BROOKLYN, Mich. (August 22, 2015) – More than 130 drivers took to Michigan International Speedway to contest the penultimate round of the 12-round SCCA Northern Conference U.S. Majors Tour, part of the SafeRacer Club Racing Program. The race weekend served as a closing act to the entire 2015 Majors season.
The road/oval configuration of the speedway allowed competitors to gear up for the upcoming SCCA National Championship Runoffs to be held at Daytona International Speedway, while also sewing up the final 28 Northern Conference Class Champions. With the Runoffs returning to the facility for the first time since 1969, competitors looking for an edge have been clamoring to put in laps at each road/oval course of the Majors calendar throughout the year.
Many drivers approached the two-day event as serious practice for the approaching national championship event, held at the famed Florida tri-oval. Race results supported the observation as all out speed was favored over a more raceable car setup. After the final checkered flag of the day fell, a total of 24 new lap records were set among the 27 classes represented.
Two of three typical classes from which razor-thin margins of victory are the norm produced a close race, at the end. Tyler Kicera, of Manheim, Pennsylvania, drove his No. 44 Rock-It Cargo/Talt Towers Mazda Miata to a 0.038-second win over Todd Lamb in his No. 98 Caveman Kyle Mazda Miata.
Spec Racer Ford provided the second-closest finish of Saturday’s on-track action as Adam Gottlieb, of Wilmette, Illinois, got to the finish line 1.203-seconds ahead of Max Koff. Those two finishes would prove to be the only class margins of victory which were less than two seconds.
The 12th, and final round, of the SCCA Northern Conference Majors season concludes Aug. 23. Seven race groups will contest 24-lap races, starting at 9:00 a.m. (EDT). Follow the action with live streaming video, audio and pit notes at SCCA.com/live.
More information on the SCCA U.S. Majors program can be found at SCCAMajors.com.
BROKLYN, Mich. - Provisional race winners for Saturday’s Northern Conference Majors Tour Round 11 race at Michigan International Speedway. Drivers are listed by Class: name, hometown, and car.
American Sedan: Andy McDermid, Howell, Mich., Ford Mustang
B-Spec: David Daughtery, Fortville, Ind., Honda Fit
Formula 500: Don Napier, Greenwood, Ind., F500 Scorpion
Formula 1000: Nicho Vardis, Sylvan Lake, Mich., JDR F1000
Formula Atlantic: David Bleke, Franklin, Wis., Swift 014
Formula Continental: Thomas Gaffney, Birmingham, Mich., Van Diemen RF00
Formula Enterprises: Scott Rettich, Columbus, Ohio, Formula Enterprises
Formula F: Max Mallinen, Liberty Lake, Wash., Spectrum 014H
Formula Vee: Brandon Abbott, Livonia, Mich., Vector AM-1
E Production: Joe Moser, Wilmette, Ill., Honda Prelude
F Production: David Bednarz, Ann Arbor, Mich., Mazda Miata
H Production: Matt Brannon, Columbus, Ohio, Fiat X1/9
GT-1: Michael Lewis, Poway, Calif., Jaguar XKR
GT-2: Mark Kirby, Shawnee Mission, Kan., Dodge Viper
GT-3: Joe Kristensen, London, Ont., Canada, Acura RSX
GT-Lite: Joel Hipp, Norwalk, Ohio, Austin Mini
Prototype 1: John Gyann, Darien, Ill., Stohr WF1
Prototype 2: Anders Graff, Kohler, Wis., Prince LSR
Spec Miata: Tyler Kicera, Manheim, Pa., Mazda Miata
Spec Racer Ford: Adam Gottlieb, Wilmette, Ill., SRF
Spec Racer Ford Gen3: Bobby Sak, Mattawan, Mich., SRFG3
Super Touring Lite: Mark Wajda, Cement City, Mich., Honda Civic
Super Touring Under: Charles Tobel, New Hudson, Mich., Pontiac Solstice
Touring 1: Mark Boden, Buffalo Grove, Ill., BMW M3
Touring 2: John Buttermore, South Lyon, Mich., Chevrolet Corvette
Touring 3: Patrick Womack, Burr Ridge, Ill., BMW Z4 M Coupe
Touring 4: Voytek Burdzy, Algonquin, Ill., Mazda MX-5
Image: David Bleke laps Michigan International Speedway during Saturday’s Majors action.
Credit: SCCA
