Racers Show Their Cards In Day One of 2006 SCCA National Championship Runoffs Qualifying
Racers Show Their Cards In Day One of 2006 SCCA National Championship Runoffs Qualifying TOPEKA, Kan. (Oct. 9, 2006) - The anticipation and excitement building up to the first day of the 2006 SCCA National Championship Runoffs(r) weren't enough to keep the sun out at Heartland Park Topeka. Chilly temperatures and strong winds greeted club racers for the first round of qualifying as they began to lay down the first Runoffs records of 2006. After placing third in Sunday's Trans-Am race, Philip Simms of Orlando, Fla. topped the charts in GT1 with a 1:38.794 in his Jaguar XKR. Mark Jaremko, of Spokane, Wash., took the first step to reclaiming his D Sports Racing crown by taking provisional pole with a 1:33.377 in his Stohr WF1-BPS. He was also third quick in C Sports Racing with a 1:33.573, running a Swift .008 Viking. Last year's polesitter in E Production, Thomas Thrash, is setting himself up for a repeat grid position by turning a fast time of 1:50.935 in a Mazda RX-7. Many racers were concerned that with the bleak forecast for the remainder of the week, today would be the best opportunity to set quick times. We'll have to stay tuned for the outcome of those predictions, but regardless of weather, this week's qualifying times will go in the books as Runoffs records because of the new Heartland Park Topeka venue. Qualifying for the 2006 SCCA National Championship Runoffs will continue tomorrow, October 10, beginning at 8:00 a.m. You can watch the drama unfold from home with live timing and scoring at www.scca.com <http://www.scca.com/> . 2006 SCCA National Championship Runoffs qualifying leaders after day one (not all results available at time of press, full results available Tuesday): A Sedan - Ed Hosni, Novi, Mich., Ford Mustang - 1:54.017 G Production - Ken Bouquillon, New Milford, Conn., Nissan 510 - 1:56.213 H Production - Craig Chima, Akron, Ohio, MG Midget - 1:56.559 Touring 1 - Scotty B White, Puyallup, Wash., Dodge SRT 10 Viper - 1:47.034 E Production - Thomas Thrash, Houston, Texas, Mazda RX7 - 1:50.935 D Sports Racer - Mark Jaremko, Spokane, Wash., Stohr WF1-BPS - 1:33.377 Formula Ford - Thomas Schwietz, Winchester, Va., Piper - 1:44.755 Grand Touring 1 - Philip Simms, Orlando, Fla., Jaguar XKR - 1:38.794 Grand Touring 2 - Jim Goughary, Houston, Texas, Nissan 350Z - 1:46.404 Formula 500 - Jason Knuteson, Danville, Ind., Scorpion S1 - 1:45.388 Touring 2 - Robert Schader, Boulder, Colo., Nissan 350Z - 1:55.098 Spec Miata - Andrew Caddell, Graham, Wash., Mazda Miata - 2:01:059 C Sports Racer - Wade Carter, Woodinville, Wash., Swift .008 Viking - 1:33.218 Sports 2000 - Matthew DiRenzo, Medford, N.J., JRE SR-71F - 1:41.465 Formula Atlantic - Keith Grant, Germantown, Tenn., Swift .014a - 1:30.475 Formula Mazda - James Goughary, Jupiter, Fla., Formula Mazda - 1:40.032 F Production - John Saurino, Tulsa, Okla., MG Midget - 1:52.541 Showroom Stock B - Don Knowles, Phoenixville, Penn., Pontiac Solstice - 2:02.312 Touring 3 - Joel Lipperini, Pittston, Penn., Mazda MX5 - 1:58.748 -30- Attached image: The No. 12 Nissan 350Z of Robert Schader leads the T2 field after Monday qualifying. Credit: SCCA/Mark Weber Erin Cechal SCCA Public Relations Specialist 800/770-2055 ecechal@scca.com