SCCA- HENDRICSEN WINS FIRST-EVER PRO SPEC RACER RACE
5 March 2000
PHOENIX, Ariz. - Seanin Hendrisen, of Phoenix, Ariz., won Sunday's Pro Spec Racer race at Phoenix International Raceway for his first-ever career win. Denny Stripling, of McKinney, Texas and Paul deAlva, of Phoenix, Ariz. rounded out the top three. Driving the No. 11 H-Square Racing Spec Racer, rookie Hendricsen captured his first career Pro Spec Racer win by 0.193 seconds. In only his third Pro Spec Racer race, Hendricsen got a good start moving up from his fifth place starting position to third place by lap three. Lap six Hendricsen passed Stripling for second place in the infield. On lap eight leader Carl Harris spun entering the oval section of the track, giving Hendricsen the lead. Hendricsen extended his lead until a full-course caution on lap 25 bunched the field back up. On the lap 27 restart, Hendricsen drove a defensive line and held off a hard charging Stripling for the win. "It's been a very good weekend," said Hendricsen. "The race car was awesome and I could drive away from the pack. I wasn't happy to see the full-course yellow. On the restart I knew if I drove a defensive line into corner one and two it would be hard to pass me. The win will help attract sponsors so I can run some more races." Stripling, in the No. 4 Vortex Motorsports Spec Racer captured his best-ever finish and first podium finish, after six years of competing in the series. Stripling held his fourth place position at the start and moved into third when Harris spun on lap eight. On lap 14 Stripling passed Neil Tilbor for second in corner two. Stripling challenged for the lead on the lap 27 restart, but was unable to find a way past. "It's nice to finally be on the podium," said Stripling. "I was a little angry when the yellow came out, since I had a good lead on third. Then I realized that first place had lost his lead over me. From then on I thought about going for the win, however I couldn't find a way by. In the No. 03 Paco Racing/LaRue Motorsports Spec Racer, deAlva lost the lead on lap one, but regrouped to finish third in only his second-ever Pro Spec Racer race. "I was too conservative at the start and it cost me," said deAlva. "I'm really surprised at how well I've done this weekend. You definitely learn a lot driving with these guys." Phoenix, Arizona - Race results for Sunday's 30-lap, 45.45-mile Round Two Pro Spec Racer race at Phoenix International Raceway, part of the First Annual Spring Racing Invitational weekend, with practice position, car number in parenthesis, driver, hometown, car, time and speed in miles-per-hour. 1. (5), Seainn Hendricsen, Phoenix, Ariz., Spec Racer, 30. 2. (4), Denny Stripling, McKinney, Texas, Spec Racer, 30. 3. (1), Paul deAlva, Phoenix, Ariz., Spec Racer, 30. 4. (2), Carl Harris, Houston, Texas, Spec Racer, 30. 5. (9), Johnny Meriggi, The Woodlands, Texas, Spec Racer, 30. 6. (6), Keith Scharf, St. Louis, Mo., Spec Racer, 30. 7. (33), Bobby Sak, W. Bloomfield, Mich., Spec Racer, 30. 8. (14), Steve Rehkemper, Chicago, Ill., Spec Racer, 30. 9. (13), Chris Funk, Kansas City, Mo., Spec Racer, 30. 10. (28), John Black, Tahoe City, Calif., Spec Racer, 30. 11. (20), Jeff Tillman, St. Louis, Mo., Spec Racer, 30. 12. (11), Tom Dalrymple, Austin, Texas, Spec Racer, 30. 13. (3), James Goughary, Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., Spec Racer, 30. 14. (15), Maynard Knapp, Vail, Colo., Spec Racer, 30. 15. (8), Neal Sapp, Ellicott City, Md., Spec Racer, 30. 16. (16), Clint Lindburg II, St. Louis, Mo., Spec Racer, 30. 17. (22), Dr. Jim Baxter, Houston, Texas, Spec Racer, 30. 18. (24), Ralph Mayfield, Houston, Texas, Spec Racer, 30. 19. (17), James Baxter II, Houston, Texas, Spec Racer, 30. 20. (18), Mark Eaton, Melborune, Fla., Spec Racer, 30. 21. (7), Neil Tilbor, New Smyrna Beach, Fla., Spec Racer, 30. 22. (12), Darren Pritt, Seattle, Wash., Spec Racer, 30. 23. (19), Lee Fleming, Lakeforest, Calif., Spec Racer, 29, n.a. 24. (32), Jason Klein, Long Grove, Ill., Spec Racer, 29. 25. (29), Mark Barr, Austin, Texas, Spec Racer, 29. 26. (25), Rick Klein, Long Grove, Ill., Spec Racer, 29. 27. (30), Edward Lenahan, Ft. Launderdale, Fla., Spec Racer, 29. 28. (36), Pattie Hughes, Columbus, Ohio, Spec Racer, 29. 29. (34), Tim Blakeley, Phoenix, Ariz., Spec Racer, 29. 30. (10), Warren Stilwell, Hartville, Ohio, Spec Racer, 28, mech. 31. (26), Nikki LaRue, Erie, Colo., Spec Racer, 26, mech. 32. (27), Mark Hutchins, Lincoln, Neb., Spec Racer, 23, mech. 33. (35), Ronald Jacobs, Denver, Colo., Spec Racer, 19, mech. 34. (31), Javier Sardina, Yuma, Ariz., Spec Racer, 10, contact. 35. (21), Ray LaRue, Eric, Colo., Spec Racer, 0, mech. 36. (23), Chris Current, Silver Spring, Md., Spec Racer, 0, mech. Time of race: 37 minutes, 53.313 seconds. Average speed: 71.974 miles-per-hour Margin of victory: .19299 seconds Lap leaders: # 69 1- 6 Carl Harris # 11 7- 30 Seainn Hendricsen Fastest race lap: Lee Fleming, 1:10.628 (77.221 mph)