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TOURING: Salama takes first Speedvision Touring Car win in blazing Texas heat

3 September 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
FORT WORTH, Texas--Rookie Don Salama, of Avon, Conn., took his first-career Speedvision World Challenge Touring Car race win amid sweltering 105 degree temperatures, leading every lap in his BMW 328is to break a six-race Acura Integra R win streak. Kevin Schrantz, of Boulder, Colo., and Taz Harvey, of Danville, Calif., completed the top three.

Salama, driving the No. 94 H&R Springs/Turner Motorsport entry, started second, but took the lead after polesitter Alfred duPont slid wide in turn three on the first lap. It was smooth sailing for the next 10 laps, leading teammate Will Turner until duPont, who had fallen to seventh, caught the leader on lap 11.

DuPont passed Salama in turn three for the lead, a favor Salama would return three corners later. While in tow, duPont put four wheels off the specified track surface on lap-13, meaning a stop-and-go penalty for the second-place car, dropping him to fifth. From there, Salama sped away to a 5.072-second win, averaging 87.117 mph.

"After [duPont] fell back, I knew he'd catch up. He's been fast all weekend," said Salama, who sits fourth in points, with 122. "I saw him behind me and then he dive-bombed me in turn three. I followed him through the switch-back, where I was faster, and was able to get inside of him in turn six, where he got in a little deep. That was about it."

Schrantz ran a steady race in the No. 44 BuySellorHold.com/RealTime Racing Acura Integra R, starting fourth and moving up after duPont's penalty and Turner's mechanical failure. His drive was not easy, as he had trouble dealing with the heat.

"I put a bag of ice in front of my suit and one behind the small of my back," said Schrantz, who is third in points, with 128, behind Pierre Kleinubing (148) and Neal Sapp (133). "Unfortunately, the ice melted and slid down behind me and under my butt. It got really hot and started to steam me. I felt like broccoli."

Harvey started 10th in the Dublin Honda/Tracy Honda Acura Integra and jumped to fourth on the first lap.

"I used to race motorcycles and when it's time to go, it's time to go," said Harvey. "I've been working on my starts and have gotten some good advice from people who have done a lot, so I guess it's helping. I'm certainly not going to tell anyone else what I'm doing."

Paul Alderman, of Newark, Del., had a career-best run to finish fourth, followed by duPont, who turned the fastest race lap. Sapp, who started 26th after having mechanical troubles in qualifying, earned the Borla Performance Award for his run to eighth.

FORT WORTH, TEXAS--Results from the 25-lap, 58.1-mile Speedvision World Challenge Touring Car Round Six Race, part of the Grand Prix of Texas at Texas Motor Speedway with finishing position, starting position in parenthesis, driver, hometown, car, laps complete and reason out (if any).

1. (2), Don Salama(R), Avon, Conn., BMW 328is, 25.
2. (4), Kevin Schrantz, Boulder, Colo., Acura Integra R, 25.
3. (10), Taz Harvey, Danville, Calif., Acura Integra R, 25.
4. (6), Paul Alderman(R), Newark, Del., BMW 328is, 25.
5. (1), Alfred duPont, Kennett Square, Pa., BMW 328is, 25.
6. (11), Bob Nagel(R), Tampa, Fla., Acura Integra R, 25.
7. (13), Mark C. Reed, London, England, Acura Integra R, 25.
8. (26), Neal Sapp(R), Elicott City, Md., BMW 328ci, 25.
9. (14), Walter Markes Jr., Bronx, N.Y., BMW 328is, 25.
10. (7), Hugh Plumb, Chadds Ford, Pa., Acura Integra R, 25.
11. (9), Pierre Kleinubing, Erexim, Brazil, Acura Integra R, 25.
12. (16), Peter Ackroyd(R), New Zealand, BMW 328is, 24.
13. (17), Ed Schairbaum(R), Ft. Worth, Texas, Nissan 240 SX, 24.
14. (12), Shauna Marinus(R), Folsom, Calif., BMW 328ci, 24.
15. (21), Manny Matz, Somers, N.Y., BMW 328is, 24.
16. (18), Drew Hagestad(R), Long Beach, Calif., VW Jetta, 24.
17. (20), Jeff Littel(R), Wilmington, Md., BMW 328is, 24.
18. (19), Fred Pignataro, E. Northport, N.Y., BMW 328, 24.
19. (22), Aaron Bambach, Rochester Hills, Mich., Toyota Celica, 24.
20. (23), Fred Meyer, Dallas, Texas, Acura Integra R, 23.
21. (15), Jason Potter, Deltona, Fla., Acura Integra R, 22, n.a.
22. (8), David Rosenblum, Langhorne, Pa., Mazda 626, 16, n.a.
23. (3), Will Turner, Newburyport, Mass., BMW 328is, 13, n.a.
24. (5), Mike Fitzgerald(R), Phoenix, Ariz., BMW 328ci, 12, n.a.
25. (24), Steve Pfeffer(R), Etna, N.H., BMW 328, 4, n.a.
26. (25), Grant Lockwood, Cumming, Ga., Honda Prelude, 0, n.a.
27. (27), Ken Dobson(R), Carmel Valley, Calif., Pont Sunfire GT, 0, n.a.
28. (28), Steve Lisa, Scottsdale, Ariz., Mazda 626, 0, n.a.

Time of race: 41 minutes, 16.886 seconds.
Average speed: 84.444 miles-per-hour
Margin of victory: 5.0720 seconds
Lap leaders: Laps 1-25, No. 94 Don Salama
Fastest race lap: Alfred duPont, 1:37.151 (86.117 mph)
Cautions: None.

Point Standings
After Six of 10 Rounds

1. Pierre Kleinubing, 148
2. Neal Sapp, 133
3. Kevin Schrantz, 128
4. Don Salama, 122
5. Taz Harvey, 100
6. Paul Alderman, 93
7. Mark C. Reed, 85
8. Hugh Plumb, 82
9. Will Turner, 82
10. Alfred duPont, 80

Text provided by Eric Prill

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