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PRO SPEC RACER: Sak captures first career win in Las Vegas

29 October 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
LAS VEGAS, Nev.- Bobby Sak, of W. Bloomfield, Mich. won Saturdays Round 10 Pro Spec Racer race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, part of the Grand Prix of Las Vegas Presented by enjoythedrive.com. Warren Stilwell, of Harteville, Ohio and Chris Funk, of Kansas City, Mo. completed the top-three.

In typical Pro Spec Racer style, Sak captured his first-career win after swapping the lead numerous times. At the start of the race, polesitter Lee Fleming spun in the first chicane giving Sak the lead. Sak, driving the No. 19 Don Sak Racing Spec Racer held that advantage just briefly before being challenged by a group of three cars. As the race progressed, Sak traded the lead numerous times with Funk and Stilwell. At one point Funk and Sak went two abreast around the majority of 2.52-mile road course battling for the lead. Late in the race, Sak stretched his lead to over five cars, however at the checkered flag the margin of victory was just 1.027-second over a hard charging Stilwell.

"Thats all I came here for [the win]," said Sak. "We had a great setup right from when we rolled the car out of the trailer. Lets see if I can repeat the win at San Diego next weekend."

Stilwell, driving the No. 28 Stilwell Racing Spec Racer, drove a strong race to retake the points lead, 124 to 119 over John Black. Stilwell, who started third retained his position in the early stages of the race. As the race progressed, Stilwell became more involved in the fight for the lead, taking the point at various times. Setting the quickest lap of the day, 1:34.072 (86.104 mph), Stilwell closed on Sak at the end of the race, however came up just short finishing second.

"I didnt have the car to win today, " said Stilwell. "I was running pretty conservative at the start, but once I saw John [Black] go off I became more aggressive. After adding up the points Im pretty happy with the result."

Driving the No. 0 Pearl St. Brewery/Gendrons GMC Spec Racer, Funk strengthened his position as one of the top drivers in the series with a third place finish. At times it looked like Funk could win the race, but every time he took the lead he soon relinquished it back to either Sak or Stilwell. The third place finish is his third podium finish of the season.

"That was a fun race," said Funk. "I had a good run until the last few laps."

Completing the top-five was Carl Harris, of Houston, Texas and Neil Tilbor, of New Smyrna, Fla. Seanin Hendricsen, of Phoenix, Ariz, captured the Rookie of The Year award after finishing eighth.

Las Vegas, Nev. - Race results for Saturday's 20-lap, 50.40-mile Pro Spec Racer race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, part of The Grand Prix of Las Vegas Presented by enjoytheride.com weekend, with finishing position, starting position in parentheses, driver, hometown, car, laps and reason out.

1. (2), Bobby Sak, W. Bloomfields, Mich., Spec Racer, 20.
2. (3), Warren Stilwell, Hartville, Ohio, Spec Racer, 20.
3. (4), Chris Funk, Kansas City, Mo., Spec Racer, 20.
4. (6), Carl Harris, Houston, Texas, Spec Racer, 20.
5. (7), Neil Tilbor, New Smyrna Beach, Fla., Spec Racer, 20.
6. (8), Johnny Meriggi, The Woodlands, Texas, Spec Racer, 20.
7. (5), John Black, Tahoe City, Calif., Spec Racer, 20.
8. (9), Seainn Hendricson, Phoenix, Ariz., Spec Racer, 20.
9. (1), Lee Fleming, Lake Forest, Calif., Spec Racer, 20.
10. (11), Keith Scharf, St. Louis, Mo., Spec Racer, 20.
11. (18), Steve Rehkemper, Chicago, Ill., Spec Racer, 20.
12. (14), Mark Eaton, Melborune, Fla., Spec Racer, 20.
13. (15), Charlie Shears, Houston, Texas, Spec Racer, 20.
14. (12), Paul Marino, Canoga Park, Calif., Spec Racer, 20.
15. (25), Richard Doty, Haddon Heights, N.J., Spec Racer, 20.
16. (22), Paul (Ed) Raby, Las Vegas, Nev., Spec Racer, 20.
17. (21), Marty Wiliams, Woodland Hills, Calif., Spec Racer, 20.
18. (24), Doug Stewart, Northridge, Calif., Spec Racer, 20.
19. (10), John Bowden, Lawerence, Kansas, Spec Racer, 20.
20. (26), Tom Miserendino, Los Angeles, Calif., Spec Racer, 20.
21. (20), Steve Ott, Brighton, Colo., Spec Racer, 20.
22. (31), Reid Johnson, Scottsdale, Ariz., Spec Racer, 20.
23. (36), Phil Fogg Sr, Vancouver, Wash., Spec Racer, 20.
24. (34), Ralph Mayfield, Houston, Texas, Spec Racer, 20.
25. (29), Dan Miller, Vancouver, Wash., Spec Racer, 20.
26. (33), Duane Corley, Conroe, Texas, Spec Racer, 20.
27. (17), Johnny Santo-Spirito, Denver, Colo., Spec Racer, 20.
28. (27), Robey Clark, Dallas, Texas, Spec Racer, 20.
29. (30), Richard Young, Long Beach, Calif., Spec Racer, 20.
30. (32), Gary Jensen, Minnetonka, Minn., Spec Racer, 20.
31. (40), Donald Kahn, Colrain, Mass., Spec Racer, 20.
32. (23), Niki LaRue, Erie, Colo., Spec Racer, 19, Mech.
33. (41), Andy Carlino, West Palm Beach, Fla., Spec Racer, 19.
34. (42), Morry Goldstein, Las Vegas, Nev., Spec Racer, 19.
35. (38), Budd Severino, Daytona Beach, Fla., Spec Racer, 19.
36. (39), Howard (Duck) Allen, Portland, Ore., Spec Racer, 19.
37. (35), Dana Moore, San Diego, Calif., Spec Racer, 17.
38. (37), Ronald Jacobs, Denver, Colo., Spec Racer, 4, Crash.
39. (28), Denny Fosdick, Vancouver, Wash., Spec Racer, 2, Mech.
40. (13), TJ Acker, Valencia, Calif., Spec Racer, 1, Mech.
41. (16), Bill Jucha, Bear Vally Springs, Calif., Spec Racer, 0, Crash.
42. (19), Paul deAlva, Phoenix, Ariz., Spec Racer, 0, Mech.
43. (43), J. Ronnie Bledsoe, Flagler Beach, Fla., Spec Racer, 0, Crash.

Text Provided By Allan Craighead

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