---

SCCA: Eight more champions crowned at Valvoline Runoffs Saturday

8 October 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

LEXINGTON, Ohio--The Valvoline Runoffs continued with eight more National Champions being crowned in day two of the three-day event.

Beginning the day was the Formula Mazda cars in a cold conditions. Leading unchallenged the entire race, Matt Beardsley, of Breckenridge, Colo., captured the win. Scott Jenkins, of Portland, Ore. and Mickey Gilbert, of Golden, Colo., completed the top- three.

In a high attrition race ten of the weekend, F Production, Bill Niemeyer Jr, of Loveland, Ohio, in a MG Midget, won. Niemeyer, captured the win after holding off numerous challenges. Completing the top-three was Daniel Snow, of Orange, Calif.. and Dick Davis, of Fulton, Mo.

In race 11, D Sports Racer, Al Beasley Jr, of Windham, Ohio, in a BeaseDecker MK1, took the lead early en route to a comfortable win. Bruce Sunseri, of Santa Clara, Calif., in a Cheetah SR1, finished second ahead of Michael Reupert, of Hubertus, Wis., driving a Lola AMW, in a tight fight.

Following the lunch break, race 12, Showroom Stock C took to the track. Driving to the win in a Dodge Neon was John Fernandez, of Rochester, Mich. Completing the top-three was Paul Bonaccorsi, of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., in a Mazda Protege E and Ken Payson, of Sun City Center, Fla., in a Nissan 200SX.

As is customary at the runoffs, race 13, Formula Vee, proved to be rather exciting. Starting second, Roger Siebenaler, of Wiliston, Vt., battled all race long with Greg Buttrey, of Indianapolis, Ind., to capture his second consecutive National Championship. Finishing third was polesitter Brad Stout, of St Louis, Mo., after spinning early in the race.

In race 14, GT3, Michael Cyphert, of Chagrin Falls, Ohio, fell back at the start but recovered to win the National Championship in a Toyota Paseo. Battling through traffic, Wolfgang Maike, of Santa Barbara, Calif., in a Toyota Paseo and Kevin Allen, of Bowling Green, Ky., in a Toyota Paseo, completed the top-three.

In the penultimate race of the day, American Sedan, Andy McDermid, of Grand Ledge, Mich., in a Ford Mustang, drove a stellar race to capture the win after starting 13th. Fighting the challenging weather conditions, Robin Burnett, of Clinton Township, Mich., in a Ford Mustang Cobra, finished second and Matthew Roberts, of Torrington, Conn., in a Ford Mustang, finished third.

The final race of day two at the Valvoline Runoffs was Spec Racer Ford. Starting from pole and leading flag-to-flag to win his seventh consecutive National Championship was Warren Stilwell, of Hartville, Ohio. Fellow Pro Spec Racer drivers Jim Goughary Jr., of Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. and John Black, of Olympic Valley, Calif., completed the top-three.

Day three of the Valvoline Runoffs at Mid-Ohio begins with race 17, C Sport Racer, at 10:15 a.m. (ET). All results are provisional.

Text Provided By Allan Craighead

Editors Note: To view hundreds of hot racing photos and art, visit The Racing Photo Museum and the Visions of Speed Art Gallery.