T1- Qualifying
1. John Buttermore, Jr., C6 LS2 2:25.195
2. Jim Lynch, Viper 2:26.559
3. Chris Ingle, C6 LS3 2:26.793
4. Jason Berkeley, C5 2:27.298
5. Mike Tracy, Jr. C6 LS3 2:27.941
6. Mike Tracy, Sr., C5 2:28.468
7. Scott Grissom, C5 2:46.870
T1- Race Results
1. John Buttermore, Jr., C6 LS2 2:25.578
2. Jim Lynch, Viper 2:27.774
3. Chris Ingle, C6 LS3 2:27.977
4. Mike Tracy, Jr. C6 LS3 2:28.147
5. Jason Berkeley, C5 2:27.935
6. Mike Tracy, Sr., C5 2:30.546
7. Scott Grissom, C5 2:38.442
A great race. John Buttermore kicked all of our butts, and drove away from all of us. Jim Lynch, Chris Ingle, and I were all less than a second apart for the entire race until my serpentine belt came off with half a lap to go (between turns 3 and 5).
Both Mike Tracys made a couple of nice passes, and managed to get around me on the first lap. I got Mike Sr. back in turn 5 on the next lap, who tried going side-by-side on the outside of turn 5, and couldn't hang-on to it, and Mike Jr. a couple of laps later, and then set sail to close the gap to Ingle. After about three laps or so I worked my way to within a couple of car lengths of Ingle, who had Lynch one or two car lengths ahead of him. I had nothing for these guys in terms of getting close enough to attempt a pass. With about three or four laps to go, the car started to get a little loose, and I dropped to maybe 20 car lengths behind of the Ingle-Lynch show. This let Mike Tracy get close-up for a bit, but I held him off, and eventually pulled a gap again, after making one last push. Ingle and Lynch made a bunch of passes and re-passes on each other the last two or three laps. I was hoping maybe they would push each other a bit too much and make a mistake so I might skate through- but they drove clean and made it home to a great finish.
Going down into turn 5 on the last lap, I lost my power steering, the coolant temp warnings lit-up coming out of 6 with coolant steam spraying out down through 7, and I spun in my own coolant as the car went into limp mode at the apex of turn 8. I got rolling in limp mode (what a god-awful sound!), and Mike Tracy Jr passed my hapless ride to take 4th, while I took the checker limping into pit-lane. Serpentine belt MIA. Bummer!
A great race in T1 between everyone- and a fantastic drive by JB Jr! Big thanks to the Tracys for some help in terms of a shifter re-alignment (lots of false neutrals on the 4-3 downshift on Friday and Saturday), and giving me a front brake line, when mine wouldn't seal against the caliper when I put new calipers on the car before the race (yes- I tried new crush washers first). The Tracys and the Buttermores are two great families and lots of fun hanging out with them at the track, and at Seibkins and the Victorian Village Tiki Bar.
Fun seeing Joe Gaudette up there too, who was helping-out Chris Ingle for the weekend, and was adamant that he would be there with his ride next season.
Huge crowds at the track- just a great environment. The Runoffs here are going to be phenominal!
Jason Berkeley
#57 T1 Corvette
BMG Management / Central Auto Body / Pabst