GT-Lite, Spec Miata, GT-1 and Formula Vee On SPEED This Week

GT-Lite, Spec Miata, GT-1 and Formula Vee On SPEED This Week

 

TOPEKA, Kan. (Dec. 11, 2006) - Tricky weather conditions and large
fields highlight this week's Runoffs programming on SPEED.

 

Kicking things off Tuesday, Dec. 12 at 12:00 p.m. (EST) is GT-Lite. With
a damp track and overcast skies, tire choice will be a critical factor
in this race. Polesitter James Dentici, of Oconomowoc, Wis., gets an
amazing start on his intermediates, but will the three-time SCCA
National Champion get reeled in by Californian Bill Gilcrease and his
full-wet setup? Don't bet on it, Gilcrease will have his hands full with
a hard charging Douglas Ruthroff, of Phoenix, Ariz. If you miss it the
first time, you can catch the GTL race again, Wednesday, Dec. 13 at 3:00
a.m.

 

Next up at 1:00 p.m. is the new and already infamous Spec Miata class.
Fifty-five Miatas attacking a damp Heartland Park Topeka in search of
the first Spec Miata National Championship is a recipe for an opening
lap melee, which is exactly what happens in Turn Two, collecting several
race favorites in the process and allowing Andrew Caddell, of Graham,
Wash., to motor away from the field. The focus then shifts to the
battles for second and third as a drying track with patches of mud make
for some exciting overtaking. The Spec Miata race will also be
rebroadcast the following Wednesday at 4:00 a.m.

 

Runoffs programming continues Thursday, Dec. 14 with GT-1 at 12:00 p.m.
Polesitter Philip Simms, of Orlando, Fla., gets a great start with
fellow front-row starter Michael Lewis, of Poway, Calif., in tow. The
pair will pull away from the rest of the pack as they battle for the
GT-1 Championship. While it looks like a photo-finish could be in the
making, a flat tire will spoil one drivers' shot at victory circle.

 

Following GT-1 at 1:00 p.m. is Formula Vee. 2003 FV Champion Stephen
Oseth, of Leesburg, Va., leads the field to the green flag, but is
trumped by Bob Neumeister, of Pueblo, Colo., on the start. As Neumeister
pulls away, Oseth will spar with defending FV champion Brad Stout of St.
Louis for the runner-up spot, but one of them will be sent to the
pitlane with mechanical problems. And be advised, the finish you see on
the track is not what goes into the record books.

 

The GT-1 and Formula Vee races will be rebroadcast on Friday, Dec. 15 at
3:00 a.m. and 4:00 a.m.

 

For the full SCCA National Championship Runoffs television schedule
visit the Runoffs event page on www.scca.com <http://www.scca.com/>  or
log onto www.speedtv.com <http://www.speedtv.com/> .

 

-30-

 

 

Attached image: Fifty-five cars started the first Spec Miata National
Championship race.

Credit: (c)SCCA/Jack Puryear

 

Erin Cechal

SCCA Public Relations Specialist

800/770-2055

ecechal@scca.com