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Rounds 4 and 5 of the NASA Texas American Iron and Camaro Mustang Challenge Series saw the racers visiting the roval course at Texas World Speedway and the wide open plains of the Hallett Motor Circuit in Oklahoma. The TWS event saw an interesting twist in geography as the weekend was the swan song for Evil Black Camaro pilot Mike Patterson before his departure to California and two California racers, Bill Daffron and Ryan Flaherty, joined the grid for the weekend. Flaherty immediately got out to a strong start in practice, but John George secured the pole for the first race by fractions of a second. In the first race of the weekend, George, Patterson, and Flaherty had a great battle that saw George coming out on top with Patterson and Flaherty in the next two spots. Unfortunately, the race also included a ventilated oil pan for Bill Daffron which sent the first of the California boys back to the bullpen and sent David Armstrong on for the AIX win. The second race for Saturday saw George, Patterson and Flaherty again battling but misfortune struck again when Flaherty's motor took a dive near the beginning of the race. This left George and Patterson to duke it out with George coming out on top and Richard Pedersen in the third spot. In CMC, the finishing order for Race 1 showed Varner, Covini, and Landrum on the podium. Bishop backed into the wall on lap 2 and damaged his new CMC car. Saturday's CMC Race 2 put Varner in the #1 spot, followed by Covini and Liebbe who came from the back of the field to take his first podium of the season. Runyon backed into the wall @ T3, with blown rear hatch glass, and crushed rear quarter, but the entire pits came alive to help him and Bishop get both cars ready for Sunday's racing. Armstrong again took the AIX win. Sunday's AI race saw another duo of excellent battles between George and Patterson with Patterson taking both wins in a fine departure from the Lone Star State. Richard Pedersen again secured third place in both of Sunday's races. In CMC, Varner was on the pole with a smoking 2:00.038. Race 1's finishing order was Burch with his first win of the season, Varner, and Landrum. In Race 2, Varner and Brooks bumped in T1 at the start, which sent Varner on a short flight that resulted in a blown tire. After a great battle the finishing order was Landrum on top followed by Burch and Covini. Armstrong continued on with the AIX wins for both races. The racers next visited Hallett Motor Circuit in Oklahoma for some more close action. In CMC, Wayne Manor swept the top podium spot in both races on Saturday with his new #38 CMC Mustang and crushed from the 2004 time of 1:31.366 to a 1:29.213, set by Manor. Saturday's Race 1 CMC finishing order was Manor, Varner, Rueth. Saturday's Race 2 CMC finishing order was Manor, Rueth, Varner. In AI, John George's #23 swept the top podium spot. R1 with Pedersen and and Donovan close behind. R2 showed Jeff Brooks with a 3rd place finish after Donovan spins. AIX saw David Armstrong with the win followed by Tracy Alvey for both races. Sunday's CMC Race 1 saw Varner, Rueth and Manor involved in some bumping, causing damage to Varner's #17 Mustang, taking him out for the rest of the day. Manor was subsequently disqualified for a retaliatory hit on Rueth and Rueth was disqualified as well, making the podium Landrum, Burch, Runyon. Lewis "I was tenth" Tanner took the #5 car from 10th to 4th to win the Hard Charger award. For Sunday's CMC Race 2 with the top cars out, it was anyone's race. There was much position swapping throughout the field, with a finishing order of Landrum, Runyon, and Rueth. The AI Sunday races saw George again winning with Pedersen and Donovan taking the next two spots. Brooks went out on lap 3 with a grenaded motor, but takes it off track to save the cleanup. AIX saw a repeat of Saturday's finishes with Armstrong and Alvey in their same spots for both races. The racers will finish the season on November 5-6, 2005 with a final race at Motorsport Ranch. Submit Article |
