Time Trials Nationals: Pictures Worth 1000 Words

Photos by Jon Krolewicz, Tradd Slayton and Kristen Poole.

For the first year, Tire Rack Ultimate Track Car Challenge joined Time Trials Nationals, and the 20 fastest TTN drivers earned their way into the mix.
photo by Kristen Poole

Event Coach Brandon Anderson dons the brightest clothing yet — and a pair of bare feet — as he enjoys Thursday's welcome party with the rest of the Time Trials Nationals family.
photo by Kristen Poole

TrackSprint gives drivers a chance to double-check settings and make adjustments between runs, as Derek Secord demonstrates here Saturday morning.
photo by Jon Krolewicz

Jerome Cahuzac shares a laugh with his on-track teammates following his first Sunday morning session.
photo by Jon Krolewicz

John Hunter, Manager of the National TT program announces next year's TTN dates: October 23-27, 2024 — right back at NCM Motorsports Park.
photo by Jon Krolewicz

Focused and determined.
photo by Tradd Slayton

Unlimited 2 driver Jimmy Rauck set a new lap record for the class with a time of 2:07.138 — 2.995 seconds faster than the previous record set by Ryan Dussex in 2020.
photo by Tradd Slayton

Now that's what we call riding in style.
photo by Jon Krolewicz

The Classic Motorsports Bluegrass Tour made TTN a stop on their journey to tour the paddock and take some touring laps.
photo by Jon Krolewicz

When the paddock pulled together to make sure Justin Kennedy didn't have to go home after a transmission failure, the spirit of this sport was on full display. Phil Jue, Adrian Willoughby, Lyle Zyra, Chris Reagen, Jack Nguyen, and others helped him get back in action — wrenching, yes, but also a drive to Indianapolis to pick up a new transmission. This earned the group the top award of the event: Spirit of Time Trials.
photo by Jon Krolewicz

A hidden cameo. Event Coach Brandon Anderson - helping to park cars for glamour shots - saves time hiding behind them instead of scurrying out of the shots.
photo by Jon Krolewicz

We just like these shadows... and it reminds us that it was sunny before the cold front moved in on Saturday.
photo by Jon Krolewicz

Grid can be the most high-energy part of the event, as drivers get amped up to attack the track.
photo by Jon Krolewicz

Women on Track awarded Lori Weber their Driver of the Event award. Lori and her husband are relatively new to track driving. They started at a Track Night in America event, sharing a car. They loved it so much they went out and bought a second so they could drive on track at the same time. And the rest is history.
photo by Tradd Slayton

Just as the early bird gets the worm, the early driver gets a quiet grid to themselves.
photo by Jon Krolewicz

David Marcus moved up to Max 2 from Tuner 2 this year and absolutely crushed the previous lap record for the class, going 4.183 seconds faster than Perry Ellwood last year. Marcus pulled a lap time of 2:09.629.
photo by Tradd Slayton

Classic Motorsports Magazine made TTN a stop on their tour - here the group gets the story behind the "LMP 360" Unlimited entry.
photo by Jon Krolewicz

Up, up and away in my beautiful Mazda 3. Probably not what Lee Grimes was thinking in this full send moment in the corner known as "deception."
photo by Tradd Slayton

Rob Wilmoth sends his love leaving grid, before sending his Audi on track.
photo by Jon Krolewicz

This lizard was enjoying some warmth in a competitor's trailer before being safely relocated... after a few pets, of course.
photo by Kristen Poole

Jackie Mutschler and Laura Marcus hand out big prizes to the remaining crowd at the Women on Track social on Saturday evening.
photo by Jon Krolewicz

This bike came to hang out with all the electric scooters, bikes and segways that made their way to the event this year.
photo by Jon Krolewicz

Little Niko — Nicholas and Alaina Phillips' son — really brought the cute factor to this year's event. We hope that his love for this checker flag is a foreshadowing of a future SCCA racer.
photo by Jon Krolewicz

SCCA Foundation's Women on Track program awarded SCCA Staffer Nikki Edwards a brand new helmet for being a phenomenal ambassador to everyone — women, men, kids and dogs — for the Time Trials program.
photo by Jon Krolewicz

NCM Motorsports Park photographer Cole Carroll captures glamour shots of drivers and cars out on track.
photo by Jon Krolewicz

All the gear. Patiently waiting for the driver...
photo by Tradd Slayton

This year's Most Improved Award went to very deserving Tuner 2 driver Mark Kilgore, who set his own personal best in spectacular fashion — dropping more than 15 seconds on his lap time from the spring 2023 event at NCM.
photo by Tradd Slayton

Leonardo - the fearlessleader of the Ninja Turtles - is arguably one of the best best co-pilot a driver could ask for.
photo by Jon Krolewicz

Trophies await those who earned them - those who won, those who set records, and those who just brought the right spirit to the event.
photo by Jon Krolewicz

Lyle Zyra set a new personal best and class record in Tuner 3 with a lap time of 2:16.966 — 1.432 seconds faster than he was in 2022.
photo by Tradd Slayton

The field, set to go for the first TrackSprint runs on Saturday morning.
photo by Jon Krolewicz

Food was in the smoker and the drinks were on ice for the Hagerty Party on Saturday.
photo by Jon Krolewicz

S2 and T2 drivers line up at the start of their TrackSprint session on the west course.
photo by Jon Krolewicz

The crazy sock game is strong on this one.
photo by Jon Krolewicz

Walter Johnston has been a consistent competitor at TTN, and now pulls double-duty with his Miata endurance racing, too.
photo by Jon Krolewicz

Time Trials has a lot of out-of-the-box thinking, and sometimes a bit of inside-the-car working.
photo by Tradd Slayton

This year's Top Novice award went to Mark Bowling for his brand-new-to-TTN energy and enthusiasm, paired with his teamwork-first attitude. Now that's the kind of Novice we love!
photo by Tradd Slayton

We get by with a little help from our friends - here a crew member makes sure Nicolas Hammann's Porsche 944 is ready to go.
photo by Jon Krolewicz

This year's GRM-presented True Grassroots award went to Time Trials veteran Phil Jue who, up until this event, drove his fully-caged, fully-race-prepped Nissan 350z to every event, AND participates in a wide variety of Time Trials programs. Truly a grassroots competitor.
photo by Tradd Slayton

Time Trials Nationals rookie Richard Sawicki checks the belts in his Mazda MX-5 Miata as he awaits his next chance to attack the track.
photo by Jon Krolewicz

This honor deserves two mentions — Steve Luca set fastest overall time and a new production car record for NCM Motorsports Park in his 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 — a 2:02.759. That's 1.755 seconds faster than the previous set by Kyle Carrick in 2021.
photo by Tradd Slayton

SCCA President and CEO Mike Cobb keeps his eyes on the SCCA Tire Rack Time Trials Nationals.
photo by Jon Krolewicz

SCCA's John Hunter and GRM's Tom Suddard give the who, what, when, where and whys of competition before Ultimate Track Car Challenge competition began.
photo by Jon Krolewicz

While it is Time Trials, it's not always about ultimate speed - sometimes it's just about doing your best.
photo by Jon Krolewicz

Rob Wilmoth estimates that if we let him do a lap on his "Unlimited class" cooler, it would be about 16 minutes, and he'd have to make a pit stop to refuel.
photo by Jon Krolewicz

Meet Adam: the goldendoodle that's part of Peter Lier's pit crew. He enjoyed the Thursday Welcome party as much as the competitors.
photo by Kristen Poole

There were lots of modes of transportation used to get around this year — including this cooler-than-your-racecar baby walker.
photo by Kristen Poole

Event Coach Max Trenary chats with one of his groups in impound after a successful sunny session on Friday.
photo by Tradd Slayton

Carmen (left) and Velma teamed up with Brian (outside) to run start and timing for the West Course TrackSprint.
photo by Jon Krolewicz

Porsche, Porsche, Porsche.
photo by Tradd Slayton

Chris Hauenstein used his time between TrackSprint runs to see how he (and his competition) was doing.
photo by Jon Krolewicz

M1 and UTCC competitor Justin Peachey - often referred to as an alien among drivers - belts into his Hawk-sponsored Corvette for a Friday session.
photo by Jon Krolewicz

Checking out live timing often created a lot of smiles when drivers and friends saw their results.
photo by Jon Krolewicz

Dallas does data. Unlimited 1 driver Dallas Reed checks over the inner workings of his car using his laptop.
photo by Jon Krolewicz

Lawrence Shue seemed satisfied following his run Sunday morning.
photo by Jon Krolewicz

Despite some damage from a spin into a brake marker, there were smiles to be found in the Duran paddock.
photo by Jon Krolewicz

NCM Motorsports Park offers more than just on-track activities. Here, people have some fun on the go kart track.
photo by Kristen Poole

Transponders blink with anticipation, eagerly awaiting their time to go on track.
photo by Jon Krolewicz

Of course, for most it was at the 2023 Tire Rack Time Trials Nationals powered by Hagerty. Some might have taken home medals, but #funwithcars was had by all.
photo by Jon Krolewicz

Justin Peachey just keeps getting faster. In Max 1, he not only broke the class's lap record set in 2022 by Ryan Matthews by a blistering 3.51 seconds, he also set a new personal record 3.569 seconds faster than he was in 2022 with a time of 2:04.362.
photo by Tradd Slayton

You never know when you'll need to weld OR grab hot dogs, according to SCCA staffer Brian Mason as he dons his heavy-duty gloves for Thursday's welcome party.
photo by Kristen Poole

Some folks pack trailers full of tools and spare parts - this one is loaded up with what really counts: snacks for driver and crew.
photo by Kristen Poole

#funwithcars - even small ones like these atop competition director Kathy Barnes' birthday cake.
photo by Jon Krolewicz

NCM has some close neighbors, so sound levels are a concern. Here, you can see one creative method to quiet a car down.
photo by Jon Krolewicz

The calm before the TrackSprint storm. Setup and ready to roll.
photo by Jon Krolewicz

Daniel Cummings — in his self-proclaimed LMP 360 — awaits his turn to get out and attack the course.
photo by Kristen Poole

Curbing paint + tire marks. A closeup not many of us get to see in person.
photo by Jon Krolewicz

Jacob Besemer — 2nd-place trophy winner in M2 — grins big in impound after his morning runs on Sunday.
photo by Jon Krolewicz

TTN brings out one of the coolest mixes of cars. This year's Fastest Classic award presented by GRM went to this beauty — a 1970 Dodge Challenger wheeled by Robert Ellsworth in Unlimited 1 — with a lap time of 2:14.391.
photo by Tradd Slayton

Time Trials Nationals S2 newbie Bob Tunnell gives M2 teammate Logan Altmyer a good-luck fist bump before their Friday afternoon session.
photo by Kristen Poole

All lined up and ready for their first timed session on Friday morning.
photo by Kristen Poole

Texas Region members traveled about 700 miles to get to Time Trials Nationals. This one brought a motor home AND a decked-out laptop along with. We like his style.
photo by Kristen Poole

Zack Rackovan — former ABI photographer and long-time friend of Time Trials Nationals — now attends as the Track Operations General Manager.
photo by Tradd Slayton

Eric Clements stamps tires in impound after the first round of competition on Friday.
photo by Jon Krolewicz

After a year hiatus from TTN, Mark Sarcevicz bumped up to Tuner 2 from Sport 2 and proceeded to claim his new class's lap record with a 2:13:106 — 0.315 second faster than David Marcus' best in 2022.
photo by Tradd Slayton

Even the tires were 'hanging 10' this year, donning the symbol as this year's tire stamp.
photo by Jon Krolewicz

Uncle Danny wants you for the SCCA Tire Rack Time Trials Nationals.
photo by Jon Krolewicz

An overnight shower made for a wet track on Saturday morning — a perfect chance to flex our flexibility muscle. Event leaders delayed the event start by an hour and let everyone pitch in with some track-drying pace laps.
photo by Jon Krolewicz

Stephen Miller — a foodie staple of the SCCA Time Trials program — makes sure drinks get where they need to be.
photo by Jon Krolewicz

This little one is proof that Time Trials Nationals is a true family affair. A few years ago, Elias celebrated his bachelor party here. This year, his wife and young cute-as-a-button daughter joined in the fun.
photo by Jon Krolewicz

Carolyn strikes a pose on the back of fiance Phillip Jue's Time Trials Nissan 350Z.
photo by Jon Krolewicz

Time Trials is often about adjustments - spring rates, shock valving, wing angle and of course - just the right amount of ketchup on your hot dog.
photo by Kristen Poole

Objects in bumper are closer then they appear - TTN often brings out freshly cleaned cars and their shiny paint jobs.
photo by Jon Krolewicz

The winner of the Never Surrender award always has an unforgettable story of overcoming challenge. This year, Derek Meinke took home the award. He saw his car catch fire (and be extinguished), got it diagnosed, sourced tools from paddock friends to repair it and returned to the track the next day.
photo by Tradd Slayton

Bob and Patty Tunnell — SCCA Hall of Famers — pull up a patch of concrete to enjoy the beautiful weather and welcome party Thursday evening.
photo by Jon Krolewicz

Multi-year helmet stickers make us smile.
photo by Jon Krolewicz

It may be an underdog, but it's certainly been around the block once or twice.
photo by Kristen Poole

Time Trials Nationals veteran Sam Strano adjusts the camera in his 2021 Ford Mustang as he prepares to lay down his times on track.
photo by Jon Krolewicz

Creative emblem replacement, SCCA style.
photo by Jon Krolewicz

We're suckers for decal collections — and this is a good one on Mike Breaky's 1971 Lotus 7. You might say he's a regular.
photo by Jon Krolewicz

Jodie Boy is all smiles as she gets ready to wheel her Scion FR-S around the track.
photo by Jon Krolewicz

Sizzling hotdogs on the grill (and beer in the coolers, of course) made for the perfect pit stop at Thursday's Expo Party presented by Holley.
photo by Kristen Poole

The Grassroots Motorsports Miata has a quiet moment in the paddock before being put through its paces by JG Pasterjak.
photo by Jon Krolewicz

You might hear "gloves off" for doing battle, but with motorsports - it's "gloves on" when gearing up.
photo by Jon Krolewicz

The picture says it all.
photo by Jon Krolewicz

This is the view the entire event saw — Steve Luca set fastest overall time and a new production car record for NCM Motorsports Park in his 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 — a 2:02.759.
photo by Jon Krolewicz

Here's looking at you, car — making sure your car is ready to go at TTN means looking under, through and around.
photo by Tradd Slayton

Flagging by Faynisha flaggers give drivers a big thumbs-up for their efforts on track, and get one in return for their hard work on corners during the event.
photo by Kristen Poole

There's nothing quite like beating your own record. That's what Josh Owens did in his M4 Mazda Miata — by a whopping 1.753 seconds — setting a new Max 4 class record with a lap time of 2:13.930.
photo by Tradd Slayton

'nuff said.
photo by Jon Krolewicz

The chill may have set in Saturday night, but the hot food of the Hagerty Dinner - prepared by Steven and Mark Miller and friends - warmed everyone up for some bench racing.
photo by Kristen Poole

Nicholas Johnston earned himself a class record in Max 5 with a lap time of 2:19.369 — just 0.22 seconds faster than the one Andy Hollis turned last year in his 1988 Honda CRX.
photo by Tradd Slayton

Justin Barbry and Randall Prince setup the finish line on Friday evening for the TrackSprints Saturday morning.
photo by Kristen Poole

SCCA's Kentucky Region won Hagerty's Keepin' it Cool Award this year for an outstanding effort in welcoming the community to their tent in the evenings for a bit of relaxation and bench racing — campfire and all!
photo by Jon Krolewicz

Ryan Cheek contemplates the steering issue she was having - a replacement steering rack was delivered the next day, and things got a lot better.
photo by Jon Krolewicz

This year's event showcased some of the widest variety of vehicles of any motorsports events: SUV's, home-built creations and 1960s classic sports cars can all be found... often next to each other.
photo by Jon Krolewicz

In his second year at TTN, Derek Secord blasted past the competition, earning himself a class record in Sport 4 with a 2:22.674 lap time — 3.091 seconds faster than Brian Flanagan's best lap set in 2022.
photo by Tradd Slayton