JENNINGS, Okla. (April 9, 2016) - The winds were a blowin’ and the racing was a rockin’ in Hallett Oklahoma for the fifth U.S. Majors Tour at the track which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. With the prairie fires burning in the background, the drivers battled intense winds as the day got later. The cloudy skies were a bit ominous, but held off precipitation other than some limited sprinkles as Group 3 rolled off the grid.
Group 1 kicked off the action right after lunch with a tight Formula F race. Four drivers battled closely for the win throughout the 25-minute timed race: Cliff Johnson (Alpine Litho-Graphics Piper DF-5), James Stiehr (Carpe Metam Racing Piper DF5), Andy Melvin (U-Boat Watch Van Diemen RF), and Hans Saurino (Quantum Racing Services Van Diemen FF). Johnson started on pole, yet it would take five official lead changes to claim the win.
Johnson was not able to capitalize on his pole starting position and Melvin took the credit for leading the first lap, although the two came down the straightaway side-by-side. Johnson promptly reclaimed the lead and held it for five laps before Melvin again took over the top spot for a strong two laps. When Saurino took the lead on lap nine, Johnson had fallen to fourth. During Saurino’s ten laps at the top of the score chart, Johnson marched is way back. On the last lap, contact was made between Melvin and Saurino with Johnson being the benefactor. He was followed across the line by Stiehr, who although never held the lead officially, was tightly entwined in this group through the entire race.
The Spec Miatas occupied the entirety of group three. Polesitter Jim Drago kept his East Street Racing/SafeRacer Mazda Miata ahead on the start and never looked back. He was able to take the win with a victory margin of over eight seconds. He was joined on the podium by Justin Hille (Hilltrux/ROUSH Mazda Miata) and Max Nufer (Nufer Race Engineering Mazda Miata).
The following group was composed of the classes affectionately known as “Wings ‘n’ Things” that included the winged Formula and Prototype classes. Brothers of FF contender Hans Saurino, Nigel and Joshua put on a show in their Quantum Racing Services Van Diemen FCs. Joshua started on the Class pole with Nigel directly behind on the grid. The brothers ran closely in that order for five laps before Joshua suddenly lost steam, giving his older brother the opportunity to take the lead. Despite continued pressure from Joshua, Nigel held on to the lead and took the victory.
The Saurino brothers are the sons of multi-National Champion John Saurino who competed through the ‘90s and ‘00s in GT and Production cars. Nigel claimed the F Production National Championship in his father’s MG Midget in 2014 before the brothers made the transition into open-wheel racing.
The racing continues from Hallett Motor Racing Circuit tomorrow with another round of qualifying in the morning and racing starting at 10:30 am CDT. Live timing, notes, and video can be found at SCCA.com/live.
JENNINGS, Okla. – Winners from Saturday’s 25-minute SCCA U.S. Majors Tour races at the 1.8-mile Hallett Motor Racing Circuit, with class, driver, hometown and car.
American Sedan, Kim McDonald, Grand Island, Neb., Chevrolet Camaro
B-Spec, John Phillips, Sealy, Tx., Toyota Yaris
E Production, Matt Reynolds, Fair Oaks, Tx., Mazda Miata
F Production, Eric Prill, Topeka, Ks., Mazda Miata
Formula Atlantic, Dwight Rider, Aurora, Co., Ralt RT-41
Formula 1000, Kevin Roggenbuck, Woodinville, Wash., Firman RFR 1000
Formula Enterprises, Henry Dobohoo, Arvada, Co., Van Diemen FE
Formula F, Cliff Johnson, Stillwell, Ks., Piper DF-5
Formula Mazda, Jacob Loomis, Denton, Tx., Formula Mazda
Formula Vee, Charles Hearn, Houston, Tx., Volkswagen Vortech
GT-1, Dane Smith., Springdale, Ark., Chevrolet Corvette
GT-2, Mike McGinley, Overland Park, Ks., Chevrolet Corvette
GT-3, Breton Williams, Clinton, Ia., Mazda MX-5
GT-Lite, Larry Svaton, Alvin, Tx., Fiat X 1/9
H Production, Chris Albin, Maryland Heights, Mo., Volkswagen GTI
Prototype 2, Jack Donnellan, Chickasha, Okla., Lola B07/90
Spec Miata, Jim Drago, Memphis, Tenn., Mazda Miata
Spec Racer Ford, Jim Tibor, Cortland, Ohio, SCCA Enterprises SRF
Spec Racer Ford 3, Richard Stephens, Bixby, Okla., SCCA Enterprises SRF3
Super Touring Lite, Brian Laughlin, Tulsa., Okla., Mazda Miata
Super Touring Under, Anthony Siemmers, Boulder, Co., VW GTI
Touring 1, Ronald Hugate, Highlands Ranch, Co., Ford Boss 302
Touring 2, Michael Pettiford., Louisville, Co., Pontiac Solstice
Touring 3, Robert Schader, Lafayette, Co., Nissan 350Z
Touring 4, Toby Grahovec, Little Elm, Tx., BMW Z4
Image: Nigel Saurino takes a commanding victory over brother and teammate Joshua in the Formula Continental U.S. Majors Tour Race at Hallett Motor Racing Circuit
Credit: Hallett Foto Shoppe
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