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Touring: Hemmingson scores surprise Speedvision Touring Car win at PPIR

4 October 1999

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

FOUNTAIN, Colo.-- Chuck Hemmingson, of Des Moines, Iowa, scored his first Speedvision World Challenge Touring Car win since Minneapolis, 1996, taking race two on a doubleheader weekend at Pikes Peak International Raceway. Will Turner, of Newbury Port, Mass., finished second, followed by Pierre Kleinubing, of Brazil.

Hemmingson, who started sixth in the No. 80 Read Pontiac Sunfire, moved up to third by lap two, and took the lead from Turner on lap 32 of the 45-lap, 60.3-mile caution-free event. Hemmingson averaged 75.445 mph en route to the Sunfire's first win in World Challenge competition.

"We ran a limited schedule this year, so hopefully this win will help us secure some sponsorship for a full season next year," said Hemmingson, who competed in four of the nine races this year. "This weekend was the first time I haven't seen the [Acura] Integras walk away from us in the tight corners. It's great to be back on the top of the podium."

Turner, who started second in the No. 92 Turner Motorsports/H&R Springs BMW 328is, took the lead on lap 31 when Kleinubing slid off the course after tangling with a lapped car. However, he couldn't hold off Hemmingson, who took the lead one lap later.

"This was a great weekend for me," said Turner, who won Saturday's race," but a costly one for my team. Both team cars have heavy damage and we have our work cut out for us before Laguna Seca next week."

No drivers were injured in any of the weekend's incidents.

Kleinubing, who controlled the first 30 laps of the event in the No. 42 RealTime Racing Acura Integra R, moved into second place in the Drivers' Championship, trailing Michael Galati 241 to 228 with one race remaining. Kleinubing was quick to accept responsibility for his misfortune.

"I went over the bumps going into the hairpin and slid into a lapped car and off the track," said Kleinubing. "It was my fault. I'm happy with the pole and third place since I didn't think I would race because of the crash yesterday. My team did an awesome job putting the car back together."

Alfred DuPont, of Wilmington, Del., charged from 10th to finish fourth, followed by Galati, of Olmstead Twp., Ohio.

FOUNTAIN, Colo. -- Results from Sunday's 45-lap, 60.3-mile Speedvision World Challenge Touring Car Round Nine race part of the PPIR Road Racing Classic Weekend at Pikes Peak International Raceway, with finishing position, starting position in parenthesis, driver, hometown, car, laps complete and reason out (if any).

 1. (6), Chuck Hemmingson, Des Moines, Iowa, Pontiac Sunfire, 45.
 2. (2), Will Turner, Newbury Port, Mass., BMW 328is, 45.
 3. (1), Pierre Kleinubing, Erexim, Brazil, Acura Integra R, 45.
 4. (10), Alfred DuPont, Wilmington, Del., BMW 328is, 45.
 5. (3), Michael Galati, Olmstead Township, Ohio, Acura Integra R, 45.
 6. (5), Kevin Schrantz, Boulder, Colo., Acura Integra R, 45.
 7. (8), David Rosenblum, Langhorne, Pa., BMW 328is, 45.
 8. (4), Hugh Plumb, Chadds Ford, Pa., Acura Integra R, 44.
 9. (13), Rick Ellinger, Rockville, Md., Mercedes-Benz, 44.
 10. (14), Steva Lisa, Scottsdale, Ariz., Mazda 626, 44.
 11. (15), Manny Matz, Somers, N.Y., BMW 328is, 43.
 12. (16), Charles Espenlaub, Phoenix, Ariz., Mazda Miata, 43.
 13. (17), Derrick Moennich, N. Vancouver, British Columbia, Nissan
NX2000, 43.
 14. (7), Taz Harvey, Danville, Calif., Acura Integra R, 42.
 15. (12), Grant Lockwood, Cumming, Ga., Honda Prelude, 40.
 16. (19), Brian Wade, Newfields, N.H., BMW 328is, 37.
 17. (9), Charlie Downes, Hawthorne, Calif., BMW 328is, 35, Mech.
 18. (11), Jeff Tarr, New York, N.Y., BMW 328is, 34, Crash.
 19. (18), Fred Meyer, Dallas, Texas, Acura Integra R, 13, Mech.
 Time of race: 47 minutes, 57.314 seconds.
 Average speed: 75.445 miles-per-hour
 Margin of victory: 2.5530 seconds
 Lap leaders: Laps 1-30, Kleinubing; lap 31, Turner; laps 32-45,
Hemmingson
 Fastest race lap: Charlie Downes, 1:03.041 (76.521 mph)
 Cautions: None.

Speedvision Touring Car Championship Drivers' Championship Point Standings
After Nine of 10 Rounds
1, Michael Galati, Acura Integra R, 241
2, Pierre Kleinubing, Acura Integra R, 228
3, Hugh Plumb, Acura Integra R, 225
4, Will Turner, BMW 328is, 180
5, Alfred DuPont, BMW 328is, 177
6, Kevin Schrantz, Acura Integra R, 141
7, Brian Wade, BMW 328is, 127
8, Jason Potter, Honda Accord, 116
9, Rick Ellinger, Mercedes-Benz, 116
10, Jeff Tarr, BMW 328is, 103
11, David Rosenblum, BMW 328is, 92
12, Charlie Downes, BMW 328is, 88
13, Walter Markes_Jr, BMW 328is, 86
14, Chuck Hemmingson, Pontiac Sunfire, 76
15, Kristian Skavnes, Acura Integra R, 71

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