Barrett Takes Victory in Formula Russell Championship Series

Barrett Leads Formula Russell Championship After Rain-Soaked Win in
Sonoma

 

SONOMA, Calif.  -  Southern California's Pat Barrett
claimed the points lead in the SCCA Formula Russell Championship,
presented by Yokohama, with a victory and a podium finish at Infineon
Raceway, March 11-12.  

 

The 16-year-old newcomer from Los Osos was able to hold off Chuck Hulse
(Anaheim) for the win on Sunday when leader Lorenzo Mandarino (Burnbay,
British Columbia) suffered a mechanical failure after a restart.  Hulse
and Barrett entered the weekend tied for the points lead in the
championship series.  

 

"I could not catch Lorenzo without the benefit of a yellow flag" Barrett
said after the race.  "His car started to falter just after the restart
and I was able to get by him in the esses." 

 

Barrett has enjoyed an impressive start to the 2006 Formula Russell
Championship season, which is hosted by the Jim Russell Racing Schools,
including four podium finishes and two victories.  

 

"My goal was to come out strong immediately and so far it has worked,"
said Barrett.  "Now I need to be consistent and finish well for the rest
of the season."

 

Barrett (67) now holds a slim five-point lead over Hulse (62) in the
chase for the overall championship.  Mandarino (52 points) sits in third
place after winning Saturday's main event.   Nathan Thompson (52) and
Los Gatos' Steve Hill (41) round out the top five.

 

The SCCA Formula Russell Championship also features competition in
categories separated by age.  Mark Nason (Reno) currently holds the
points lead in the Masters division (drivers 40-49 years old), while
Hulse maintains his lead in the Grand Masters division (drivers over
50).

 

Round three of the SCCA Formula Russell Championship, presented by
Yokohama, will take place at Infineon Raceway, April 8-9.  For more
information on this series, please visit www.jimrussellusa.com
<http://www.jimrussellusa.com/> .  

 

Championship Standings 
2006 SCCA Formula Russell Championship 
Presented by Yokohama 

Round 2 of 9 



Overall 

1.      Pat Barrett, Los Osos, CA - 67 points 
2.      Chuck Hulse, Anaheim, CA - 62 
3.      Lorenzo Mandarino, Burnbay, BC - 52 
4.      Nathan Thompson, Garland, TX - 45 
5.      Steve Hill, Los Gatos, CA - 41 

 

Masters Division - drivers 40 to 49 

1.      Mark Nason, Reno, NV - 67 points 
2.      David Martinez, Tiburon, CA - 55 
3.      Bruce Chapman, Pasadena, CA - 44 
4.      Jo Jo Saunders, San Francisco, CA, - 28 
5.      Don Stewart, Pittsburgh, CA - 26 

 

Grand Masters Division - drivers 50 and over 

1.      Chuck Hulse, Anaheim, CA - 80 points 
2.      Ken Snyder, San Andreas, CA - 40 
3.      John Shafer, Seattle, WA - 33 
4.      Rich Eberhardt, Livermore, CA, - 33 
5.      David Kirsch, San Jose, CA - 30 

 

Mechanics Challenge Series 

1.      Nathan Thompson, Garland, TX - 45 points 
2.      Eric Cheever, Franktown, CO - 38 
3.      John Tyler - 23 
4.      Stephen Dix, Tiburon, CA - 21 
5.      Patrick Bedford - 17 

 

About the SCCA Formula Russell Championship 
The SCCA Formula Russell Championship Series, presented by Yokohama, is
an "Arrive-and-Drive" series consisting of 17 races conducted over the
course of nine weekends for amateur racers and aspiring professionals
serious about competitive racing. In addition to the overall
championship, the series features a Masters division for drivers ages 40
to 49 and a Grand Masters division for drivers ages 50 and older.  Past
champions include Scott Speed, J.R. Hildebrand, and Dane Cameron.

 

About the Jim Russell Racing Schools 
British Racing legend Jim Russell created the racing school industry by
opening the first racing school in England in 1957. For almost five
decades, the Jim Russell Racing Schools has set the standard for
teaching true racing techniques to aspiring professional and amateur
drivers or people looking for the experience of a lifetime.  In addition
to its racing programs, the School offers defensive driving courses for
teenagers and Corporate Driving Adventures for businesses.  In 2002 the
school opened the largest karting school in North America. It employs
full-time professional instructors and offers more seat time in the most
powerful, well-maintained race cars of any driving school. The Jim
Russell Racing Schools operate from their home base at Infineon Raceway
in Sonoma, California, 30 minutes north of San Francisco