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SCCA: Stilwell wins for fourth consecutive year at Mid-Ohio

4 June 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

Allan Craighead) Sender: acraighead@compuserve.com To: acraighead@compuserve.com LEXINGTON, Ohio- Warren Stilwell, of Harteville, Ohio, captured Round Four of the 2000 Pro Spec Racer season at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Bobby Sak, of West Bloomfield, Mich. and John Black, of Tahoe City, Calif. rounded out the top-three.

Driving the No. 28 Stilwell Racing Spec Racer, the man they call Mr. Mid-Ohio, Stilwell, captured his fourth consecutive Pro Spec Racer win at Mid-Ohio. Starting from pole Stilwell fell back to second at the start. Stilwell maintained this position until Goughary Jr. went off in corner one on a lap seven restart. Stilwell was briefly challenged by Sak, but pulled away as the race progressed en route to a 0.652-second margin of victory. The win vaults Stilwell into the points lead with 51 points.

"I was a little confused at the start by the acceleration cones and it cost me going into the first corner," said Stilwell. "I knew it was a long race and I had run well in qualifying so I wasnt really concerned. After Goughary went off Bobby put some pressure on me but I knew if I didnt make any mistakes it would be hard to pass me."

Sak, driving the No. 19 Don Sak Racing Spec Racer, got a good start moving up from his fourth place starting position to third. On lap two Black was able to squeeze by for position. Sak regained the position on the lap seven restart and was able to hold to the position for the remainder of the race. This career-best finish moves Sak to fourth in the standings.

"I followed Jim (Goughary Jr.) at the start and was able to slot into second," said Sak. "I made a mistake which allowed both Stilwell and Black to get past me. After regaining second on the restart I drove with my mirrors a little too much and couldnt really challenge Stilwell."

Driving the No. 17 Ascent Racing Spec Racer, Black captured his second consecutive podium finish. Black repeatedly challenged Sak for position, but was unable to find a way past.

"My confidence level is really high right now," said Black. "I dont think I had anything for Sak, but was going to keep trying all race long."

James Goughary Jr., of Palm Beach, Fla., recovered from going off in corner one to finish fourth. Bob Chapman, of Marysville, Ohio, rounded out the top-five in his first-ever Pro Spec Racer race.

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Lexington, Ohio - Race results for Saturday's 22-lap, 49.50-mile Pro Spec Racer race at the Mid- Ohio Sports Car Course, part of the U.S. Road Racing Classic weekend, with qualifying position, car number in parenthesis, driver, hometown, car, laps and reason out.

1.(1), Warren Stilwell, Hartville, Ohio, Spec Racer, 22.
2. (4), Bobby Sak, W. Bloomfield, Mich., Spec Racer, 22.
3. (3), John Black, Tahoe City, Calif., Spec Racer, 22.
4. (2), James Goughary, Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., Spec Racer, 22.
5. (6), Bob Chapman, Marysville, Ohio, Spec Racer, 22.
6. (7), Keith Scharf, St. Louis, Mo., Spec Racer, 22.
7. (9), Shawn Morrison, Conway, Mich., Spec Racer, 22.
8. (8), Chris Funk, Kansas City, Mo., Spec Racer, 22.
9. (11), Mark Eaton, Melborune, Fla., Spec Racer, 22.
10. (17), Seainn Hendricson, Phoenix, Ariz., Spec Racer, 22.
11. (14), LJ Shumosic, Turks & Caicos, Spec Racer, 22.
12. (18), Trevor Hopwood, Prosperity, Pa., Spec Racer, 22.
13. (5), Neil Tilbor, New Smyrna Beach, Fla., Spec Racer, 22.
14. (12), Steve Rehkemper, Chicago, Ill., Spec Racer, 22.
15. (15), John Bowden, Lawerence, Kansas, Spec Racer, 22.
16. (25), Jason Klein, Long Grove, Ill., Spec Racer, 22.
17. (24), Niki Ruman, Washington, DC, Spec Racer, 22.
18. (20), Paul T. Macey, Oakville Ont. Canada, Spec Racer, 22.
19. (19), Richard Doty, Haddon Heights, N.J., Spec Racer, 22.
20. (30), James Baxter II, Houston, Texas, Spec Racer, 22.
21. (22), Dr Jim Baxter, Richmond, Tenn., Spec Racer, 22.
22. (26), Pattie Hughes, Columbus, Ohio, Spec Racer, 22.
23. (27), Amid Shrayesreh, Richmond, Ind., Spec Racer, 22.
24. (23), Rich Klein, Long Grove, Ill., Spec Racer, 20.
25. (13), Jeff Tillman, St. Louis, Mo., Spec Racer, 8, N.A.
26. (16), Andy Bentinck-Smith, Duxbury, Mass., Spec Racer, 8, N.A.
27. (28), William Hornack, Westlake, Ohio, Spec Racer, 0, N.A.
28. (21), Clint Lindburg II, St. Louis, Mo., Spec Racer, 0, N.A.
29. (10), Keith Grant, Cordova, Tenn., Spec Racer, 0, N.A.

Time of race: 44 minutes, 59.938 seconds.
Average speed: 66.236 miles-per-hour
Margin of victory: .65200 seconds
Lap leaders: # 29 1- 6 James Goughary
# 28 7- 22 Warren Stilwell

Fastest race lap: James Goughary, 1:40.541 (80.850 mph)

Text provided by Allan Craighead

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