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USERA Spec Racer Challenge Season Opener at Mosport
By Ken Grammer, USERA
DANVILLE, VA. (May 23, 2007) – The United States Endurance Racing Association hosted the opening round of the Spec Racer Challenge last weekend at Mosport International Raceway. The series, which features SCCA Enterprises Spec Racer Fords, is an exciting spec series with close racing in purpose build sports racing machines.
The Mosport race weekend featured double rounds of the Spec Racer Challenge, as well as a round of the USERA Endurance Championship.
Race 1 of the Spec Racer Challenge Saturday morning was won in an impressive flag to flag drive by Herb Sweeney IV (Somerville, MA), with Duncan Potter (Cape Elizabeth, ME) finishing second and Don Kahn (Colrain, MA) finishing third.
Race 2 on Sunday featured a great father-son battle with Herb Sweeney IV fending off his hard charging father, Herb Sweeney III (Spring City, PA). The battle went down to the last lap with Sweeney the Elder closing on his son, only to slide wide at Turn 9 and end his weekend with a damaged left rear and a quick visit to the infield care center. Sweeney IV sailed through the last turns to an impressive sweep of the double header, followed by Carl Warren (Berlin, MA) in second and Kahn repeating his Saturday results with an impressive second third place finish.
But the most impressive bit of racing of the weekend is undoubtedly the USERA Endurance Championship run of driver duo Warren and newcomer Jennifer Carlson (Winnipeg, Manitoba, CA) in Warren’s #13 KML Racing Spec Racer. While other teams ran flat out and raced a three stop program, Warren and Carlson ran conservative lap times for a two stop strategy that nearly netted them the USERA victory. Most teams were only able to race for about 40 to 45 minutes before being forced to stop for fuel. Warren ran an amazing hour and ten minutes before pitting to hand the car over to Carlson. Carlson, new to the excitement of endurance racing, was a bit aggressive on her pit exit and was hit with a stop and go penalty for speeding. That forced an additional stop and would bite the driving duo in the closing stages of the race. Carlson collected herself and ran another 70+ minute stint before pitting for fuel and to hand the car over to Warren for the closing laps. The conservative strategy allowed Carlson to lead the USERA group, and run as high as second place overall!
When race leader Duncan Potter pitted for his last stop with about 30 minutes remaining, Warren was less then 31 seconds back. The gap between them closed some, but Potter and Warren were running virtually identical lap times, and Potter was flawless in the closing stages of the race, making it impossible for Warren to catch Potter. Still, it was an impressive run and demonstrated that in endurance racing, strategy is often more important then being the fastest car.
Goodyear Tire provides tire contingencies for the Spec Racer Challenge podium finishers. First place won four free tires per race, while second and third place earned two tires each per race.
Shoes for Crews provided certificates for a free slip resistant shoes for each podium finisher in both sprint races as well as the podium finishers in the Endurance Championship. Shoes for Crews also provided three certificates for the volunteer race marshals at this event.
Leaving Mosport, Sweeney IV has a 16 point lead over Kahn in the driver point standings. Warren is in third place with Carlson and Potter (who was unable to attend the Sunday race) rounding out the top five.
The next event on the 2007 USERA Spec Racer Challenge calendar is June 8-10 at Watkins Glen International. The Challenge will share the weekend with the Grand-Am Rolex Series and SCCA World Challenge. Full details on the 2007 schedule, as well as additional information on the USERA Spec Racer Challenge, can be found at the series web site at www.usenduro.com.
About USERA
USERA operates and sanctions the Spec Racer Challenge for SCCA Enterprises Spec Racer Fords, and the USERA Endurance Championship for Spec Miata, Spec Racer Fords and IT cars. For more information on USERA, visit www.usenduro.com.
Contact: Ken Grammer, President 434-797-1866; ken@usenduro.com
Attached Image: Spec Racer Challenge Race 2 Podium of Sweeney IV, Warren and Kahn
Credit: © USERA, Inc.
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Posted On 5/23/07
 Del.icio.us
This story has been read 14319 time(s).
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