SCCA Northern Conference Majors at GingerMan

Warmer temperatures brought exciting racing for the Sports Car Club of America's Eighth Round of the SCCA Northern Conference U.S. Majors Tour at GingerMan Raceway.

In the first race of the day, Spec Miata set the bar for racing action. Justin Hille started on the pole with his No. 48 Hilltrux Mazda Miata, then fell back to 14th on the first lap due to a stutter in the engine. After two laps, the issue corrected itself and Hille started his march back to the front. By lap seven, Hille was up to fifth and catching the lead pack of four cars quickly.On lap ten, Hille took the fourth position. Then on lap 11, he made up two additional positions. His final target was the No. 9 Roush/Caldwell Race Prep Miata of Michael Novak. On the 12th lap, Hille got beside Novak in turn three but wasn't able to hold on, falling back to second by turn six. Two laps later, he was able to initiate a pass in turn two, clear Novak by the exit of turn three, and never look back. Hille's final margin of victory over Novak was nearly eight seconds.By the late afternoon, the heat index had officially reached 82 degrees, but anywhere around the facility at GingerMan Raceway felt much warmer as the sun shone down on the paddock and new asphalt racing surface. The second to last race group of the day was led off the grid by the No. 00 JDR F1000 of Nicho Vardis. Vardis was challenged throughout the race by fellow FB driver Tyler Thielmann in his SO Bright LLC/Moons Super Cycle/Phoebe Products JDR 012.For the first half of the race, Thielmann looked to be in a strong position to challenge Vardis. At the half-way mark, he made several strong looks to the inside and outside of Vardis but was not able to pass. Vardis continued to make his car fill the entire track, keeping Thielmann from having a passing opportunity. Eventually, the sustained pressure caused Thielmann to make an error, allowing Vardis to stretch out a comfortable 9-second lead. The final margin of victory was less, five seconds, but still plenty to give Vardis his first U.S. Majors Tour Victory of the season.The Northern Conference Majors Tour returns to action with Rounds Nine and 10, July 25-26 at Road America.Full results and interviews with the winners of Sunday's races are available on SCCA.com.Official winners from Sunday's SCCA Northern Conference U.S. Majors Tour Round Eight at GingerMan Raceway, with class, name, hometown and car.American Sedan: Andy McDermid, Howell, Mich., Ford MustangB-Spec: David Daughtery, Fortville, Ind., Honda FitE Production: Joe Moser, Wilmette, Ill., Honda PreludeF Production: Michael Sturm, Grafton, Wis., Mazda MiataH Production: Greg Gauper, Hubertus, Wis., Honda CivicFormula 500: James Weida, West Lafayette, Ind., Scorpion W1/RotaxFormula 1000: Nicho Vardis, Sylvan Lake, Mich., JDR F1000Formula Atlantic: David Bleke, Franklin, Ind., Swift 014Formula Continental: Yufeng Luo, Arcadia, Cal., Van Diemen DP08Formula Enterprises: Hanna Zeller, Granger, Ind., Formula Enterprises/FordFormula F: Tim Kautz, Geneva, Ill., Piper DF3D/HondaFormula Mazda: Steve Johncock, Bellevue, Mich., Star MazdaFormula Vee: Michael Varacins, Burlington, Wis., Speedsport AM-5/VolkswagenGT-1: Michael Lewis, Poway, Calif., Jaguar XKRGT-2: Mark Boden, Buffalo Grove, Ill., Porsche 997 GT3 CupGT-3: Joe Kristensen, London, Ont., Acura RSXGT-Lite: Joel Hipp, Norwalk, Ohio, Austin MiniPrototype 1: James Cain, Hartland, Mich., Staudacher S12Prototype 2: Greg Gyann, Willowbrook, Ill., Stohr WF1Super Touring Under: Charles Tobel, New Hudson, Mich., Pontiac SolsticeSuper Touring Lite: John Schmitt, Sunbury, Ohio, Honda PreludeSpec Miata: Justin Hille, Canfield, Ohio, Mazda MiataSpec Racer Ford Gen 3: Bobby Sak, Mattawan, Mich., Spec Racer FordSpec Racer Ford: Adam Gottlieb, Wilmette, Ill., Spec Racer FordTouring 1: John Buttermore, Wolverine Lake, Mich., Chevrolet CorvetteTouring 2: Tim Kezman, Franksville, Wis., Porsche GT3Touring 3: J Patrick Womack, Burr Ridge, Ill., BMW Z4Touring 4: Voytek Burdzy, Shiller Park, Ill., Mazda MX-5Photo: Justin Hille takes a victory lap after claiming a Spec Miata victory at the Eighth Round of the SCCA Northern Conference U.S. Majors Tour at GingerMan RacewayCredit: Nate Vestal, RedLinePhoto.com