What To watch for this weekend at Texas World Speedway
One Super Weekend: The top level of the Sports Car Club of Americas Club Racing program will visit Texas World Speedway in College Station, March 4-6, for the debut of the six-round 2011 BFGoodrich Tires SCCA Super Tour. The event, hosted by the Lone Star Region, is part of the annual Texas Two Step double national held each racing season.
Ordinary People, Extraordinary Feats: The racers at this weekends BFGoodrich Tires Southwest Super Tour are a unique mix of talented drivers. Most are weekend warriors, mixing it up on the track on the weekends before heading home to their day-to-day jobs through the week. Some are youngsters with an eye on a professional driving career, honing their craft while looking to the future. The common theme to an SCCA competition is that these are seemingly ordinary people doing extraordinary things with racecars.
How prolific can these drivers become? Start with the motorsports legends Bobby Rahal, Mark Donohue, Roger Penske, Michael Andretti, and actor/driver Paul Newman got their start in SCCA Club Racing. More recently, you could have seen current stars Boris Said, Graham Rahal, Sam Hornish or Scott Sharp at a Club race.
The Best In Amateur Racing: SCCA Club Racing is the top level of amateur motorsports. Of the 300 Club Racing events held coast-to-coast, 70 of them are designated as National events, meaning they are qualifying events for the National Championship Runoffs® and comprise the SafeRacer SCCA National Racing Series. Of these 70 events, only six were designated as BFGoodrich Tires SCCA Super Tour races, bringing the National spotlight to town and making this event among a select group of cant-miss events across the country.
Because this is a double national event, most will race on Saturday and Sunday. Points for the BFGoodrich Super Tour will only be earned for Sundays races, however.
National Champs Among The Strong Field: Among the more than 165 cars on the entry list for this weekends races is defending Formula Mazda National Champion Darryl Wills. Wills, of Deer Park, Texas, earned the Super Sweep award last year by winning a designated regular season race, the National Point Championship, and the National Championship at the SCCA National Championship Runoffs. Wills, and every driver, can get a leg up on the Super Sweep with a win this weekend at the BFGoodrich Super Tour.
Spec Miata Leads The Way: The 44 Spec Miata cars on the entry list this weekend comprise the biggest field this weekend. Racers have come from across the country, but 40 of the Spec Miata drivers are Texas residents. Among the Lone Star State entrants are two Spec Miata drivers from Bryan, Texas, right next to Texas World Speedway Matthew Barnes and Lawrence Barnes.
Fun For The Family: Fans are welcome for the event at Texas World Speedway, where admission is $5. Active military members receive free admission. The gates open for spectators at 8 AM on Saturday and Sunday. Admission includes a free program and a paddock pass allowing spectators into the garage areas for up close visits with the cars and drivers.
