SCCA: Schrantz takes first Speedvision Touring Car win at Lime Rock Park
28 May 2000
Posted By Terry CallahanMotorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
LAKEVILLE, Conn. Kevin Schrantz, of Boulder, Colo., took the lead from teammate Hugh Plumb with two laps to go, and took his first career Speedvision Touring Car Championship race win at the Lime Rock Park Dodge Dealers Grand Prix. Polesitter Neal Sapp, of Elicott City, Md., and Mike Fitzgerald, of Phoenix, Ariz., completed the top-three.
Schrantz, driving the No. 43 BuySellorHold.com/RealTime Racing Acura Integra R, started fourth on the grid, but moved around early leader Sapp with Plumb on lap 20. For the next 18 laps, Schrantz mirrored Plumb through traffic until Plumb suffered a failing CV joint on the front straightaway, slowing and allowing Schrantz by to cruise to a 0.456-second win, averaging 80.170 mph.
"As good as our Acuras are, the BMWs are real fast and tough to beat," said Schrantz. "It's great to get my first win."
Sapp, who started first in the No. 2 ProPartsUSA.net BMW 328ci, led initially, but was passed on a lap-19 restart by both Acuras. Sapp's second-consecutive second place moved him into the points lead, 71 to 69, over Pierre Kleinubing who had a CV joint fail on the pace lap.
Fitzgerald, driving the No. 12 ProPartsUSA.net BMW 328ci, survived a wild start in which he slid off the course to finish third, posting a record fast race lap of 0:59.783 (91.133 mph). It was Fitzgerald's first-ever podium finish.
Taz Harvey, of Danville, Calif., and Terry McCarthy, of Mountain View, Calif., completed the top-five. McCarthy was awarded the Borla Performance Award for his drive from 14th to fifth.
LAKEVILLE, Conn. -- The results from Saturday's 40-lap, 61.2-mile Speedvision Touring Car Championship Round Three Race, part of the Dodge Dealers Grand Prix at Lime Rock Park, with finishing position, starting position in parentheses,
1. (4), Kevin Schrantz, Boulder, Colo., Acura Integra R, 40.
2. (1), Neal Sapp(R), Elicott City, Md., BMW 328ci, 40.
3. (6), Mike Fitzgerald(R), Phoenix, Ariz., BMW 328ci, 40.
4. (12), Taz Harvey, Danville, Calif., Acura Integra R, 40.
5. (14), Terry McCarthy(R), Mountain View, Calif., BMW 328i, 40.
6. (5), Paul Alderman(R), Newark, Del., BMW 328is, 40.
7. (11), Will Turner, Newburyport, Mass., BMW 328is, 40.
8. (17), Walter Markes_Jr., Bronx, N.Y., BMW 328is, 40.
9. (20), Shauna Marinus(R), Folsom, Calif., BMW 328ci, 40.
10. (15), Mark C. Reed, London, England, Acura Integra R, 40.
11. (16), Steve Lisa, Scottsdale, Ariz., Mazda 626, 40.
12. (10), Steve Pfeffer(R), Etna, N.H., BMW 328, 40.
13. (9), Alfred DuPont, Kennett Square, Pa., BMW 328is, 40.
14. (22), Jason Potter, Deltona, Fla., Honda Accord, 40.
15. (26), Fred Pignataro, E. Northport, N.Y., BMW 328, 40.
16. (7), Bob Nagel(R), Tampa, Fla., Acura Integra R, 40.
17. (24), Tom Baker(R), Wilmington, Del., BMW 328is, 40.
18. (28), Hugh Stewart, Massapequa, N.Y., VW Jetta, 39.
19. (31), Tony Salloum(R), Philadelphia, Pa., BMW 328ci, 39.
20. (34), Leo Capaldi(R), Lenox Twp., Mich., Mercury Cougar, 39.
21. (29), Laurence Oliva(R), Dover, N.H., BMW 325is, 39.
22. (36), Gary Davis, BMW 328, 39.
23. (25), Rick Ellinger, N. Potomac, Md., Mercedes 190E, 39.
24. (21), Peter Schwartzott, Freeville, N.Y., Acura Integra R, 39.
25. (3), Hugh Plumb, Chadds Ford, Pa., Acura Integra R, 38, CV Joint.
26. (32), Fred Meyer, Dallas, Texas, Acura Integra R, 37.
27. (18), Grant Lockwood, Cumming, Ga., Honda Prelude, 36, Mech.
28. (27), Stephan Bastrzycki(R), Winsted, Conn., Honda PreludeSi, 32,
Mech.
29. (23), Drew Hagestad(R), Long Beach, Calif., VW Jetta, 30, Axle.
30. (30), Stephane Trahan(R), Laval, QB, VW Jetta, 27.
31. (13), Ken Dobson(R), Carmel Valley, Calif., Pont Sunfire GT, 23,
Mech.
32. (19), Manny Matz, Somers, N.Y., BMW 328is, 22, Mech.
33. (38), Peter Ackroyd(R), New Zeland, BMW 328is, 7, Mech.
34. (33), Carl Wener(R), Montreal, QB, VW Golf, 0, Mech.
35. (37), Paul Booher, Pinnelas Park, Fla., Mazda 626, 0, DNS.
36. (8), Don Salama(R), Avon, Conn., BMW 328is, 0, DNS.
37. (2), Pierre Kleinubing, Erexim, Brazil, Acura Integra R, 0, DNS.
38. (35), Ed Schairbaum(R), Ft. Worth, Texas, Nissan 240 SX, 0,
DNS.
Time of race: 45 minutes, 48.133 seconds.
Average speed: 80.170 miles-per-hour
Margin of victory: 0.45600 seconds
Lap leaders: Laps 1-18, Sapp; laps 19-37, Plumb; laps 38-40, Schrantz
Fastest race lap: Mike Fitzgerald(R), 0:59.783 (92.133 mph)
Text provided by Eric Prill
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