ELKHART LAKE, Wis. (Sept. 21, 2012) – Jim Drago, of Memphis, Tenn., secured the Gumout Pole Position in Spec Miata and three classes set new track records on Friday following five National Championship races at the SCCA National Championship Runoffs® at Road America.
Drago turned a flying lap of 2:43.063 (88.309 mph) in the No. 2 East Street Racing Mazda Miata on Thursday, then saw his time hold up through Friday morning’s 30-minute final qualifying. His lap was only 0.006-second faster than his teammate and drafting partner, Craig Berry, in the No. 29 Berry Marble and Granite/East Street Racing Miata, who will start Saturday’s race on the outside of row one.
Drago also turned the fastest lap in the opening Super Touring Lite session, the first time the class has been invited to the Runoffs. Drago turned a lap of 2:36.620 (91.942 mph) to lead the class debut.
In their first qualifying session this week, Super Touring Under saw the existing qualifying record shattered by Rob Huffmaster, of Clarkston, Mich. Huffmaster drove the No. 7 VirSecServices.com/Hoosier Pontiac Solstice GXP to a lap of 2:24.264 (99.817 mph), breaking the existing record of 2:27.829 (97.410 mph) by more than three seconds. Joel Weinberger, who held the previous record and is the defending class National Champion, also went under that time with a 2:27.556 (97.950 mph) in the No. 1 Continental Audi/Castrol/BFGoodrich Tires Audi A4.
Three drivers took over the top spots in their respective classes after the second of three qualifying sessions this week. Don Knowles turned a lap of 2:27.938 (97.338 mph) in the No. 32 Phoenix/Hawk/Hoosier Ford Mustang GT to take the Touring 2 top spot.
Michael Varacins topped Formula Vee with a Runoffs qualifying record of 2:41.112 (89.379 mph) in the No. 65 Speed Sport/Veetech/Hoosier Speed Sport AM-5/Volkswagen.
Chris Albin moved to the top of H Production chart after two sessions with a 2:41.165 (89.349 mph) in the No. 3 Hoosier/247-parts.com/AMT engines Volkswagen Golf GTI.
The final 11 Gumout Pole Awards and six more National Champions will be earned on Saturday in the new-for-2012 rolling schedule that includes both qualifying and racing on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and a full day of races Sunday.
Follow all the live timing and scoring at www.scca.com/runoffs. Live Twitter stream is available @SCCALive. Follow this week’s activities on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SCCAOfficial.
The SCCA National Championship Runoffs®, The Pinnacle of American Motorsports, will crown Sports Car Club of America’s Club Racing National Champions for the 49th-consecutive year in 2012. National Champions will be crowned Thursday, September 20 through Sunday, September 23.
Each race will be broadcast live on www.speedcastTV.com. ELKHART LAKE, Wis. – Polesitter in Spec Miata following Friday’s qualifying sessions for this week’s 49th SCCA National Championship Runoffs at Road America, with class: name, hometown, car, fastest time (speed). * - Denotes better than existing track record.
Spec Miata: Jim Drago, Memphis, Tenn., Mazda Miata, 2:43.063 (88.309).
ELKHART LAKE, Wis. – Provisional polesitters following Friday’s qualifying sessions for classes still to qualify at this week’s 49th SCCA National Championship Runoffs at Road America, with class: provisional pole sitter, hometown, car, fastest time (speed); second place driver, hometown, car, fastest time (speed). * - Denotes better than existing track record.
Formula 500: Michael Mueller, Plymouth, Wis., Red Devil 2004/Rotax, 2:23.101 (100.628); Jason Knuteson, Danville, Ind., Scorpion/Rotax, 2:24.059 (99.959). Formula 1000: Brandon Dixon, Tuscaloosa, Al., Citation/Suzuki, 2:08.263 (112.269); Jeremy Hill, Toronto, Ont., Photon VD07/Suzuki, 2:08.654 (111.928). Formula Atlantic: Jason Byers, Livonia, Mich., Swift 014a/Toyota, 2:01.729 (101.602); Keith Grant, Germantown, Tenn., Swift 014a/Toyota, 2:03.527 (100.330). Formula Vee: Michael Varacins, Burlington, Wis., Speed Sport AM-5/VW, 2:41.112 (89.379); Gary Blanarik, Baden, Pa., Siver Bullet/VW, 2:42.372 (88.685). Touring 2: Don Knowles, Pittsboro, N.C., Ford Mustang GT, 2:27.938 (97.338); Todd Napieralski, Chelsea, Mich., Chevrolet Camaro Z28, 2:28.253 (97.131). *Touring 3: Kevin Fandozzi, Saint Joseph, Mich., Chevrolet Cobalt SS, 2:34.172 (93.402); Chad Gilsinger, Marysville, Ohio, Honda S2000, 2:34.519 (93.192). F Production: Steve Sargis, Frankfort, Ill., Triumph Spitfire, 2:33.070 (94.075); Eric Prill, Topeka, Kan., Mazda Miata, 2:33.510 (93.805). H Production: Chris Albin, Maryland Heights, Mo., Volkswagen Golf GTI, 2:41.165 (89.349); Greg Gauper, Hubertus, Wis., Honda Civic Si, 2:43.761 (87.933). GT-3: John Black, Olympic Valley, Calif., Nissan 350Z, 2:22.760 (100.869); Rob Warcocki, Frankfort, Ill., Mazda RX-7, 2:24.238 (99.835). *Super Touring Under: Rob Huffmaster, Clarkston, Mich., Pontiac Solstice GXP, 2:24.264 (99.817); Joel Weinberger, Hinsdale, Ill., Audi A4, 2:27.556 (97.590). *Super Touring Lite: Jim Drago, Memphis, Tenn., Mazda Miata, 2:36.620 (91.942); Bob Beede, Greenwich, Conn., Honda Civic Si, 2:39.107 (90.505).
2012 SCCA National Championship Runoffs
