Redemption Found During Day 2 of VIR Majors

April 17, 2016

By SCCA

Sunday Redemption During Day 2 of SCCA U.S. Majors Tour at VIRginia International Raceway

During the second day of SCCA U.S. Majors Tour competition at VIRginia International Raceway, several drivers were given a second chance to achieve victory, and many seized the opportunity.

Alex Mayer, a Formula 1000 driver, was having one rotten weekend in Alton, Virginia. After a good qualifying run Friday, his second qualifying session Saturday ended in a wall. Mayer’s team put the car’s rear wings back on and he headed out for the afternoon race Saturday. Unfortunately, that event also ended in a wreck after Mayer was fighting for a win. But the young man’s luck changed Sunday when he made a last-lap pass to earn victory.

Super Touring Under competitor Cameron Maugeri also saw a brighter Sunday. His Lotus Exige came to a halt early in Saturday’s race and he pulled off the circuit. The crew worked hard to correct the transmission problem so he could get back out on the 18-turn, 3.27-mile track Sunday, and Maugeri rewarded their effort with a win.

“It was really tough today,” Maugeri said after the race. “I hadn’t been on course since early Saturday and the track conditions really changed a lot. It seemed like everything changed. But it was good to bring home a win.”

Another driver that made the most of second chances was Tim Kezman. His Touring 2 Porsche held a substantial lead on the field Saturday, but Marty Grand in a Mitsubishi closed the gap and stole the win after a great battle. However, revenge was had by Kezman Sunday when this time he chased down Grand and made a pass that ultimately brought victory.

“We got a little snookered at the start today, but got our rhythm going, got back up to Marty and had a good race for a couple laps,” Kezman said. “Yesterday, I made a few mistakes and Marty got me. I simply couldn’t let that happen again today.”

This weekend’s activities at VIRginia International Raceway wrapped up the 10-round Southeast Conference SCCA U.S. Majors Tour season while also launching the 12-round Northeast Conference SCCA U.S. Majors Tour calendar. Next up on the Northeast Conference schedule is an April 29-May 1 event at Summit Point Raceway in Summit Point, West Virginia. More information about that event and the entire SCCA U.S. Majors Tour can be found at SCCA.com/majors.

Below are race results from Sunday’s SCCA U.S. Majors Tour at VIRginia International Raceway with Class: Name, Hometown and Car.

-American Sedan: Gregory Eaton, Woodbridge, VA; Ford Mustang

-B-Spec: Felix Borodaty, Madison, NJ; Mini Cooper

-E Production: Rick Kavitski, Freeland, PA; Mazda Miata

-F Production: Blake Meredith, Alpharetta, GA; Honda CRX

-H Production: Sam Moore, Kannapolis, NC; Honda Civic Si

-Formula 1000: Alex Mayer, Harleysville, PA; JDR

-Formula Atlantic: Ryan Norman, Abbottstown, PA; Mazda Swift 016

-Formula Continental: John LaRue, Muncie, IN; Citation Snipe FZ

-Formula 500: F Russell Strate Jr., Alden, NY, MO; Rocketech R-2

-Formula Enterprises: Paul Schneider, Charlotte, NC; SCCA FE

-Formula F: Neil Verhagen, Abbottstown, PA; Honda Mygale