Wednesday’s competition, Brown was the class leader by 0.207-second. Kerswill wasted little time in setting a fast time, as she her opening run proved to be the quickest of the class on the East Course.
“I was really nervous heading into the event,” Kerswill said. “I knew I was up against Meredith Brown, who is a National Champion. I felt like I prepared the best I could, but I’m always nervous up until the last moment when everyone has finished their runs.
“I knew she was way ahead of me heading into today’s runs, so I knew I was going to need to pull out something big. It feels great to come out on top when my back was against the wall, like that.”
In Street Touring FWD, Lee Chhit, of Huntsville, Alabama, claimed the National Championship title behind the wheel of his No. 36 Custom Chip Connections/Outdoorsolutions4u.com/MINIUSA.com Mini Cooper. He entered his final day of competition with a 0.772-second advantage over Travis Sackwar. On Wednesday, Chhit did what he needed to do to preserve his class lead and finished with a 0.243-second margin of victory over Andres Rodriguez.
Mari Clements (C Modified Ladies, No. 94 Van Diemen Honda) and Susan Anderson (D Modified Ladies, No. 87 Craig’s Photography Lotus Super 7) ran unopposed in their respective classes.
The Tire Rack Solo Nationals continues through Friday. More information can be found at SCCA.com/SoloNationals.
2014 Solo National Championship
