SCCA: Sapp takes second consecutive Speedvision Touring Car at Portland
Posted By Terry CallahanMotorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
August 6, 2001
PORTLAND, Ore. – Teammates Bill Auberlen and Will Turner each took off-road adventures early in the race, leaving the door open for Neal Sapp, of Ellicott City, Md., to take the win in round seven of the SCCA Pro Racing Speedvision World Challenge Touring Car race at Portland International Raceway. Taz Harvey, of Danville, Calif., and Will Turner, of Newburyport, Mass., completed the top three.
Polesitter Auberlen got into the grass on the first lap in turn 11 and then went through the escape road on lap two in the chicane. He proceeded to fall back to 27th place, but charged back and set the race’s fastest lap with a 1:30.127 (77.650 mph), coming home to finish a respectable sixth. Sapp almost literally drove the tires off his No. 55 duPont Motorsport BMW 325is, as he led the last 11 laps of the 54.432-mile contest, averaging 76.742 mph for his second straight win.
“I was giving the car all it could take when Taz [Harvey] was behind me toward the end,” said Sapp, who started on the outside of row one. “I made a mistake and almost got the car out of line on one of the last turns. Taz could have easily taken advantage of the situation and taken me off, but he drove a clean race and I couldn’t have asked for anything else.”
Harvey, pilot of the No. 8 Honda/Ecko/czechbeer.com Honda Civic Si, recorded his second-straight top-five finish in a race he started fourth.
“It’s tough to be disappointed today,” said Harvey. “I squandered a few opportunities when Neal went off in turn nine. I had a chance to hit him, but I guess I’m just a humanitarian.” Turner, driving the No. 92 Turner Motorsport/H&R Springs/JTD BMW 325is, who inherited the lead from Auberlen on the first lap, led until lap 17 before being sliding off course in turn 11.
“We’ve had what seems like a hot and cold year thus far,” said Turner who started seventh. “This finish is encouraging and should keep us up in the top-10 in points where we need to be.”
Ken Dobson, of Carmel Valley, Calif., and Terry McCarthy, of Mountain View, Calif., completed the top five. Rookie Roger Foo earned the Borla Performance Award in his run, coming from 22nd to finish 12th. Rookie Tom Olivier, who finished 19th, was awarded the Travel Quest We Make A Difference Award in a blind drawing.
Text provided by Eric Prill
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