WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. (July 4, 2015) – Rain bookended day two of the SCCA U.S. Majors Tour at Watkins Glen International, part of the SafeRacer Club Racing Program. Fortunately, the shower that ended the day held off until the all seven race groups had completed Round Seven of the 12-race Championship at the historic 11-turn, 3.4-mile circuit.

With precipication falling overnight, and into the morning hours, the seven 15-minute qualifying sessions held on Saturday morning took place on a very slick racing surface. With two longer qualifying sessions already in the books, there were few drivers willing to brave the adverse conditions for times that would not be any fast than those already set on Friday. Some drivers simply took to the course to gain more experience on a wet track, or with the idea that the less-than-ideal conditions would mirror those in which they would race. However, by the first green flag the rain had stopped and the track was starting to dry.

Kevin Leigh, of Harrisonburg, Virginia, brought his E Production No. 97 Hoosier/Carbotech/JBS Racing BMW Z3 home in one piece in the opening race on Saturday. The drive to victory was notable as the conditions were still very challenging as a result of the moisture dropped on the circuit overnight and through the morning.

Group Two, the big-bore classes, produced some close finishes. In GT-2 Tom Patton, of Hamilton, Ohio, drove his No. 50 Hoosier Tires/Redline Oil Sunbeam Tiger to the win. But, not before Preston Calvert, in his No. 77 Calvert Dynamics/Phoenix Performance Chevrolet Corvette, gave him a run for his money finishing 1.264 seconds back.

Further back in the same group, David Sanders, of Exton, Pennsylvania, took home a narrow win in Touring 1. In his No. 73 Phoenix Performance Chevrolet Corvette, Sanders crossed the finish line just 0.187-second ahead of Joseph Gaudette, in the No. 86 Over 1G-Racing/Phoenix/Carbotech Chevrolet Corvette.

The small-bore formula group also produced some fireworks. David Lapham, of Irvington, New York, brought home a closely-contested win in his No.56 QRE/Hoosier Tire QRE Invader Formula 500. He finished just 0.299-second ahead of Jason Annunziata, at the wheel of the No. 42 QRE KBS Mk. 7. Further back in the pack, Jonathan Weisheit, of Baltimore, Maryland, notched the win in Formula Vee at the controls of his No. 61JK Technologies LLC JK Technologies machine. Weisheit crossed the line just 0.116-second ahead of Rick Shields in his No. 77 VDF.

In Formula 1000, JR Osborne, of Greenwood Village, Colorado, was first to the checkered flag and took the class win. However, Osborne (No. 83 RFR Racecars/Moontronics Firman F1000) was forced to fend off a charging Alex Mayer for much of the 15-lap race. In the end, Osborne would win by just 0.111-second.

For current information on the Majors from Watkins Glen International, including entry lists, schedules and session results, visit http://www.scca.com/wgimajors. Be sure to stay tuned to live timing, streaming video and PA feed by visiting SCCA.com/SCCALive.

For additional information on the entire US Majors Tour, visit SCCA.com.

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. - Provisional race winners for Saturday’s U.S. Majors Tour Northeastern Conference Round Seven at Watkins Glen International. Drivers are listed by Class: name, hometown, and car.

American Sedan: Phillip Smith, New Albany, Ohio, Chevrolet Camaro
B-Spec: Mac Korince, Ridgeway, Ontario, Can., Mini Cooper
Formula 1000: JR Osborne, Greenwood Village, Colo., Firman F1000
Formula 500: David Lapham, Irvington, N.Y., QRE Invader QC-1
Formula Atlantic: Garth Rickards, Mechanicsburg, Pa., Swift 016
Formula Continental: Chuck Moran, Oakton, Va., Van Diemen
Formula Enterprises: Joe Sammut, Locust Valley, N.Y., Formula Enterprises
Formula F: Chris Horan, Canonsburg, Pa., Swift DB3
Formula Vee: Jonathan Weisheit, Baltimore, Md., JK Technologies
E Production: Kevin Leigh, Harrisonburg, Va., BMW Z3
F Production: Charlie Campbell, Corry, Pa., Mazda Miata
H Production: Ron Bartell, Madbury, N.H., MG Midget
GT-1: Jack Busch, Torrington, Conn., Ford Mustang
GT-2: Tom Patton, Hamilton, Ohio, Sunbeam Tiger
GT-3: James Ashe, Prospect, Conn., Mazda RX-7
GT-Lite: Kyle Disque, Philadelphia, Pa., Toyota Tercel
Prototype 1: Tim Day, Scottsdale, Ariz., Stohr WF-1
Prototype 2: Dennis Hanratty, Mechanicsburg, Pa., West WR-1000
Spec Miata: Todd Lamb, Atlanta, Ga., Mazda Miata
Spec Racer Ford: Herb Sweeney, Somerville, Mass., SCCA SRF
Spec Racer Ford Gen3: Scott Rettich, Columbus, Ohio, SCCA SRF Gen3
Super Touring Lite: Kevin Boehm, Marysville, Ohio, Honda Civic Si
Super Touring Under: John Schmitt, Sunbury, Ohio, Honda Civic
Touring 1: David Sanders, Exton, Pa., Chevrolet Corvette
Touring 2: Preston Calvert, Potomac, Md., Ford Mustang
Touring 3: Chad Gilsinger, Marysville, Ohio, Acura TL
Touring 4: Michael Scornavacchi, Matthews N.C., Ford Mustang

Image: Kevin Leigh guides his car to victory in trying conditions during the U.S. Majors Tour at Watkins Glen on Saturday.
Credit: Ken Brown