It’s a Fist-Pumpin’ Second Day at SCCA June Sprints
ELKHART LAKE, Wis. (June 19, 2016) – When competitors lose a race they should’ve won, it feels terrible. But racers that get a victory when things looked bleak, they’ll pump their fist in the air. And that happened a couple times during the second day of competition at the WeatherTech® Chicago Region June Sprints® SCCA U.S. Majors Tour at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.
Calvin Stewart, the Formula 500 Daytona SCCA Runoffs Champion and 2015 Kimberly Cup recipient, was having a tough June Sprints weekend. He was unable to start Saturday’s race, which was won by Aaron Ellis. But come Sunday, Stewart’s problems were solved and he started on pole. However, Ellis in his Ellis AE13 grabbed the lead in the first turn. At the beginning of lap three, Stewart pulled alongside Ellis to retake the top spot, and the battle raged on from that point. Starting the final lap, Ellis was up front until Stewart in his Novakar Blade F600 made a daring pass at Road Atlanta’s Turn 11, also called the “Kink.” He then held on for the win, excitedly thrusting his fist in the air while crossing the finish line.
“What a race! We just had so much fun,” a jubilant Stewart said while waiting for victory circle ceremonies to begin. “Aaron had a little bit on me in a couple corners, and I had a little bit on him in a couple corners, and it was just an incredible race.”
Last-lap victory passes occurred a few times during the second day of June Sprints racing on Road America’s splendid 4-mile, 14-turn circuit. In the Spec Miata event, Saturday winner Jim Drago was in a heated battle with Daniel Bender, Craig Berry and others for most of the race. On the last lap, Drago was defending his line as Bender looked for every opportunity to pass. The tussle slowed the two drivers and, when the checker fell, it was Voytek Burdzy who managed a last-lap victory.
“I had a good car and good pace,” Burdzy said while receiving hugs from loved ones after the race. “If they didn’t fight too much, it was difficult for me to gain on them. But then they started fighting quite a bit and gave me a gift.”
More last-lap excitement happened later in the day during the Formula Mazda event. Jacob Loomis, Saturday’s winner, held the lead for most of the race with Jarret Voorhies working hard to stay in contact. Loomis had the lead as the last lap began, but as the duo crested the hill that leads to the starter’s stand, it was Voorhies pump, pump, pumping his fist in the air while crossing the finish stripe first.
“Jacob was really fast. He really made me work for this,” Voorhies said after the race. “I had a pretty bad crash Friday morning, and I’d been having car troubles since then. On the last lap I just got a really good run in the last corner, picked up his draft, and was able to win by about half a car.”
Completion of racing at the WeatherTech® Chicago Region June Sprints® wraps up Round Five and Round Six of the Northern Conference calendar and marks the midpoint of the season’s 12 rounds. Next up for the Northern Conference is the July 9-10 SCCA U.S. Majors Tour at GingerMan Raceway in South Haven, Michigan. More information about the entire SCCA U.S. Majors Tour can be found at SCCA.com/majors.
Below are provisional race results from Sunday’s WeatherTech® Chicago Region June Sprints® SCCA U.S. Majors Tour at Road America with Class: Name, Hometown and Car.
-American Sedan: Brian Wallace; Grand Blanc, MI; Chevrolet Camaro
-B-Spec: David Daughtery; Fortville, IN; Honda Fit
-E Production: Jon Brakke; Fargo, ND; Mazda Miata
-F Production: Ken Kannard; Sebring, FL; Mazda Miata
-H Production: Jeffrey Parnell; Lake Forest, IL; Volkswagen Scirocco
-Formula 500: Calvin Stewart; Novi, MI; Novakar Blade F600
-Formula Atlantic: Dudley Fleck; Cedar Rapids, IA; Mazda Swift 016
-Formula Continental: Joshua Saurino; Tulsa, OK; Van Diemen FC
-Formula Enterprise: Scott Rettich; Columbus, OH; Formula Enterprise
-Formula F: Andy Melvin; Lakewood, CO; Van Diemen RF00
-Formula Mazda: Jarret Voorhies; Kissimmee, FL; Formula Mazda
-Formula Vee: Michael Varacins; Burlington, WI; Speed Sport AM-5
-GT-1: Tony Ave; Maiden, NC; Ford Mustang
-GT-2: Trent Hindman; Wayside, NJ; BMW E46 M3
-GT-3: George Cichon Jr; Rockton, IL; Mazda RX7
-GT-Lite: Christopher Bovis; Lawrence, KS; Honda CRX SI
-Prototype 1: James French.; Sheboygan, WI; Swift 014
-Prototype 2: Jake Thielmann; Kiel, WI; Stohr WF1
-Spec Miata: Voytek Burdzy; Shiller Park, IL, TN; Spec Miata
-Spec Racer Ford 3: Scott Rettich; Columbus, OH; Spec Racer Ford Gen3
-Spec Racer Ford: Quinten Nelson; Newark, OH; SCCA Spec Racer Ford
-Super Touring Lite: Danny Steyn; Fort Lauderdale, FL; Mazda MX-5
-Super Touring Under: Richard Fisher; Evanston, IL; Volvo C30
-Touring 1: Mark Boden; Buffalo Grove, IL; BMW M3
-Touring 2: Tim Kezman; Franksville, WI; Porsche 997
-Touring 3: Paul Kwiensinski; Mazda MX5
-Touring 4: Daniel Bender; Northbrook, IL; Mazda MX-5
Photo: Formula 500 driver Calvin Stewart (#07) got the win Sunday after racer Aaron Ellis (#43) won Saturday during the June Sprints.
Photo Credit: Mark Weber
