PRO SPEC RACER: Stillwell leads flag-to-flag to capture third win in 2000
26 June 2000
HALLETT, Okla. (June 26, 2000) - Warren Stilwell, of Hartville, Ohio rebounded from a disappointing race last weekend to capture Sunday’s Round Six Pro Spec Racer race at Hallett Motor Racing Circuit. Denny Stripling, McKinney, Texas and Carl Harris, of Houston, Texas rounded out the top-three.In humid conditions, Stilwell, driving the No. 28 Stilwell Racing Spec Racer, led flag-to-flag to win the first ever Pro Spec Racer race at Hallett. At the start of the race Stilwell was able to pull out a sizeable lead as the front runners battled it out behind him. Stripling eventually was able to pull away from the rest of the field and slowly close on Stilwell. On lap 23 Stilwell was challenged for the lead going into turn one. Stilwell held off the attack as both he and Stripling went two abreast through the next few turns. Stilwell held on to the lead the remainder of the race winning by a margin of 0.945-second. The win is Stilwell’s third in 2000, and vaults him into the points lead with 71, seven ahead of John Black.
"Getting the win here and regaining the points lead is great,” said Stilwell. “At the start I really pushed hard to try and pull out a good lead as the guys behind fought for position. I saw Denny (Stripling) coming and just tried run as mistake free as possible.”
Driving the No. 4 Vortex Motorsports Spec Racer, Stripling fell back from the leader at the start of the race as he held of numerous challenges for position. Once Stripling was able to run unobstructed he slowly pulled Stilwell in setting a fastest race lap of 1:28.891 (72.898 mph). On lap 23, Stripling was able to pull along side Stilwell down the front straight, but was unable to pass for the lead. The second place finish ties Stripling’s career best.
“This was the best race I’ve ever run,” said Stripling. “Spotting Warren (Stilwell) that type a lead at the start and he’s going to win 100 percent of the time. I gave him everything I had, but the willy veteran just didn’t make any mistakes.”
Harris, in the No. 69 Four Seasons Radiator Spec Racer, got off to a good start moving up to third from his fifth place starting position by lap five. As the race progressed, Harris car’s handling slowly went away forcing him settle on finishing third, for his third podium finish of the year.
“I’m happy with the podium finish,” said Harris. “The car went away real early and I knew I couldn’t run with those two. I just concentrated on holding Bobby (Sak) and Neil (Tilbor) off.”
Rounding out the top-five was Tilbor, of New Smyra, Fla. and Black, of Tahoe City, Calif.
Hallett, Okla. - Results for Sunday's 25-lap, 45.00-mile Pro Spec Racer race at Hallett Motor Racing Circuit, part of the Brad Noe Volkswagen Thunder on the Cimmaron weekend, with qualifying position, car number in parenthesis, driver, hometown, car, laps and reason out.
1. (1), Warren Stilwell, Hartville, Ohio, Spec Racer, 25. 2. (2), Denny Stripling, McKinney, Texas, Spec Racer, 25. 3. (5), Carl Harris, Houston, Texas, Spec Racer, 25. 4. (7), Neil Tilbor, New Smyrna Beach, Fla., Spec Racer, 25. 5. (6), John Black, Tahoe City, Calif., Spec Racer, 25. 6. (3), Bobby Sak, W. Bloomfields, Mich., Spec Racer, 25. 7. (12), Ralph Mayfield, Houston, Texas, Spec Racer, 25. 8. (9), Richard Doty, Haddon Heights, N.J., Spec Racer, 25. 9. (13), Charlie Shears, Houston, Texas, Spec Racer, 25. 10. (4), Keith Scharf, St. Louis, Mo., Spec Racer, 25. 11. (14), John Bowden, Lawrence, Kansas, Spec Racer, 25. 12. (11), Carey Folk, Memphis, Tenn., Spec Racer, 25. 13. (8), Wayne Hudek, Fayetteville, Ark., Spec Racer, 25. 14. (16), Jason Klein, Long Grove, Ill., Spec Racer, 25. 15. (18), Mark Hutchins, Lincoln, Neb., Spec Racer, 25. 16. (17), Rick Klein, Long Grove, Ill., Spec Racer, 24. 17. (15), Lee Romine, Natchitoches, La., Spec Racer, 18, Mech. 18. (10), Seainn Hendricson, Phoenix, Ariz., Spec Racer, 1, Mech. Time of race: 37 minutes, 22.024 seconds. Average speed: 72.256 miles-per-hour Margin of victory: .94500 seconds Lap leaders: # 28 1- 25 Warren Stilwell Fastest race lap: Denny Stripling, 1:28.891 (72.898 mph)