Saturday saw 25-minute races on the 2.54-mile, 12-turn circuit at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta as the 2020 Hoosier Racing Tire SCCA® Super Tour series began its penultimate race weekend of the year, this one hosted by SCCA’s Atlanta Region.

This is a unique Hoosier Super Tour weekend. Originally the series was slated to visit the Georgia track back in March. But the coronavirus pandemic made that impossible. However, SCCA’s Atlanta Region worked diligently to find a way to reschedule the visit for July. The result is a one-off event where Hoosier Super Tour car classes are sharing the circuit with South Atlantic Road Racing Championship regional car classes on Saturday and Sunday.

Opening Salvo: Spec Racer Ford Gen3 (SRF3) was the first race group to hit the track Saturday with temperatures in the low 90s. Robeson Clay Russell was on pole with Charles Russell Turner alongside at the start. Upon completion of the first lap, Russell was out front followed by Turner and Franklin Futrelle, two drivers with a proven performance record at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.

On lap four, Futrelle and Turner moved by Russell to take the first and second positions just before a full-course yellow came out. When the SRF3 field went back to green, only three racing laps remained. When the checkered flag fell, it was Russell back in the lead driving the No. 31 SVN/Angry LLama/Comprent SRF3 car.

“I started out front and had a little gap … but I knew it was only a matter of time until they caught up to me,” Russell said. “I was driving a little sloppy at first. Track conditions were a little hot and greasy, and I did not adjust my driving style accordingly. But seeing those two in front of me actually calmed me down and made me focus better on my driving line. I knew I was going to get them. I just hung back there until the last lap. It worked out.”

Kannard vs. Kamalian: F Production saw a good race Saturday as the Mazda Miatas of Ken Kannard and Michael Kamalian did battle. Kannard, in the No. 51 Northwest Cable Construction/Hoosier Racing Tire/G-Loc Brakes machine, led the event flag to flag. Kamalian, however, filled his rearview mirror and applied copious amounts of pressure to keep things interesting. One little slip and Kamalian was ready to pounce, but a full-course yellow and early end to the race robbed him of the opportunity.

“We had a great race,” Kannard said. “Mike Kamalian was behind me, but I was able to keep him at bay a little bit. I was hoping … we could have a little race at the end. But it is what it is. We’ll take the win.”

GT-3 Challenge Resumes: The GT-3 Challenge presented by MPI is a series boosting participation in the GT-3 class and is supported by Mazda, Max Papis Innovations, Penske Racing Shocks, AiM Sports, Hoosier Racing Tire, Goodyear Tire, Carbotech Performance Brakes and Bell Racing Helmets. The first and most recent GT-3 Challenge event of 2020 took place back in February during a Hoosier Super Tour weekend at California’s Buttonwillow Raceway Park. This weekend, the GT-3 Challenge was back on track Saturday at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.

Defending GT-3 Challenge champion Jeff Dernehl and his Mazda RX-7 moved to the class lead Saturday as the race began. He held that position until late in the race when gremlins struck, allowing Stacy Wilson to get by in his No. 47 Hoosier Tire/Mazda/Wilson Racing Mazda RX-7 for the victory.

“It’s always fun, of course, racing against Jeff,” Wilson said afterwards. “I was gaining on Jeff and thought I had a run on him, but I lost brakes. Then he started having problems and ended up breaking. So, we both suffered casualties.”

Another Day of Racing to Come: The Hoosier Racing Tire SCCA Super Tour isn’t done yet at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta as a second round of qualifying commences Sunday morning followed by a set of 35-min./19-lap afternoon races. Be sure to follow all the action live at http://www.scca.com/live.

Saturday Winner Rundown: Below are provisional race results from Saturday’s Hoosier SCCA Super Tour at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta with Class: Name, Hometown, Region and Car.
American Sedan®: Gregory Eaton; Woodbridge, VA; Washington DC Region; Ford Mustang
B-Spec: Joseph Gersch; Conroe, TX; Houston Region; Toyota Yaris
E Production: Peter Norton; Pelham, NC; North Carolina Region; Caterham 7
F Production: Ken Kannard; Sebring, FL; Atlanta Region; Mazda Miata
H Production: Vesa Silegren; Cleveland, TN; Chattanooga Region; Honda CRX
Formula 500: Clint McMahan; Covington, GA; Middle Georgia Region; Scorpian FDS 007
Formula Atlantic®: Spencer Brockman; Westport, CT; New England Region; Swift 014
Formula Continental®: Brandon Dixon; Tuscaloosa, AL; Alabama Region; Citation F2000
Formula Enterprises 2: Paul Schneider; Charlotte, NC; Central Carolinas Region; FE2/Mazda
Formula F: David Livingston Jr; Nashville, TN; Tennessee Region; Spectrum 14H
Formula Vee®: Stevan Davis; Danielsville, GA; Atlanta Region; Vortech
Formula X: Jeremy Fairbairn; Wellington, FL; Florida Region; Ligier Formula 4
GT-1: Adam Romito; Opelika, AL; Wiregrass Region; Dodge Challenger
GT-2: Pete Peterson; Lumberton, NC; Central Carolinas Region; Toyota Celica
GT-3: Stacy Wilson; Englewood, TN; Atlanta Region; Mazda RX-7
GT-Lite: Mickey Thompson; Douglasville, GA; Central Florida Region; Mazda Miata
Prototype 1: Todd Vanacore; Ormond Beach, FL; Central Florida Region; Elan DP-02
Prototype 2: Lucian Pancea; San Antonio, TX; Texas Region; Stohr P2
Prototype X: Jacek Mucha; Highland Beach, FL; Florida Region; Oreca IMPC
Spec Miata: Chris Haldeman; McKinney, TX; Texas Region; Mazda Miata
Spec Racer Ford 3: Robeson Clay Russell; Spartanburg, SC; Central Carolinas Region; SRF3
Super Touring® Lite: Mike Taylor; Cumming, GA; Atlanta Region; Honda Civic
Super Touring® Under: Jorge Ortiz; Orlando, FL; Puerto Rico Region; Honda Civic
Touring 1: Bill Baten; Carmel, IN; Indianapolis Region; Chevrolet Camaro
Touring 2: Mark Boden; Buffalo Grove, IL; Chicago Region; Porsche 997.1 C2
Touring 3: Richard Baldwin; Covington, LA; Delta Region; Nissan 370
Touring 4: Steve Bertok; Lexington, SC; South Carolina Region; Mazda MX-5

Photo: Stacy Wilson took the GT-3 win Saturday in a Mazda RX-7 during the Hoosier Super Tour at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta

Over the years, Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta and SCCA’s Atlanta Region have each played an important role is the success of the other. Back in 1970, it was Atlanta Region that hosted the venue’s first race — a Can-Am event featuring drivers such as Vic Elford, Denis Hulme and Peter Revson. And having a world-class facility in its backyard is obviously a boon for the Region.

Atlanta Region has been instrumental in organizing many top-notch Sports Car Club of America® events at the circuit in the 40 years that followed that first race. From 1970 to 1993, SCCA’s National Championship Runoffs® were held at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta with essential support from Atlanta Region. The Region also backed the SCCA Formula Super Vee Championship for several years, as well as the SCCA Continental Championship. And starting in 1994, Atlanta Region has continuously hosted the American Road Race of Champions at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta with the next running scheduled for November 6-8, 2020.

Today, Atlanta Region usually conducts at least three events on the 2.54-mile, 12-turn raceway each year. In the past, the Region has held races at Atlanta Motor Speedway and co-hosted events at Barber Motorsports Park. Beyond SCCA® sanctioned racing, the Region also supports the annual Petit Le Mans at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta. But Atlanta Region, which received its SCCA charter in 1949, does a lot more than just wheel-to-wheel road racing.

With a Solo program that has been strong since the 1970s, Atlanta Region Solo sites have included Atlanta Airport, Atlanta Fulton County Stadium, Turner Field, Lakewood Fairgrounds, Six Flags, and Atlanta Motor Speedway every now and again. The Region has also hosted several Divisional and National Solo events, and produced more than its fair share of Tire Rack Solo® Nationals champions.

Recently, Atlanta Region has resurrected its RallyCross and RoadRally programs. And proving the Region goes “all out” no matter what program it’s supporting, in just the past few years Atlanta Region has received the Regional RallyCross Achievement Award and Best New RoadRally Program Award.

Having just celebrated its 70th anniversary, Atlanta Region operates events that range from low-speed driver education to high-speed, on-track experiences. You don’t need to own a racecar or be mechanically inclined to get involved with Atlanta Region, you just need to be willing to have fun with cars and hang out with a great group of people. Check out the Atlanta Region website to learn more and plan on coming out to one of the Region’s upcoming events.

This is only the second year Atlanta Region plays host to a Hoosier Racing Tire SCCA Super Tour event at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta. Those race fans who can’t make it out to the circuit this year can still follow all the action online with live Timing & Scoring, video cameras and Super Tour Radio presented by Hoosier Racing Tire at http://www.scca.com/live.