SCCA: Scharf scores dominating win at Homestead Pro Spec Racer Race
28 September 1999
Posted By Terry
Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
HOMESTEAD, Fla. - Keith Scharf, of St. Louis, Mo., scored
his
first win of the 1999 Pro Spec Racer season and fourth career win in
dominating
fashion at the Homestead-Miami Speedway. James Goughary Jr., of Jupiter
Fla. and
Neil Tilbor, of Smyrna Beach, Fla., completed the top three.Scharf started second in the No. 82 TECH Automotive Spec Racer and pulled away from the field with polesitter Warren Stilwell in the early stages of the race.
A full course yellow on lap seven, for a car off course, bunched the field back up. The lap nine restart saw Stilwell jump the green, drawing a stop and go penalty. On lap 12 Stilwell came into the pits to serve his penalty and Scharf inherited the lead, which he would never relinquish enroute to a 2.21-second victory over Goughary Jr.
"I had good start, Warren made a couple mistakes and I was able to reel him in, but I dont know if I could have passed him," said Scharf. "This is a special win. Weve had some bad luck, and Im originally from South Miami having moved away when I was a teenager."
Goughary Jr., driving the No. 29 SpeedComm /Finish Line Auto Racing Spec Racer, finished second in an uneventful race after an early race incident with Johnny Meriggi.
"I feel bad for Johnny about the incident but I never saw him when I turned in," said Goughary Jr. "The restart really took away any chance of winning, but Im not sure I had anything for Warren."
Neil Tilbor, driving the No. 8 Tilbor marketing & Development Spec Racer, moved up from his 14th-place starting position to claim the final podium position.
"I got great start and was able to move up to sixth by the end of the first lap," said Tilbor. "I knew the battle with Jack wasnt only for position on track but for the championship and had to make the pass."
Jack Willes, of Cornelius, N.C., and Robert Sak, of West Bloomfield, Mich., finished fourth and fifth, respectively.
HOMESTEAD, Fla. -- The results from Sunday's 19-lap, 41.99-mile Pro Spec Racer race at the Homestead-Miami Speedway, part of Sports Car Extravaganza Weekend, with finishing position, starting position in parentheses, driver, hometown, car, laps and reason out. All drivers in identical Pro Spec Racer sports racers.
1. (2), Keith Scharf, St. Louis, Mo., 19. 2. (7), Jim Goughary Jr., Jupiter, Fla., 19. 3. (14), Neil Tilbor, New Smyrna Beach, Fla., 19. 4. (10), Jack Willes, Cornelius, N.C., 19. 5. (6), Robert Sak, West Bloomfield, Mich., 19. 6. (3), Johnny Meriggi, The Woodlands, Texas, 19. 7. (12), David Donovan, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., 19. 8. (4), Derek Schofield, Lakeland, Fla., 19. 9. (1), Warren Stilwell, Hartville, Ohio, 19. 10. (5), Mick Robinson, Melborne, Fla., 19. 11. (17), Chris Funk, Kansas City, Mo., 19. 12. (15), Steve Rehkemper, Chicago, Ill., 19. 13. (21), Bill Ladoniczki, Palm Harbour, Fla., 19. 14. (9), Darren Pritt, Seattle, Wash., 19. 15. (8), Brian Schofield, Lakeland, Fla., 19. 16. (29), Andy Carlino, Palm Beach Garden, Fla., 19. 17. (26), Steve Ladoniczki, Palm Harbour, Fla., 19. 18. (27), Chet Zerlin, Weston, Fla., 19. 19. (16), Dorian Foyil, Nassau, Bahamas, 19. 20. (22), Ed Lenahan, Lake Forrest, Fla., 19. 21. (23), Mark Seiden, Miami, Fla., 19. 22. (28), Nick Preble, Deerfield Beach, Fla., 19. 23. (25), Ken Marino, Palm Harbour, Fla., 19. 24. (13), Richard Doty, Haddon Hts, N.J., 18. 25. (11), John Black, Olympic Valley, Calif., 15, Mech. 26. (20), John Bowden, Lawrence, Kan., 11, Cooling. 27. (33), Tony Paterniti, Big Pine Key, Fla., 10, Mech. 28. (19), Domenic DeLuca, Hollywood, Fla., 10, Mech. 29. (24), John Carroll, Jersey City, N.J., 9, Mech. 30. (18), Gary Phillips, Berkeley Lake, Ga., 4, Cooling. Time of race: 36 minutes, 07.032 seconds. Average speed: 69.756 miles-per-hour Margin of victory: 2.210 seconds Lap leaders: Laps 1-11, No. 28 Stilwell, laps 12-19, No. 82 Scharf Fastest race lap: Jack Willes, 1:43.426 (76.924 mph) Cautions: one for two laps
Editors Note: For hundreds of hot racing photos and racing art, be sure to visit The Racing ImageGalleries and the Visions of Speed Art Gallery.