SCCA: Big fields open Hoosier Super Tour

With around 400 entries for the first-ever Hoosier Racing Tire SCCA Super Tour, there were high expectations for fantastic competition from Sebring International Raceway in Florida this weekend. Those expectations were met at the drop of the green flag Saturday in the very first race.

The Formula F field led Group 1 to the start line and immediately began to thrill spectators watching alongside the historic 3.7-mile, 17-turn circuit. Zach Holden held the lead at the start, but was soon overtaken by Roman DeAngelis. A few laps later it was David Livingston who slipped into the lead. But throughout the first half of the race, five fierce competitors battled it out upfront in the FF class. As the race moved on, John Benson in his No.7 Advanced Borehole Services/Cricket Farm Motors/Lee Racing Swift DB3 took the lead and held on for the win.

"It's a competitive crowd," Benson said of the FF field. "Really tight racing at the start. But we found some traffic and I managed to get through it. Then for the rest of the race I was just hammering away."

When it comes to crowds, the Spec Miata class knows a thing or two. For Saturday's race, a total of 76 cars took the start. Alex Bolanos grabbed the early lead, chased by Selin Rollan, Jim Drago, Danny Steyn and Todd Lamb. After the contest's halfway point, Bolanos, Drago and Lamb managed a threecar breakaway at the front. As time ticked down, Bolanos and Drago found themselves in a side-by-side battle at points around the track. Neither driver gave an inch right through the final corners, but Drago emerged victorious in his No. 2 East Street Racing/ Hoosier Mazda Miata.

"I started fourth, but knew I had to catch Alex quick because he'd been fast all weekend," Drago said. "His car started to go away a little bit before mine, and I got around him. But he started pressuring me again. It was a great race. I feel like I raced against four or five of the best drivers in amateur racing."

Not to be outdone, the Spec Racer Ford and Spec Racer Ford Gen3 classes put 64 challengers on track for the Group 2 race. At the end of the opening lap, the first six cars, all SRF3s, were within a second of one another. A full-course caution midrace bunched everyone back together, but after a few laps it was Clay Russell, Tray Ayres and Brian Schofield in the hunt for a win. The "Clay and Tray" show proved enthralling on the final lap, but it was Russell who came out ahead in his No. 31 ComprentAngry Llama SRF3 racecar.

"I had some very fast drivers behind me and they were in my mirrors the whole time," Russell said. "On the last lap, I knew Ayers was faster in some areas and he was going to get by me on the front straightaway. But coming out of the hairpin, I had a run on him and stuck my car in there and held him off."

A second day of Hoosier Super Tour competition from Sebring International Raceway begins Sunday at 8:30am local time with 14lap or 35minute races. Follow all the action live at www.scca.com/live.

Provisional race results from Saturday's Hoosier Super Tour at Sebring International Raceway 

Class: Name, Hometown and Car:

American Sedan: Thomas Ellis; Pompano Beach, FL; Ford Mustang
BSpec: John Phillips III; Sealy, TX; Honda Fit
E Production: Kip Van Steenburg; New Smyrna Beach, FL; Porsche 944S2
F Production: Ken Kannard; East Troy, WI; Mazda Miata
H Production: Ron Bartell; Madbury, NH; MG Midget
Formula 1000: Shane Prieto; Lake Worth, FL; Firman RFR100
Formula 500: Jack Walbran; Saint Louis, MO; Scorpion F500
Formula Atlantic: Spencer Brockman; Westport, CT; Swift 014 2005
Formula Continental: Robert Allaer; Lithia, FL; Van Diemen Rf
Formula Enterprise: Flinn Lazier; Vail, CO; Mazda
Formula F: John Benson; Dade City, FL; Swift DB3
Formula Mazda: Carson Weeder; Winter Haven, FL; Formula Mazda
Formula Vee: Stevan Davis; Danielsville, GA; Racer's Wedge Sb1
GT1: Simon Gregg; Ponte Vedra, FL; Chevrolet Corvette
GT2: Ernie Francis Jr.; Dania, FL; Chevrolet Corvette
GT3: Bill McGavic; Arcadia, FL; Mazda RX7
GTLite: Michael Kamalian; Marietta, GA; Mazda Miata
Prototype 1: Jacek Mucha; Highland Beach, FL; Mazda Jmscps
Prototype 2: Sherman Chao; Palm Beach, FL; Stohr Wf1
Spec Miata: Jim Drago; Memphis, TN; Spec Miata
Spec Racer Ford 3: Clay Russell; Spartanburg, SC; Spec Racer Ford Gen3
Spec Racer Ford: Scott Rettich; Columbus, OH; Spec Racer Ford
Super Touring Lite: Danny Steyn; Fort Lauderdale, FL; Mazda MX5
Super Touring Under: Michael Flynn; Eustis, FL; BMW 325
Touring 1: Andrew Aquilante; Chester Springs, PA; Ford Mustang
Touring 2: Preston Calvert; Potomac, MD; Ford Mustang
Touring 3: Todd Lamb; Atlanta, GA; Mazda MX5
Touring 4: Don Knowles; Pittsboro, NC; Mazda RX8

Photo: Kip Van Steenburg took his German Excellence Porsche 944S2 to an E Production win during the first day of Hoosier Racing Tire SCCA Super Tour competition at Sebring International Raceway.

Photo Credit: Digital Automotive Depictions