South Beloit, Ill. (May 2, 2015) - Picture perfect sunshine set the stage for the SCCA Majors Tour Northern Conference opener on Saturday at Blackhawk Farms Raceway, where each of the Runoffs-eligible classes ran 20 minute races for championship points.

Racing came after both a practice and a qualifying session for each group in the packed schedule. Once racing got under way, seven run groups filled the track in back to back timed races.

In Spec Miata, National Champion Dan Bender led early in the No. 8 Bravo Trailers Mazda Miata. Justin Hille, in the No. 46 Hilltrux/Roush Miata, gave chase with Michael Novak’s No. 9 Roush/Caldwell Race Prep Miata just behind. On lap three, Hille and Bender went two wide into Turn Seven, where Bender ran off the track. Hille slid into first, still pushed by Novak, to the finish, in the order they would finish at the checkers.

Bobby Sak’s No. 19 The Pita Pit Spec Racer Ford put the pressure on perennial Northern Conference favorite Scott Rettich in the SRF Gen3 race on Saturday. Despite being within a second for most of the race, Rettich’s No. 17 Alliance Autosport/PDI Communications SRF was out front when the checkered flag fell for the victory.

The Northern Conference returns to action on Sunday for 24-lap or 45-minute races, whichever comes first, at Blackhawk Farms. Racing begins at 9:40 Central time. Race winners:   Justin Hille - Spec Miata

Adam Gottlieb - SRF

Scott Rettich - SRF3

 Robert Perona - FF

Herb Noble - F5

 Jon Brakke - EP

Matt Slavens - T2

Patrick Womack - T3

Rich Walke - STL

Richard Colburn - P2

Scott Rettich - FE

Scott Sanda - AS

Tim Kezman - GT2

Tyler Thielmann - FB

Alan Kossof - T1

Bryan Long - GT1

Daniel Bender - T4

Fabio Casteilani - FA

Greg Gauper - HP

 Jason Miller - P1

Jim Dentici - GTL

Blackhawk Majors