It took James Sofronas 99 attempts, but he finally captured his first-career SCCA Pro Racing SPEED World Challenge win, leading every lap of Saturday’s SCCA SPEED GT Championship Round Nine race at New Jersey Motorsports Park’s Thunderbolt Raceway. Brandon Davis, of Huntington Beach, Calif., and Andy Pilgrim, of Boca Raton, Fla., completed the podium.With the win, Porsche clinched the SCCA SPEED GT Manufacturers’ Championship Presented by RACER Magazine with one race remaining, Friday, Oct. 3 at Road Atlanta.Sofronas, of Newport Beach, Calif., started second in his No. 14 Global Motorsports Group Porsche 911 GT3 but edged polesitter Davis’ No. 10 ACS/Sun Microsystems Ford Mustang to Turn One to take his first-ever lead in an SCCA SPEED GT race.”I almost blew it,” Sofronas said of his start. “I had a great launch and the car just shot out. I thought that I hit the rev limiter, but I didn’t and I shifted early, so I had a shock and then I took off and started to move over and looked in my mirrors and I thought I had [Brandon] by a couple feet. I figured I needed to get ahead of him or it would be really tough to pass him, so I knew the start would be huge.”For the first dozen laps, Sofronas did his best to keep Davis at bay with 10th-starting Eric Curran charging through the field in his No. 30 Whelen Engineering Chevrolet Corvette and joining the lead fight by lap seven. On lap eight, Curran slowed and pitted for a new alternator, costing him 10 laps.On lap 11, the leaders caught the lapped Mitsubishi of rookie Vesko Kozarov, who was far behind the pack owing to a stop-and-go penalty for movement prior to the start. While Sofronas was able to get through cleanly, Davis had to follow for several corners, allowing the Porsche to pull out a 3.5-second advantage.Davis slowly eroded Sofronas’ lead to less than a second when a lap-26 full-course caution flew for debris off Michael Galati’s Porsche. The two-lap caution created a green-white-checker finish, and Sofronas was able to hold Davis off for a 0.172-second victory, averaging 87.127 mph. Sofronas’ previous best finish was second place in the SCCA SPEED Touring Car Championship.”It feels like a weight off my shoulders,” an excited Sofronas said. “I’ve been trying for a long time. The first 75 starts were with a really small, self-funded effort, but lately I’ve finally got some good equipment. My team this year has been as good as it’s ever been. To reward the guys for all their effort — I told Todd [Ketcham, crew chief] as I crossed the finish line 20this one’s for you man! All your work pays off right now with the win.’ It validates everything that he does and it feels amazing.”It’s really tough to pass here. [Davis] kept catching me in Turn Three, the fast right-hand kink. I was trying to stay conservative there. That’s were he got some runs on me in the beginning and I had to really keep my head down. On the tight stuff in the last few corners I could really get a good run out of the Esses and back up the straight. That’s where I had a comfort zone because I knew I could get a run and gap him a bit and know that I could hold him off into Turn One, which is probably the only passing zone here.”I appreciate Brandon driving clean and professional. He made me work for it, but he never was over the line or trying to squeeze me off. That’s how I love to race. I’ve run with Brandon in the past and I’ve run with Andy a few times and they’re very professional. That’s the way you want to race. You want to win it on the track, nose-to-tail, green-flag racing.”Davis recorded his fifth podium finish of the season and moved from fourth into third in the Drivers’ Championship entering the finale.”I think it was a combination of a bad start for me and a good start for Andy,” Davis said of relinquishing the lead at the start. “There was so much junk on the inside line. My crew made it so our launches are pretty much brainless, so that was just the best it could do.”On the restart, I got late to the gas,” Davis admitted. “I couldn’t hear and I pulled the lever to go to third, bobbled a little bit and James was able to get a gap. I knew that was going to be my chance. My car’s been really good on the right-handers. I didn’t get it and James was like a rocket in front of me. He did a good job.”Pilgrim started third in his No. 8 Remington Shaving & Grooming Cadillac CTS-V and recorded his season-leading seventh podium finish to stay alive in the Drivers’ Championship. His hopes of victory were thwarted on the restart, which found the lapped car of Kozarov between the Cadillac and Davis’ Mustang. Pilgrim was not held up for long, but just enough time to allow the lead duo to build an insurmountable gap in the final laps.”[Kozarov’s] pit people said 20he’s going to stay left and let you race,’ but when he took off he just left me,” Pilgrim said. “That thing has so much power, I couldn’t get anything. Then we were getting late in the brake zone and he looked like he was coming in on the line, and then he stopped, so I just went through. There was so much gravel on the inside that I just barely missed clanging up against him. I did get through, but it was so tight. I think he was doing the best he could to stay out of everyone’s way, and he just ended up getting in everybody’s way. That was a shame thought cause [Sofronas and Davis] totally left me.”I’m happy to be on the podium, but we couldn’t compete for the win. I had a heck of a time keeping Galati behind me to start with, then Simo was coming and then Daskalos for the last two laps. I couldn’t make any mistakes. When you’ve got that much pressure behind you, you’re trying to be as clean as possible, so I couldn’t fight with [Sofronas and Davis].”Jason Daskalos, of Albuquerque, N.M., earned the Sunoco Hard Charger award for advancing nine positions from 13th to finish a career-best fourth in his No. 5 Coastal Pet Products Inc. Dodge Viper. He came out on top of a late-race battle with Brian Simo’s No. 13 Foametix/Woodhouse Performance Dodge Viper. Simo finished fifth in his second 2008 start.Jeff Courtney (Dodge Viper), Randy Pobst (Porsche 911 GT3), Tony Gaples (Chevrolet Corvette), Galati (Porsche 911 GT3) and Dino Crescentini (Porsche 911 GT3) completed the top 10.Curran, who finished 12 laps down after his troubles, turned the fastest lap of the race, a 1:22.537 (94.648 mph) and also earned the Racing Electronics Holeshot Award for advancing four positions on the opening lap.With Sofronas’ win, Porsche will enter the finale with an 18-point advantage over Cadillac, its nearest competitor. With only 10 points available at each race, Porsche clinched its seventh Manufacturers’ Championship, the second in three years.Unlike Porsche, Pobst was unable to clinch the Drivers’ Championship, but continues to hold a healthy lead. His 901 points are 92 more than Pilgrim’s 809. Davis moved back into third, with 711, followed by Galati (685) and Sofronas (678). The Road Atlanta finale has a maximum of 122 points available. Today’s race will be broadcast Wednesday, Oct. 15 at noon (Eastern) on SPEED. The series loads up and heads south to Braselton, Ga. for Friday’s Road Atlanta SPEED GT Finale Presented by Foametix. MILLVILLE, N.J. – Results from Saturday’s 30-lap, 65.100-mile SCCA Pro Racing SPEED World Challenge GT Championship Round Nine race, part of the New Jersey Grand Prix at Thunderbolt Raceway, with finishing position, starting position in parentheses, driver, hometown, car, laps, distance behind winner and reason out (if any).1. (2), James Sofronas, Newport Beach, Calif., Porsche 911 G
MILLVILLE, N.J. (Sept. 28, 2008) — Robert Huffmaster, of Clarkston, Mich., captured his second MX-5 Cup victory on a damp, but drying Thunderbolt Raceway at New Jersey Motorsports Park. Teammates Eric Foss, of Fort Worth, Texas, and Ryan Schimsk, of Austin, Texas, completed the Team MER podium sweep for Round Seven of the SCCA Pro Racing Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup.Starting from his first MX-5 Cup pole, Huffmaster led the field into Turn One at the 14-turn, 2.17-mile course with teammate Foss in tow. The pair immediately worked together to pull a gap on then third-place Ara Malkhassian in the No. 11 Alara Racing MX-5. Behind them, Round Six winner Brad Rampelberg was on a charge, swiftly making his way past Malkhassian and erasing the MER teammates’ lead in a matter of three laps. Only one lap later, Rampelberg was around Foss for second place in Turn Seven.For the next two laps, Rampelberg’s No. 14 Team MER/Mazda/Patron Tequila MX-5 filled the mirrors of Huffmaster’s No. 27 Team MER/Huffmaster Co. MX-5. On lap six, Rampelberg, who started fifth, pulled to the inside of Huffmaster at the end of the front straight, taking over the lead in Turn One.”I sat on the pole and the start was clean through One,” Huffmaster said. “I led the first few laps and then Rampelberg was coming up behind us and worked his way past. Eric had an opportunity to pass me multiple times, but we’re looking at the big picture just to keep the team up there.”[The track] was damp. It was better than practice, but off line it was damp and the car would just get a little out of control, so you just had to be on it.”Rampelberg, Huffmaster and Foss continued to run nose-to-tail, until lap 11, when Foss bobbled. Remaining third, but losing the draft of the leaders, the race became a two-car fight between Rampelberg and Huffmaster.Though Huffmaster had Rampelberg’s bumper covered, the Mosport race winner would not have to strategize long for a passing opportunity. On lap 15, Rampelberg’s gearbox began to falter, allowing Huffmaster to breeze past with ease entering Turn One. As Rampelberg continued to fall back, Huffmaster only needed to keep his No. 27 Team MER/Huffmaster Co. MX-5 on the track for the remainder of the 29-lap, 62.93-mile race to earn his second MX-5 Cup victory of the season by 2.301 seconds.Huffmaster also earned the Hawk Hot Lap en route to leading Team MER to a podium sweep, clocking a 1:32.655 (84.312 mph) during the closing stages of the race.”This is awesome,” Huffmaster smiled. “I think all year we’ve shown the capabilities. We just haven’t been able to [finish one-two-three]. It didn’t work out the way we thought it would, starting one-two-three we thought we could just pull out and get away, but it worked out, so it’s great.”On lap 16, Foss caught the ailing Rampelberg and moved into second.”Rob and I had a great start,” Foss said. “We were able to get away a little bit. About lap seven, I made a little mistake and lost the draft to Rob. I dropped back five or six seconds. Rob was up there driving a great race and I think wondering what I was doing behind him. We kind of got in a little battle at the end of the race as far as lap times. We were talking about it on the radio to see who could have the best lap time.”The runner-up finish was Foss’ sixth podium finish of the season and further enhanced his lead in the Drivers’ Championship heading to the season finale, Oct. 17 — 19, at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca”The Autobarn Mazda was just great this weekend. I have to thank my teammates for all their help. They’ve been great. Without them, I wouldn’t be in the position I am in the Championship this year. I think I basically just need to start at Laguna and that will pretty much seal the deal. Still have to make it one more round, so I’m not going to do anything crazy between now and then.”Though he fell back early following a poor start, Schismk was able to keep his focus on the ever-changing course conditions and avoid the off-course excursions suffered by competitors ahead of him.”I didn’t get the greatest start,” Schimsk said. “Turn One is very narrow and you have so many cars of equal pace running into that turn, I just got shuffled back. I did my best to put my head down and put my laps in. Several people made mistakes and I was able to move back up and that’s the name of the game. In slippery conditions like this, mistakes will cost you. I tried not to make mistakes and just drive my own race.”Schimsk, too, was able to capitalize on Rampelberg’s gearbox woes, and claimed the final podium spot in the closing laps of the race. The spot completed a Team MER one-two-three finish, reinstating the trio’s qualifying order.”I think this has been a long time coming,” added Schimsk. “We’ve had the speed all year long to have a one-two-three podium. We expected something like this to happen at some point. We all work well together.”Stuck in fourth gear, Rampelberg was able to bring his car home in fourth, but was later disqualified when his car did not pass post-race technical inspection. The exclusion drops Rampelberg to sixth in the Driver’s Championship, which Foss now leads by 58 points over Buras. Huffmaster is now in third, only six points behind Buras.Rampelberg’s disqualification moved Ara Malkhassian, of Sonoma, Calif., to fourth in the No. 11 Alara Racing MX-5 and Mark Jenkins to a career-high fifth in the No. 25 Team MER/Jenkins Bros/Traxxas MX-5.He had a hard time keeping his MX-5 on course, but Buras ended the day sixth. Robert Michaelian, Randy Hale III, Brian Audet and Tim Probert completed the top 10.Round Seven of the SCCA Pro Racing Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup will air on DIRECTV, Dish Network and regional cable networks the week of Oct. 27. Check your local listings or the MX-5 Cup Web site for broadcast times. Following the initial broadcast the race will be posted on the MX-5 Cup YouTube channel, found at http://www.youtube.com/mazdamx5cup.The MX-5 Cup season finale heads to Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Oct. 17 — 19. For more information visit http://www.mx-5cup.com MILLVILLE, N.J. – Results from Sunday’s 29-lap, 62.93-mile SCCA Pro Racing Playboy MX-5 Cup Round Seven race at Thunderbolt Raceway, with finishing position, starting position in parentheses, driver, hometown, car, laps, distance behind winner and reason out (if any).1. (1), Robert Huffmaster, Clarkston, Mich., MX-5, 29.2. (2), Eric Foss, Fort Worth, Texas, MX-5, 29, -2.301.3. (3), Ryan Schimsk, Austin, Texas, MX-5, 29, -18.923.4. (4), Ara Malkhassian, Sonoma, Calif., MX-5, 29, -56.878.5. (9), Mark Jenkins, Fairview, Texas, MX-5, 29, -1:04.874.6. (6), Todd Buras, Melbourne, Fla., MX-5, 29, -1:05.324.7. (8), Robert Michaelian, Seal Beach, Calif., MX-5, 29, -1:24.949.8. (10), Randy Hale III, Haddam, Conn., MX-5, 29, -1:26.366.9. (12), Brian Audet, Alexandria, Va., MX-5, 29, -1:34.589.10. (11), Tim Probert, Houston, Texas, MX-5, 29, -1:58.196.11. (13), Brad Adams, New Orleans, La., MX-5, 28, -1 lap.12. (14), Laura Olson, Costa Mesa, Calif., MX-5, 28, -1 lap.13. (7), Mike Jenkins, Fairview, Texas, MX-5, 28, -1 lap.14. (15), Alison Malkhassian, Sonoma, Calif., MX-5, 28, -1 lap.DQ (5), Brad Rampelberg, San Jose, Calif., MX-5, 29, -23.357.Time of race: 45 minutes, 42.563 seconds.Average speed: 82.604 mphMargin of victory: 2.301 SecondsLap leaders: Laps 1-29, #27 Robert HuffmasterHawk Hot Lap: #27 Robert Huffmaster, 1:32.655 (84.312 mph)Fastest qualifier: #27 Robert Huffmaster, 1:32.001 (84.912 mph)Cautions: NoneNotes: #14 Rampelberg disqualified for a non-compliant