Let’s call it what it is – Tire Rack SCCA Time Trials Nationals powered by Hagerty is the single largest Time Trials event in the country. And with the addition of the Grassroots Motorsports’ Tire Rack Ultimate Track Car Challenge, you don’t want to miss it next year.
But if you’re coming next year, you should know what happened this year – and wow, was it a lot! It started on Thursday with the traditional “Holley Day” practice runs. Friday started the official timed sessions, and on that day 20 drivers raced their way into the Ultimate Track Car Challenge. Saturday was Track Sprint, and the Women on Track social in the afternoon.
But Sunday was the day. Last year, Time Trials Nationals made a trip to Bowling Green in the spring, which came early in the year (of course) and also came with a humid, slick track. The hope was a move back to Fall this year meant that track records would also fall, and they did – with nine different class records lowered.
And they were really, really lowered – which is a credit to how competitive this event has become. Steve Luca is now the all-time quickest Time Trials car and driver combination at Time Trials Nationals, beating Kyle Carrick’s mark from 2021 by nearly two seconds. But how about this for fun – Justin Peachey also went under Carrick’s previous mark, except he did it in a Max 1 car on 200 treadwear tires to become the second fastest car at Time Trials.
Looking for more speed? How about Jimmy Rauck, whose 600hp, aero-assisted Honda Civic became the fastest front wheel drive car – ever – around NCM Motorsports Park. And that doesn’t include countless competitors who improved their own times, that may not show up as track records or even podiums. Because let’s be honest, that last one – bettering yourself – is what this event is all about.
Let’s take a look at some of our favorite results from the weekend:
Class Winners
After a Time Attack lapping session on Friday, a pair of Track Sprints on Saturday, and one last fast lap on Sunday, times were compiled and winners were crowned on the KONI Podium. Those in each class were:
Unlimited 1: Steve Luca, Ford Mustang
Unlimited 2: Jimmy Rauck, Honda Civic
Max 1: Justin Peachey, Chevrolet Corvette
Max 2: David Marcus, Toyota Supra
Max 3: Robert Wilmoth, Audi RS3
Max 4: Josh Owens, Mazda Miata
Max 5: Andy Hollis, Honda CRX
Tuner 1: Jeff Tucker, Chevrolet Camaro
Tuner 2: Mark Sarcevicz, Chevrolet Corvette
Tuner 3: Lyle Zyra, Toyota GR86
Tuner 4: Justin Tilus, Honda Civic
Tuner 5: Christopher Heideman, Honda CRX
Sport 1: David Entz, Porsche Cayman
Sport 2: Sam Strano, Ford Mustang
Sport 3: Luke Corl, Volkswagen Golf
Sport 4: Derek Secord, Honda S2000
Sport 5: Steven Duran, Subaru BRZ
Sport 6: Kevin Lindley, Mazda RX-8
TTN Superlative Winners
What would an annual event be without a few superlatives? Here are this weekend’s winners, some for on-track and some for off-track performance:
True Grassroots, Presented by Grassroots Motorsports Magazine: Philip Jue, Nissan 350Z
Fastest Classic, Presented by Classic Motorsports Magazine: Robert Ellsworth, 1970 Dodge Challenger
Spirit of Time Trials: Phil Jue, Andrian Willoughby, Lyle Zyra, Chris Reagen, Jack Nguyen, Justin Kennedy – for work in the paddock to get Kennedy’s car in working order
Most Improved: Mark Kilgore, by 15 seconds
Top Novice: Mark Bowling, Ford Mustang
Worker’s Choice: Robert Ellsworth
Keepin’ It Cool Award, Presented by Hagerty: Kentucky Region, for an outstanding effort in welcoming the community to their tent in the evenings for relaxation.
Never Surrender: Derek Meinke, who saw his car catch fire, got it diagnosed and repaired, and returned to the track
Women On Track Driver of the Event: Lori Weber, Chevrolet Camaro
Women On Track Ambassador: Nikki Edwards
New Track Records
We mentioned it above, but several drivers are now the official class record holder at Time Trials Nationals and NCM Motorsports Park. Those nine drivers are:
Unlimited 1: Steve Luca, Ford Mustang, 2:02.759
Unlimited 2: Jimmy Rauck, Honda Civic, 2:11.571
Max 1: Justin Peachey, Chevrolet Corvette, 2:04.362
Max 2: David Marcus, Toyota Supra, 2:09.629
Max 4: Josh Owens, Mazda Miata, 2:13.930
Max 5: Nicholas Johnston, Mazda Miata, 2:19.369
Sport 4: Derek Secord, Honda S2000, 2:22.674
Tuner 2: Mark Sarcevicz, Chevrolet Corvette, 2:13.106
Tuner 3: Lyle Zyra, Toyota GR86, 2:16.966
Top Overall Lap Times
These are just what it sounds like – the five fastest drivers over the course of three days at NCM Motorsports Park. Their total times combined in all the segments were:
Top Overall: Steve Luca, Unlimited 1, Ford Mustang, 5:54.953
Second Overall: Justin Peachey, Max 1, Chevrolet Corvette, 6:00.918
Third Overall: Ryan Mathews, Max 1, Chevrolet Corvette, 6:07.642
Fourth Overall: Jimmy Rauck, Unlimited 2, Honda Civic, 6:15.087
Fifth Overall: David Marcus, Max 2, Toyota Supra, 6:15.919
Tire Rack Ultimate Track Car Challenge
The Ultimate Track Car Challenge brought a new level of excitement to Tire Rack Time Trials Nationals this season, with 40 cars participating. Half of those cars were invited by Grassroots Motorsports Magazine based on history and potential; the other half raced their way in by entering Time Trials Nationals and posting a top 20 time (of those not already invited) during Friday’s Time Attack.
At the end of the Sunday, Ghais Khaleghi’s Stohr 01D was the Ultimate Track Car for 2023, with a best lap on Sunday of 2:00.901. Luca and Peachey, both of which had earned invites and won their class at TTN, were second and third. Ryan Mathews proved that SCCA Time Trials participants are amongst the best in the country, as he used that best Friday time to catapult himself all the way to fourth in the final standings.
More information on the process and the prizes available for the Tire Rack Ultimate Track Car Challenge can be found here, with the final results available by clicking here.
Full Results and More!
The fun of Time Trials Nationals is that there are multiple reasons to be here, and not everyone has their aim on a class or overall victory. Some are trying to beat their own times from past seasons, some are trying to beat a buddy who may or may not have been on site with them this year.
If you’d like to see the full results, all are available here.
