Steven Thompson Takes Formula 500 Fight at Mid-Ohio SCCA Runoffs
LEXINGTON, Ohio (September 23, 2016) – Nose to tail, that was how half of the Formula 500 race went during the 53rd SCCA National Championship Runoffs presented by Garmin VIRB being held on the 2.258-mile, 13-turn Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio.
On the Tire Rack pole was defending Formula 500 champ Calvin Stewart, of Novi, Michigan, in the No. 07 Novarace LLC/sabbathtruth.com Novakar Blade F600 Suzuki. Next to him was worthy adversary Steven Thompson, of Royal Oak, Michigan, in the No. 37 T&R Fabricating/Hoosier TR1 Rotax. When the green flag flew for the 14-car, 22-lap race, Stewart grabbed the lead. But he was soon passed by Thompson.
A full-course yellow for a first-lap incident came out and repacked the field. When the restart came, Thompson and Stewart began a battle that lasted the next dozen laps. Thompson working hard, sliding the car around to stay ahead; Stewart filling Thompson’s mirrors and poking his nose alongside his competitor’s car at times.
“I knew if I let Calvin get too far out ahead it would be a really difficult task to tow him back in,” Thompson said. “I took advantage on the first couple laps, managed to get underneath Calvin, and just drove hard the rest of the race.”
But then lap 16 happened. Stewart entered the Carousel turn a little hot, slowly went wide, found himself in the grass, spun and stalled. That made life a lot easier for Thompson who went on to claim his first-ever F5 Runoffs podium and victory.
“This feels fantastic,” Thompson said during the winner’s interview. “We’ve been doing this for a long time. It’s been a whole lot of work to get to where we are.”
Finishing second was Brian Brothers, of Lake Orion, Michigan, who was piloting the No. 60 T&R Fabricating TR1 Rotax. Brothers had a quiet run to the checkered flag, but his first Runoffs podium finish makes the whole thing sweet.
“My race was a bit boring, other than the restarts,” Brothers said with a chuckle. “I was by myself for the vast majority of the race, which makes it difficult to maintain pace.”
The final podium spot was grabbed by Thomas Diehm, of Milford, Michigan, who had a unique race. Starting third, Diehm spun his No. 4 Diehm Dimensions/TD Racing Novablade F500 Rotax on the pace lap, which forced him to start at the rear of the field. He then fought his way back through the field, went off again, and was in the top five when Stewart’s spin brought out the full-course yellow. On that second restart, Diehm once again found himself off the track.
“Ridiculous,” was the one word Diehm used to sum up his first Runoffs podium. “I was all over. I was a mess. I’m brand new to this car. My first fast laps were yesterday. To end up in third, I’m ecstatic.”
Jeremy Swank, of Mansfield, Ohio, finished fourth in the No. 72 Strategic Wealth Management Rakavon J-10 Rotax, and John Annunziata, of White Plains, New York, brought the No. 43 QRE Invader QC-1 Rotax home in fifth.
Taking the Sunoco Hard Charger award was David Vincent in the No. 73 Tycoon Maker Technology Services KBS MK VII/Rotax, finishing sixth from his 13th-place grid position.
The 53rd SCCA National Championship Runoffs presented by Garmin VIRB, the Pinnacle of American Motorsports, crowns Sports Car Club of America’s Club Racing National Champions this year at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio, from Friday, September 23 through Sunday, September 25.
While the live broadcast of all 28 National Championships is available live at SCCA.com, each race will be on demand in the coming weeks.
LEXINGTON, Ohio -- Provisional results for Friday’s SCCA Formula 500 National Championship at the 53rd SCCA National Championship Runoffs presented by Garmin VIRB at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, with finish position, starting position in parentheses, driver, hometown, car and laps complete.
1, (2), Steven Thompson, Royal Oak, MI, T&R Fabricating TR1 Rotax, 22.
2, (6), Brian Brothers, Lake Orion, MI, T&R Fabricating TR1 Rotax, 22.
3, (3), Thomas Diehm, Milford, MI, Novablade F500 Rotax, 22.
4, (4), Jeremy Swank, Mansfield, OH, Rakavon J-10 Rotax, 22.
5, (8), John Annunziata, White Plains, NY, QRE Invader QC-1 Rotax, 22.
6, (13), David Vincent, Leavenworth, KS, KBS MK VII Rotax, 21.
7, (12), John W. 'Jack' Walbran, Saint Louis, MO, Scorpion Rotax, 21.
8, (14), Chuck McAbee, Sykesville, MD, QRE Invader QC-1 Rotax, 21.
9, (1), Calvin Stewart, Novi, MI, Novakar Blade F600 Suzuki, 15.
10, (10), Timothy Friest, Leavenworth, KS, KBS Mk. VII Rotax, 14.
11, (9), F Strate Jr, Alden, NY, Rocketech R-2 Rotax, 13.
12, (5), Steven Jondal, Rushford, MN, Red Devil JS14 Rotax, 4.
13, (7), Jeremy Morales, Indianapolis, IN, Scorpion S1 Rotax, 0.
14, (11), Jeff Blumenthal, Independence, OH, Invader QC1 Rotax, 0.
Overall Time of Race: 39:19.759
Average Race Speed: 75.785 mph
Margin of Victory: 16.224 seconds
Fastest Race Lap: Steven Thompson, 1:29.853 (90.468 mph)
Sunoco Hard Charger: #73 David Vincent
Lap Leaders: Laps 1-5, #37 Steven Thompson; Laps 6-7, Calvin Stewart; Laps 8-22, Steven Thompson
Photo: Steven Thompson won his first Formula 500 Runoffs championship.
Credit: Jay Bonvouloir
