Carolina Motorsports Park (CMP) is no stranger to the Tire Rack SCCA® Time Attack Challenge, having hosted an event in 2019, 2020, and 2022 before CMP’s return to the schedule this year. That’s probably why nearly 100 drivers were excited to be on track at the 14-turn, 2.279-mile course, which coincided with the final days of SCCA’s Targa Southland.
It turns out that summer, even early summer, in the south can be hot and humid, and Kershaw, SC, proved that to the field. But as the cliché goes, it was the same for everyone, so while the conditions limited many potential track records, it still set the stage for an incredibly fun weekend.
Not All Records
Many drivers reported the heat had the track slick enough to keep them from approaching their typical times, but it wasn’t impossible to set a new mark. Three drivers bettered the existing times, including:
- Tuner 1: Ben Bulthuis, Toyota Supra, 1:43.004
- Max 5: Patrick Harvey, Mazda MX-5, 1:43.345
- Club Spec Mustang: Michael Bard, Ford Mustang, 1:47.917
Class Fun
Let’s begin our class conversation with two classes: Unlimited 1 and Max 1.
Just as the rules were designed, cars from these two classes filled the top five overall. Jackie Ding, wheeling an Unlimited 1 BMW M2, set the top overall time with an incredibly quick cumulative time of 3:09.011. Andy Hollis’ McLaren 720S was tops in Max 1 and second overall with a combined time of 3:16.202, and David Marcus’ Max 1 Porsche 911 was just 1.171sec total behind Hollis. Naz Olkhovskyi (Chevrolet Camaro) and Troy Coates (Ford Mustang) were in the top five overall, and on the podium in Unlimited 1. Those two had scored respective times of 3:18.514 and 3:18.515 – just 0.001 apart after two days of competition!
That narrow margin makes the top two in Sport 3 feel miles apart, but just 0.52sec over two days separated David Albrecht and Christian Williams. Both in Honda Civics, Albrecht’s time was 3:37.183.
Time Attack Challenge regular Derek Secord continued his multi-year, multi-track adventure with the series in his Honda S2000. In the process, he reset his personal best lap time at CMP, dropping nearly three seconds from his lap time vs. his last visit to the track in 2022, all the while claiming the Touring 3 class win by a cumulative margin of 4.041sec.
While winning is ultimately the goal for many, it’s not the ONLY goal. The real goal is to better yourself as the weekend goes on, which is why Nathan Kidd and Heather Ulbrik deserve recognition. Kidd lowered his time in his Honda Civic by 4.6340sec from day one to day two. Ulbrik improved by an incredible 6.815sec in her Scion FR-S as she got more comfortable. An incredible showing from both.
A complete rundown of the classes can be found in the class results.
Super Superlatives
The superlatives awards are handed out at the end of the weekend, given (depending on the award) for effort on the track, off the track, or a combination of both.
David Frazier was awarded Top Novice at CMP. Frazier finished second with his Audi RS5 in Sport 2 but was named Top Novice for his constant improvement in not only his driving, but his approach and understanding of working with his “team” in the Novice group.
Troy Coates earned the Spirit of Time Trials for his constant smiles, his focus on enjoying the event, and time on track. He exemplified the balance of fierce competitor on track and eagerly embraced comradery off track – which was better than any thousandth of a second he could have found out there.
Up Next in Time Attack Challenge
It’s not a long wait for the next event in the Tire Rack SCCA Time Attack Challenge calendar.
Pocono Raceway’s Tricky Triangle, combined with some curves, hosts the Time Attack Challenge on July 19-20, 2025. After that, the Time Attack Challenge travels from Pennsylvania to Illinois and Autobahn Country Club on Aug. 2-3, 2025.
Then don’t forget about the season-concluding Tire Rack SCCA Time Trials Nationals in Pennsylvania at Pittsburgh Race Complex on Sept. 19-21, 2025.
There’s still time to make any (or all!) of these events, so sign up now.
Time Attack Challenge Calendar
Photo caption: Tuner 3 driver Derek Secord earned the Tuner 3 class win.
Photo by Tradd Slayton
