World Challenge: Kitchack spins and wins at West Michigan Grand Prix
30 August 1999
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Peter Kitchak, of Excelsior, Minn., came back from a spin to win his third Speedvision World Challenge GT Championship race of the season. Reese Cox, of Marietta, Ga. and John Heinricy, of Holly, Mich., completed the top-three.The race start saw Kitchak in the No. 3 Keeywadin/Toad Hall Racing Porsche 911 RSR, and Bobby Archer, of Ft. Worth, Texas, driving the No. 32 Viper Speed Dodge Viper, pull out an extensive lead on the rest of the field. Kitchak held off numerous attacks from Archer until Kitchak spun on lap 21. Undamaged Kitchak continued in second and proceeded to catch Archer at a rate of 1-second a lap. Lap 25 saw Archer pull into the pits with a flat left front tire. Kitchack took a lead he would never relinquished to a 6.004-second victory.
"I thought that Archer would pull me on the straights, and he did," said Kitchak. "Then I spun in turn six. I wasn't concentrating enough. It was a real stupid mistake. I got the bit between my teeth after that, I knew that I could catch him, but I don't know if I could have gotten past."
Cox, driving the No. 98 MTI Motorsports Corvette C5, started from fifth on the grid and moved his way into third by midway through the race. The last half of the race saw Cox battle Heinricy and for second position. Lap 24 saw Cox take the place and take his first ever podium finish.
"This is my first podium finish ever as a pro," said Cox. "I had a great battle with John. I really enjoyed that. For John to be involved in my first podium is really special."
The start of the race saw Heinricy, driving the No. 39 Rowley's Penzoil D.J. Race Entreprises Corvette C5, move into fifth place where he was under constant pressure from Cox. He eventual succomed to the pressure but posted his first podium finish of the year.
"This is the first race for these new cars," said Heinricy. "I was nose to tail with Cox for many laps. That was fun. He was my crew chief years ago when I won a National Club Racing championship at Road Atlanta, and I'm happy for him." Completing the top five were George Biskup, of Naperville, Ill. and Randy Roatch, Of Wichita, Kan.
GRAND RAPIDS, Michigan -- The results from Sunday's 32-lap, 50.56-mile Speedvision World Challenge GT Championship race, part of West Michigan Grand Prix, with finishing position, starting position in parentheses, driver, hometown, car, laps and reason out.
1. (1), Peter Kitchak, Excelsior, Minn., Porsche 911 RSR, 32. 2. (5), Reese Cox, Marietta, Ga., Chevrolet Corvette C5, 32. 3. (3), Dorsey Schroeder, Osage Beach, Mo., Saleen Mustang, 32. 4. (6), John Heinricy, Holly, Mich., Chevrolet Corvette, 32. 5. (13), George Biskup, Naperville, Ill., Porsche 911 RSR, 32. 6. (8), Randy Roatch, Wichita, Kansas, Porsche 911 RSR, 32. 7. (12), Trip Goolsby, Murfreesboro, Tenn., Porsche 911 RSR, 32. 8. (21), Tommy Safar II, Point Pleasant, N.J., Chevrolet Corvette C-4, 32. 9. (2), Bobby Archer, Ft. Worth, Texas, Dodge Viper, 32. 10. (9), Kermit Upton III, Ludlow, Vt., BMW M3, 32. 11. (20), Bruce Kalin, Sodus, Mich., Dodge Viper, 32. 12. (15), Dan Kellermeyer, Orionville, Mich., Chevrolet Corvette, 32. 13. (14), David Schardt, Dayton, Ohio, Toyota Supra Turbo, 31. 14. (10), Scotty B. White, Puyallup, Wash., Corvette C5, 31. 15. (25), Walter Swick, Concord, Ohio, BMW M3, 31. 16. (22), Rick DiIorio, Acton, Mass., Saleen Mustang, 31. 17. (26), Tom Ripley, Richland, Mich., Porsche 911 RSR, 30. 18. (31), Jim Oppenhumer, Chicago, Ill., Porsche 911 RSR, 30. 19. (16), Dennis Petersen, McHenry, Ill., Chevrolet Corvette, 29. 20. (24), Burnie Cochran, Ephrata, Pa., Pontiac Firebird, 29. 21. (4), Bill Cooper, Bozeman, Mont., Corvette C5, 29. 22. (32), Walter Dethier, Warren, Conn., Mustang Cobra, 28. 23. (28), Tony DeMonte, Dix Hills, N.Y., Mustang, 25, Mech. 24. (19), J. Bob Taylor, Parker, Colo., Chevrolet Corvette C5, 17, Mech. 25. (29), Pat Nowak, Ann Arbor, Mich., Mustang Cobra, 17, Mech. 26. (11), Desire Wilson, Castle Rock, Colo., BMW M Coupe, 10, Mech. 27. (18), Jeff Demetri, Omaha, Neb., Saleen Mustang, 10, Mech. 28. (17), Terry Lackey, Hickcock, Texas, Corvette LT-4, 5, Mech. 29. (7), Pete Halsmer, Bloomfield, Mich., Acura NSX, 2, Mech. 30. (30), Paul Brown, Omaha, Neb., Saleen Mustang, 1, Mech. 31. (27), Kelly Bradley, Hitchcock, Texas, Corvette LT-4, 0, Mech. 32. (33), John Kohler, Bradford, Pa., Ford Mustang R, 0, DNS. 33. (23), Gary Smith, Bradford, Pa., Mustang Cobra, 0, DNS. Time of race: 47 minutes, 34.078 seconds. Average speed: 63.774 miles-per-hour Margin of victory: 6.004 seconds Lap leaders: 1- 20, Peter Kitchak, 21- 24, Bobby Archer, 25- 32, Peter Kitchak Fastest race lap: Peter Kitchak, 1:23.358 (68.235 mph) Cautions: one for two laps Speedvision World Challenge GT Championship Drivers Championship Point Standings - Top-10 pos., driver, car, points 1, Bobby Archer, Dodge Viper, 173 2, Peter Kitchak, Porsche 911 RSR, 169 3, George Biskup, Porsche 911 RSR, 153 4, Bill Cooper, Corvette C5, 135 5, David Schardt, Toyota Supra Turbo, 133 6, Pete Halsmer, Acura NSX, 107 7, Reese Cox, Chevrolet Corvette C5, 98 8, Paul Brown, Saleen Mustang, 87 9, Kermit Upton III, BMW M3, 85 10, Walter Swick, BMW M3, 81
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