SCCA: Galati Wins Wild Speedvision GT

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

FORT WORTH, Texas - Michael Galati, of N. Olmstead, Ohio, captured a wild SCCA Pro Racing Speedvision World Challenge GT win at the Texas Motor Speedway Leather Center Grand Prix of Texas. Superchips polesitter Peter Cunningham, of W. Bend, Wis., and Randy Pobst, of Melbourne, Fla., completed the top-three.

Galati, who started third in the No. 9 Champion Audi/Audi S4 Competition, took the lead from polesitter Cunningham on lap four, but soon saw the No. 41 AER/Bob McGraw Racing Ford Mustang of Boris Said, who started 20th, in his mirrors. On lap seven, Said took the lead. The two battled for the next 14 laps, swapping the lead several times until Said's wheel fell off on lap 24, ending an exciting run. Galati went on to average 78.021 mph in the 28-lap, 65.072-mile contest which ended under caution for another incident.

"I really worked my butt off to stay with Boris, but he did a fantastic job staying in front of me," said Galati, who took his 10th-career win. "It was a good car for me today. It stayed consistent throughout and, in the end, the Quattro system payed dividends."

Driving the No. 42 RealTime Racing Acura NSX, Cunningham ran a consistent race after falling behind Galati and Said. The race was the first for the NSX, which the team built in the last 30 days.

"It's a great feeling to get some point and be on the podium this early in the season," said Cunningham, who is the series all-time leader for podium finishes, with 42. "It was good that we started up front and we even led a few laps. I just hung on and got to the podium."

Pobst, who was filling in for an ailing Peter Kitchak in the No. 3 Keewaydin/Toad Hall Racing/Moorespeed Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, started from the rear of the field after the driver change and sliced through the pack to move into the top-10 by lap six. His progress slowed once in the top-10, but Pobst capitalized off of spins by several other drivers to move on to the podium, earning both the Borla Performance Award and the Rogaine Hair Raising Pass of the Race in the process.

"It was quite an adventure," said Pobst, who had earlier finished second in the American Le Mans Series race. "The thrill of a standing start and the fact that I haven't driven the car all weekend was really great."

Defending race winner Mike Fitzgerald, of Phoenix, Ariz., finished fourth, followed by 2000 series Champion Jeff McMillin, of Erie, Pa.

The race was slowed by two caution periods, including a hard hit by Greg Merril, of Chevy Chase, Md., at the end of the race. No drivers were injured.

FORT WORTH, Texas - Results from Sunday's SCCA Pro Racing Speedvision World Challenge GT Round One Race, part of the Leather Center Grand Prix of Texas at Texas Motor Speedway with position, starting position in parenthesis, driver, hometown, car, laps complete and reason out, if any.

1. (3), Michael Galati, Olmstead, Ohio, Audi S4 Comp., 28.
2. (1), Peter Cunningham, W. Bend, Wis., Acura NSX, 28.
3. (33), Randy Pobst, Melbourne, Fla., Porsche 911, 28.
4. (2), Mike Fitzgerald, Phoenix, Ariz., Porsche 911 Cup, 28.
5. (5), Jeff McMillin, Erie, Pa., BMW M3, 28.
6. (10), Bob Miller(R), Oakton, Va., Porsche 911 Cup, 28.
7. (6), Justin Jackson, Alpharetta, Ga., Porsche 911 Cup, 28.
8. (12), G. J. Mennen, Austin, Texas, Corvette C5, 28.
9. (9), Justin Marks(R), Woodside, Calif., Porsche 911 Cup, 28.
10. (11), Bill Cooper, Bozeman, Mont., Corvette C5, 28.
11. (19), Walter Swick, Concord, Ohio, BMW M3, 28.
12. (14), Phil McClure, Floris, Iowa, Corvette C5, 28.
13. (4), Derek Bell, Sussex, England, Audi S4 Comp., 28.
14. (7), Stu Hayner, Yorba Linda, Calif., Corvette ZO6, 28.
15. (23), David Farmer, Albemarle, N.C., Corvette C5, 27.
16. (25), Michael Culver(R), Westport, Conn., BMW M3, 27.
17. (26), Charlie Barns(R), Dallas, Texas, Viper GTS, 27.
18. (32), James Sofronas, Newport Beach, Calif., BMW M3, 27.
19. (30), Joe Blacker(R), Columbia, Md., Audi S4, 27.
20. (18), John Young(R), Woodside, Calif., Saleen SR, 27.
21. (28), Caroline Wright(R), Shoreacres, Texas, Corvette, 26.
22. (22), Greg Merril(R), Chevy Chase, Md., Porsche 911 Cup, 25, Mech.
23. (21), J. Bob Taylor_Jr, Parker, Colo., Corvette C5, 25.
24. (20), Boris Said, Carlsbad, Calif., Ford Mustang, 24, Crash.
25. (27), Tommy Safar, Point Pleasant, N.J., Saleen SR, 21, Mech.
26. (13), Jimmy Adams, Suffolk, Va., Porsche 911 Cup, 19, Mech.
27. (16), Johannes van Overbeek, Danville, Calif., Porsche 911 Cup, 15, Mech.
28. (15), Anders Hainer(R), Hidden Hills, Calif., Porsche 911 Cup, 11, Mech.
29. (17), Bobby Sak(R), Kalamazoo, Mich., Corvette C5, 8, Mech.
30. (29), Anthony DeMonte, Dix Hills, N.Y., Ford Mustang, 1, Mech.
31. (8), Daniel Eastman, Miami, Fla., Porsche RSR, 1, Mech.
32. (24), Rick Knoop(R), Portala, Calif., Corvette C5, 0, DNS.
33. (31), Carol Hollfelder(R), Covina, Calif., Ferrari 355 C, 0, DNS.

Time of race: 50 minutes, 02.493 seconds.
Average speed: 78.021 miles-per-hour
Margin of victory: 0.73900-second, under caution

Lap leaders: Laps 1-2, No. 42 Peter Cunningham; laps 3-6, No. 9 Michael Galati; lap 7, No. 41 Boris Said; laps 8-9, No. 9 Galati; laps 10-22, No. 41 Said; laps 23-28, No. 9 Galati.

Fastest race lap: Boris Said, 1:33.138 (89.828 mph)
Fastest qualifier: Peter Cunningham, 1:33.320 (89.652 mph)
Cautions: Two for six laps.

Text Provided By Eric Prill

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