by slothead » Fri Jul 07, 2017 10:22 pm
Trans Am Challenge – race # 2 report:
After points were awarded for race 1, the standings were (pts):
1) Chappy - # 28 Camaro (15 pts)
2) CJR - #1J Javelin (12 pts)
3) BARC1 - #22 Mustang (10 pts)
4) Artus - #40 Camaro (9 pts)
5) Vonsirius - #13 Camaro (8 pts)
6) Pepsi62 - #42 Cuda (7 pts)
7) TL racing - #41 Cougar (6 pts)
8) CARacing - #8 Firebird (5 pts)
9) Tusco Todd - #1 Camaro (4 pts)
10) RMS racing - #2 Mustang (3 pts)
11) Arroldn - #77 Challenger (2 pts)
12) Hksks25 - #9 Camaro (1 pt)
During pre-race preparation the teams in points positions 9 – 12 were allowed to tune their cars. Roger Penske, original builder of Hksk25’s Sunoco Camaro, interceded on his behalf and provided another car, the #19 University of Pittsburgh ’68 Camaro for the team to use. Race officials allowed the swap because the Camaros were essentially identical while the #19 car appeared to be more competitive. The other cars were lubed and body screws adjusted for enhanced float.
The points standings were inverted to set the starting order for race #2. The #19 Camaro of Hksk25 led the field to the green flag with Chappy’s #28 Mustang starting in 12th position. There were no position changes during the first lap. On lap 2 RMS racing’s Mustang got by Arroldn’s Challenger for 2nd place and Vonsirius’ Camaro got by Pepsi62’s Cuda for 7th place.
By lap 10 the bright orange #13 Camaro of Vonsirius had powered it’s way to 2nd place and was chasing down the #19 Camaro of Hksk25 which was still in 1st place.
The race order at lap 10 was: 1) Hksk25, 2) Vonsirius, 3) RMS racing, 4) Artus, 5) Pepsi62, 6) CJR, 7) CARacing, 8) BARC1, 9) Tusco Todd, 10) Arroldn, 11) Chappy, 12) TL racing (due to spin on lap 7 which resulted in losing 7 positions).
Vonsirius’ Camaro caught and passed the leading Camaro of Hksk25 on lap 12. By lap 15 Artus’ Camaro had also gotten by Hksk25 for 2nd. The Javelin of CJR was 4th and the Mustang of RMS racing was 5th. CJR’s Javelin moved from it’s 11th place starting position to 4th, while Chappy’s Mustang inched it’s way from 12th to 9th, and remained caught up in traffic in the back half of the field.
On lap 16 CJR’s Javelin took over 3rd from Hksk25 and seemed to be on it’s way to the front, but the Camaros in 1st (Vonsirius) and 2nd (Artus) were setting a furious pace.
The race order at lap 20 was: 1) Vonsirius, 2) Artus, 3) CJR, 4) Pepsi62, 5) BARC1, 6) Hksk25, 7) RMS racing, 8) CARacing, 9) Tusco Todd, 10) TL racing, 11) Chappy (due to a spin on lap 19 during which it lost 2 positions), and 12) Arroldn.
By lap 25 the #22 Mustang of BARC1 got by Pepsi62’s Cuda for 4th position and Chappy had recovered from his spin and was back in 9th. On lap 27 Hksk25 got out of shape and lost 2 positions, falling from 3rd to 5th position. RMS racing’s #2 Mustang was now in 6th position.
Over the last 5 laps of this 35 lap race, the only position change was CARacing’s Firebird moving from 8th to 6th. The father and son duel of Camaros up front ended with Vonsirius holding onto the lead for the win.
Finishing order (race pts): 1) Vonsirius (15 pts) , 2) Artus (12 pts) , 3) BARC1 (10 pts), 4) Pepsi62 (9), 5) CJR (8 pts), 6) CARacing (7 pts), 7) RMS racing (6 pts), 8) Hksk25 (5 pts), 9) Chappy (4 pts) 10) TL racing (3 pts) , 11) Tusco Todd (2 pts), 12) Arroldn (1 pt).
CJR’s Javelin went from starting 11th to the 5th place finish position showing it’s still a formidable team despite not achieving a podium position. But perhaps the most impressive performance was Pepsi62’s SCX Cuda which held its own in the middle of the pack and eventually fought it’s way to a 4th place finish.
Point standings:
1) Vonsirius - #13 Camaro (23 pts)
2) Artus - #40 Camaro (21 pts)
3) BARC1 - #22 Mustang (20 pts) [tiebreaker is most recent finish]
4) CJR - #1J Javelin (20 pts)
5) Chappy - # 28 Camaro (19 pts)
6) Pepsi62 - #42 Cuda (16 pts)
7) CARacing - #8 Firebird (12 pts)
8) RMS racing - #2 Mustang (9 pts)
9) TL racing - #41 Cougar (9 pts)
10) Hksks25 - #19 Camaro (6 pt)
11) Tusco Todd - #1 Camaro (6 pts)
12) Arroldn - #77 Challenger (3 pts)
The cars in points positions 8 – 12 will get some tuning work and start up front for race #3.
Slothead