POTEKHEN SWEEPS SEASON-FINALE DOUBLEHEADER AT SEBRING

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POTEKHEN SWEEPS SEASON-FINALE DOUBLEHEADER AT SEBRING

	SEBRING, FLA. (September 30, 2001)–Mike Potekhen, of Phoenix, Ariz., won
Round Thirteen of the U.S. F2000 National Championship Presented by
Speedvision at Sebring International Raceway. Tom Dyer, of San Rafael,
Calif. and Billy Asaro, of Unionville, Ont., Can. completed the top-three.
Ricardo Imery, of Caracas, Venezuela, won the ACC class. Jason LaPoint, of
Woodburn, Ore. captured the 2001 National Championship, and Scott Rubenzer,
of Brookfield, Wis., won the 2001 American Continental Championship.
	With the both championships to be decided the season-finale was run under
ideal weather conditions. Polesitter, Dyer, got a great start holding the
leading into turn one as the field went three abreast behind him. Exiting
turn two, Potekhen moved into second place ahead of No. 6 Kasemets. The lead
trio remained unchanged for the opening six laps, with Potekhen and Dyer
pulling away from Kasemets. On lap seven, Potekhen got a good exit out of
the carousel and closed on Dyer on the front-straight. Entering turn one,
Potekhen got alongside Dyer and took the lead. Dyer stayed right behind
Potekhen for the next three laps, but was unable to challenge for the lead.
From that point on, Potekhen began to pull away from Dyer, setting the
fastest lap of the race 1:10.117 (94.984 mph). At the checkered, Potekhen,
driving the No. 87 P.D.R./Twinseasons.com Van Diemen Ford, had won both
rounds at Sebring and led 26 of the 40 laps.
	“Wow, what a weekend,” said Potekhen. “To come here and win both races I
think this says alot about the team. We’ve been quick all year, and had some
bad luck, but I think this shows what we are capable of. Hopefully this
might open a few doors if I move up.”
	Starting on the pole, Dyer was looking at closing the season out on high
note. Driving the No. 33 Cycle Shack/Menards/Cowboy Charcoals/Flamingo Hotel
& Resort Van Diemen Ford, Dyer got a great start never being challenged for
the lead on the opening lap. As the race progressed he came under pressure
from race one winner, Potekhen. On lap seven, Potekhen was able to take the
lead in turn one. Over the next few laps Dyer attempted to retake the lead,
but was unable to do so. As Potekhen began to build a gap, Dyer came under
attack from Kasemets. Dyer held off all his challenges, and on lap 16
Kasemets spun off course, ensuring Dyer a second place finish. The finish is
Dyer’s second podium in 2001.
	“This is a great way to end the season,” said Dyer, who last year was the
ACC Champion. “I got a good start, but the car wasn’t as good as yesterday
in qualifying in the opening laps, and I think that helped Mike [Potekhen].
Once he got past me we were evenly matched, but I just couldn’t retake the
lead. A win would’ve been fantastic, but second is nice.”
	Needing to win to put pressure on LaPoint in the championship fight, Asaro
came out pushing. On the opening lap, Asaro moved up from his sixth place
starting position to fourth. Driving the No. 69 Keymotorsport.com/POPS Van
Diemen Ford, Asaro then began battling Kasemets for third place. Asaro
repeatedly got alongside and looked to have taken the position, but was
unable to make it stick. On lap 17 Kasemets spun in turn two, with Asaro
managing not to become involved. Unfortunately, the gap to second was too
great to overcome with the number of laps remaining. The third place finish
is Asaro’s seventh podium of the year and gives him second in the 2001
National Championship.
	“This is heartbreaking,” said Asaro, who won a season-high three races.
“After the incident yesterday I knew I had to win if was to have a shot a
the championship. At the start of the race I think I had a car that could
run upfront if given the chance, but I just could get in that position.
Overall the season has been good, but it didn’t end the way I wanted.”
	After winning the ACC class in his first-ever race, Imery was looking to
repeat the feat on Sunday. At the start, Imery, driving the No. 9
Cavenas/Venezlolana de Ascensores Van Diemen Ford, had a two-car lead in the
class. Almost immediately he was under attack for the class lead. On lap
four, Imery made a mistake and fell three cars behind Rubenzer in the class.
Imery quickly recovered and began closing on Rubenzer. By lap 11, Imery had
caught Rubenzer and passed for the lead. For the remainder of the race Imery
held off Rubenzer to win his second consecutive ACC race.
	“To come away with two wins in my first weekend is great,” said Imery, who
is planning on contesting the entire 2002 season. “Things looked to be going
good until I made that mistake. Following that I just concentrated on
getting positions back one by one. Hopefully I can continue this success
next year.”
	Starting last, after blowing up an engine in qualifying, LaPoint entered
the race needing to work his way through the field to win the championship.
In the first five laps LaPoint, in the No. 87 Infinity Motorsports/Regency
Aviation/TrackMagic Van Diemen Ford, passed 12 cars. With Asaro unable to
get higher than third place, LaPoint focused on driving safe and moving up
as opportunities arose. At the checkered flag, LaPoint had finished ninth
and secured the championship by 8 points (226-218). In his championship
season LaPoint won one race and captured six podiums. In addition to winning
the championship, LaPoint was awarded the Pi Research Hard Charger award for
his drive.
	“This is unbelievable,” said LaPoint. “I knew I had try to get towards the
front as fast as possible. Working through traffic everyone was great,
giving me a little extra room today. My crew kept me informed on Billy’s
[Asaro] progress, and when I got up to ninth I knew I had enough for the
championship and could just drive safe. I can’t thank my crew enough for the
great work they did all season long.”
	Going into the last race of 2001, Rubenzer knew he had to finish ahead of
No. 4 Hagar to win the ACC. Driving strong in the No. 11 Storage Battery
Systems/Trojan Battery Company Carbir Ford, Rubenzer battled all race long.
Late in the race Hagar developed an engine problem ensuring Rubenzer the
championship.  Rubenzer won four races and only finished off the podium once
in winning the championship. Rubenzer, who moved up five places in the race,
was awarded the Taylor Engineering “Shark” award for the second consecutive
day.
	“This feels really good,” said Rubenzer. “It was a great battle all season
long with Billy [Hagar]. I had a lot fun racing with these guys and am
really proud to win the championship.”
	Completing the top-five was Piero Rodarte, of Mexico City, Mexico and Peter
Gray, of Aberdeen, Scotland.

SEBRING, FLA. – Race results for the 20-lap, 37.00-mile Round Thirteen race
at Sebring International Raceway, with finishing position, starting position
in parenthesis, driver, hometown, class, car, laps completed and reason out
if any.

1. (3), Mike Potekhen(R), Phoenix, Ariz., F2AVan Diemen Ford, 20.
2. (1), Tom Dyer(R), San Rafael, Calif., F2AVan Diemen Ford, 20, -.998.
3. (6), Billy Asaro, Markham, Ont., F2AVan Diemen Ford, 20, -9.107.
4. (4), Piero Rodarte, Mexico City, Mexico, F2AVan Diemen Ford, 20, -13.061.
5. (7), Peter Gray(R), Aberdeen, Scotland, F2AVan Diemen Ford, 20, -13.325.
6. (9), Doug Bell(R), St. Albans, England, F2AVan Diemen Ford, 20, -15.176.
7. (5), Memo Rojas, Mexico City, Mexico, F2AVan Diemen Ford, 20, -15.651.
8. (8), Arnold Brinkmann, Quito, Ecuador, F2AVan Diemen Ford, 20, -16.549.
9. (25), Jason LaPoint(R), Woodburn, Ore., F2AVan Diemen Ford, 20, -25.753.
10. (10), Travis Irving(R), Chino Hills, Calif., F2AVan Diemen Ford,
20, -26.388.
11. (15), Carl Russo, Ft. Collins, Colo., F2AVan Diemen Ford, 20, -39.598.
12. (16), Ricardo Imery, Caracas, Venezuela, ACCVan Diemen Ford,
20, -42.089.
13. (18), Matt Green(R), Jacksonville, Fla., F2AVan Diemen Ford,
20, -42.354.
14. (23), Robbie Mott, Venice, Calif., F2AVan Diemen Ford, 20, -42.563.
15. (11), Alexander Figge(R), Aspen, Colo., F2AVan Diemen Ford, 20, -42.7.
16. (21), Scott Rubenzer, Brookfield, Wis., ACCCarbir     Ford, 20, -43.554.
17. (12), Sean McIntosh(R), Coquitlan, B.C., F2AVan Diemen Ford,
20, -45.712.
18. (14), Arie Luyendyk_Jr., Den Bosch, Holland, F2AVan Diemen Ford,
20, -46.118.
19. (20), Anthony Massari, Miami, Fla., ACCVan Diemen Ford, 20, -46.821.
20. (19), Billy Hagar(R), Tuttle, Okla., ACCVan Diemen Ford, 19, -1 laps.
21. (2), Tonis Kasemets(R), Mundelein, Ill., F2AVan Diemen Ford, 16, -4
laps.
22. (22), JW Urlin, London, Ont., F2AVan Diemen Ford, 15, -5 laps.
23. (17), Bryan Sellers, Chardon, Ohio, F2AVan Diemen Ford, 13, -7 laps.
24. (13), Ross Fonferko, Wheaton, Ill., F2AVan Diemen Ford, 7, Mech.
25. (24), Ken Dromm, Seminole, Fla., F2AVan Diemen Ford, 0, -20 laps.

Time of race: 23 minutes, 41.510 seconds.
Average speed: 93.703 mph
Margin of victory: .99800 seconds
Lap leaders: Laps 1-6, #33 Tom Dyer(R)
                     laps 7-20, #87 Mike Potekhen(R)
Fastest race lap: #87 Mike Potekhen(R), 1:10.117 (94.984 mph)
Fastest qualifier: #33 Tom Dyer(R),  1:09.796 (95.420 mph)

Allan Craighead
Director of Public Relations
U.S. F2000 National Championship
P.O Box 11024
87 Fairfield Rd.
Fairfield, NJ  07004
(973) 575-2626
(303) 883-8521 Cell
www.usf2000.com