TOPEKA, Kan. (May 3, 2017) – Weather was indeed a factor as Saturday’s results were mixed with plenty of rain and wet, inconsistent conditions for all heats at the 2017 Pitt Race Tire Rack Match Tour. The repeat event drew 171 entrants, 50 more than in 2016. Drivers were put to the ultimate test of negotiating varying asphalt surfaces and grip levels, including a particular corner in the back of the lot that will haunt some for all future wet events at Pittsburgh International Raceway.
Rain was clearly in the forecast for afternoon runs as competitors planned their strategies accordingly. Making an afternoon tire change for the wet conditions was Alex Arteyet to claim the win in D Street in his Subaru WRX. He led after the morning runs by Sean Grogan in his Scion FR-S, but the tire change and all-wheel drive prevailed as conditions changed in the afternoon. Alex should be commended for his success while also serving as event chair.
Brian Karwan had the same idea, jumping into Danny Kao’s Mazda Miata in Street Touring Roadster. Karwan trailed Eric Simmons (Honda S2000) after morning runs, but Kao’s Continental tire wet setup proved successful as Karwan jumped to the lead. Kao finished third and Nathan Young rounded out the trophies in fourth.
STS saw the return of Chris Shenefield, piloting the exact same 1989 Honda Civic Si that he won a Solo National Championship with many moons ago. A cone on his fastest afternoon run would stand in his way of taking the victory, and cost him a trophy. Mark Andy took the STS win in his ’89 Civic Si. Second place was occupied by Jeff Wozniak in a ’89 Mazda RX-7, a very rare find in that class. Dale Kunze and Chris Charlisle rounded out the trophies, both in Honda Civics.
Alan Eisenreich’s took a convincing 2-second victory in B Street in an Audi S3 over a fleet of Ford Focus RS vehicles that rounded out the trophies. Darrin DiSimo was second, Trevor Jones third, and Ken Houseal fourth.
Sunday’s weather brought some much-needed dry conditions for all competitors, especially third heat drivers who were plagued with the worst conditionals on Saturday, including Jason Kolk in his SSR C5 Corvette Z06 attending his first-ever Tire Rack Match Tour. Jason made it all the way to the finals in the Underdog Challenge, but it was his co-worker, Andrew “Jen” Wong, who took the victory in his G Street VW Golf GTI.
George Katona, of Street Touring FWD, managed to pilot his Fiat 500 Abarth all the way to the top of the Lucky Dog Challenge. Meanwhile, it was Ken Houseal coming out of B Street in his Focus RS who took the victory over Chris Carlisle (STS) and Steve Hoelscher (DP) in the highly contested Top Dog Challenge.
The Tire Rack Match Tour continues June 2-5 at the Grissom Aeroplex in Peru, Indiana.
Words and image by Sean Grogan
