SCCA: Northeast Conference champs crowned

The 2016 Northeast Conference SCCA U.S. Majors Tour has come to a close. More than 800 challengers took part in Northeast Conference races this year, and the cream of the crop earned a Conference Championship.

Several Northeast Conference Champions earned their titles by just a handful of points. Daniel Richardson, driving a Chevrolet Camaro, won American Sedan by 18 points over Tom Sloe in a Ford Mustang. The margin of victory was 17 points for Ryan McManus in his GT1 Chevrolet Corvette over Scott Quaile's Chevrolet Camaro. In H Production, 14 points separated Champion Johannes Krauss in a VW Scirocco from runnerup Thomas Broring in his Triumph Spitfire. And it was only a dozen points that gave the Spec Racer Ford crown to Frank Vultaggio over Steven Spano.Two different Northeast Conference Championships came down to a difference of 10 points and were claimed by Formula Atlantic pilot Kerry Jacobsen, in a Swift 016-Mazda, over Sedat Yelkin's Swift 014; and Super Touring Under racer Matthew Rooke, in a BMW 325, over Chris Dercole's Ford Mustang. An additional three Championships were decided by only four scant points and went to Formula 500's Russell Strate Jr., in a Rocketech R2, who bested Scott Rudolph and his Rudolph Rb1; Prototype 1 ace Keith Carter behind the wheel of a Stohr WF1 who got the better of Alastair McEwan in an Elan DP02; and GT2 racer Aaron Quine who hoofed his Chevrolet Camaro to victory over the Corvette of Andrew Aquilante.The closest title fight, however, occurred in the B-Spec Class. During the back half of the Conference schedule, Felix Borodaty and Taylor Handwerk, both driving MINI Coopers, went headtohead at MidOhio, Watkins Glen and New Jersey Motorsports Park. In the end, it was Handwerk that claimed the crown by one single, solitary point.The Northeast Conference's 12round season began in April with Round One and Round Two at VIRginia International Raceway in Alton, Virginia. At the end of April, Round Three and Round Four took place at Summit Point Motorsports Park in West Virginia. Then in May, the Northeast Conference was greeted by cold, snowy conditions for Round Five and Round Six at Pittsburgh International Race Complex in Wampum, Pennsylvania. Round Seven and Round Eight were held at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio; and Round Nine and Round 10 in June at Watkins Glen International in New York. And finally, the last two Rounds took place in late July at New Jersey Motorsports Park in Millville, New Jersey.Conference points are awarded to the top 20 finishers in each Class. Winners earn 25 points, and 21 points go to second. Points are then doled out to others starting with 18 and descending to a single point for the 20th finisher. Only the best eight races count towards a driver's point total.Northeast Conference Champions with Class: Name, Hometown and Car:

American Sedan: Daniel Richardson; Derwood, MD; Chevrolet CamaroBSpec: Taylor Handwerk; Jim Thorpe, PA; MINI CooperE Production: Rick Kavitski; Freeland, PA; Mazda MiataF Production: Charlie Campbell; Corry, PA; Mazda MiataH Production: Johannes Krauss; Prattsville, NY; VW SciroccoFormula 1000: Alex Mayer; Harleysville, PA; JDR F1000Formula Atlantic: Kerry Jacobsen; DeLand, FL; Swift 016 MazdaFormula Continental: Douglas Rocco; Sandisfield, MA; Van Diemen DPO28Formula 500: Russell Strate Jr.; Alden, NY; Rocketech R2Formula Enterprises: Justin Huffman; Herndon, VA; Van Diemen FSCCAFormula F: Neil Verhagen; Mooresville, NC; Honda MygaleFormula Mazda: Matt Machiko; Wexford, PA; Formula MazdaFormula Vee: Richard Shields; Bridgeville, PA; VDF2GT1: Ryan McManus; Westfield Center, OH; Chevrolet CorvetteGT2: Aaron Quine; Medina, OH; Chevrolet CamaroGT3: James Ashe; Prospect, CT; Mazda RX7GTLite: Graham Fuller; Martinsburg, WV; Honda CRXPrototype 1: Keith Carter; Calabogie, ON; Stohr WF1Prototype 2: Vincent LaManna; Ontario, NY; Tiga Lincspd SC80Spec Miata: Tyler Kicera; Manheim, PA; Mazda MiataSpec Racer Ford: Frank Vultaggio; Apalachin, NY; SCCA Enterprises SRFSpec Racer Ford 3: Scott Rettich; Columbus, OH; SCCA Enterprises SRF3Super Touring Lite: Robert Beede; Northampton, MA; Honda CivicSuper Touring Under: Matthew Rooke; Hoboken, NJ; BMW 325Touring 1: Joseph Gaudette; Manassas, VA; Chevrolet CorvetteTouring 2: Marty Grand; Manassas Park, VA; Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IXTouring 3: Chad Gilsinger; Marysville, OH; Acura TL SHAWDTouring 4: Christopher Collins; Germantown, MD; Mazda Miata