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V8GT1 |
V8GT2 |
V8GTA |
V8GTA |
V8SPO |
Race 9 & 10
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Race 9 & 10
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Race 9 |
Race 10 |
Race 9 & 10 |
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Latest Press Release |
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V8 StockCar's Excellent VIR Adventure
It is always a treat for the V8 StockCar Series racers to return to what many consider the greatest road racing facility in the United States, Virginia International Raceway. The picturesque, 3.27 mile, 18 turn circuit provides thrills and chills that few tracks can match.
Add in the near perfect racing weather, four groundpounding classes of V8 race cars and some great competition and you have one  terrific weekend of motorsports for drivers and fans alike.
In Saturday qualifying, Charlotte, Vermont's Dave Machavern once again put his Heritage Motorsports Corvette on the overall and V8 GT-1 class pole with a record setting 1:54.2 clocking over Clint Thomas and Bill Smith in their winged stock cars. The V8 GT2 contingent was led by Maysville, NC's Steve Epley in his beautiful red C6 Z06 Corvette. VIR hot shoe Scott Murphy, the overall pole sitter a year ago in his Corvette, brought out his ex Johnny Benson NASCAR CUP Pontiac Grand Prix and easily took the V8 SPO class pole. ARRC winner Ron Fariss edged out Kurt Roehrig and his brand new V8  GTA ride for the class top spot by just three one-thousand's
At the drop of the green on Saturday Machavern roared off with Thomas and Smith in hot pursuit. Thomas, somewhat unexpectedly was hanging tough with Machavern, the former Grand Am Rolex GTS champion, challenging him at almost every corner. Smith, not far behind, was pushing hard and on lap three went off in turn one eventuallly causing issues that would soon end his day. Machavern kept clicking off consistent fast laps and began to pull away from the determined Thomas. Thomas was later DQ'd for sound handing Leesburg, Virginia's Jim Mcaleese second in his C5 Corvette. In V8 GT2, Steve Epley ran one of his best races ever, cutting fast, precise laps and easily outdistanced the field mostly made up of Corvette's.
In V8 SPO, Thomasville, NC's Scott Murphy was on his "home turf" in one of the fastest road race stock cars anywhere and he was  having it all his way. Lee Arnold and Paul Breehne battled hard for second, with Arnold prevailing at the checker.
V8 GTA looked to be a barnburner between Fariss and Roehrig, and it was for a couple laps, however both succumbed to mechanical maladies leaving the door open for Herndon, VA's Rob Moriss to grap his first win in his series debut.
The weekend was also the debut of V8Radio on the RaceTalkRadio.com network. Race reporter Doc Love was enjoying working his first road race and did a great job keeping up with the on track action and later interviewed our winners, sponsors, and other competitors in Victory Lane.
Sunday Morning, Machavern put his Riggins Competition built and prepped 'Vette on the overall pole again. Steve Epley made it two  for two for Corvette setting the standard for V8 GT2. Murphy and his 800 plus horsepower Grand Prix grapped the V8 SPO pole with
a 1:58 and change clocking, beating out Rich Koehler and Lee Arnold.
Clint Thomas and Smith were unable to make Sunday's show leaving Machavern to put on a clinic for everyone else, easily winning overall. In V8 SPO, Murphy and Koehler pulled away from Arnold, Soucy and Breehne. On lap 6 Koehler, who had just cut the class' fast lap had an off ending his day, leaving no one to challenge Murphy and he was home free for the win. Lee Arnold grapped second in the class with Phil Soucy third and Paul Breehne fourth.
In V8 GTA Lexington, Kentucky's Randy Walker followed up with his second win of the year after breaking out at PBIR in February.
The V8 Series racers will return to action in July at another track where you have to "man up," the double tough Road Atlanta circuit.
The V8 Series thanks its' marketing partners: SCCA, North Carolina Region, VIR, RaceTalkRadio.com, TrackTek Race Fuels,Hoosier, Goodyear, Mo's Gold,Howe, FiveStar, RaceCar Engineering, DRP, RacingJunk.com, Roehrig-Enders, GrassRoots Motorsports Magazine, Racing Limo's, Dash Racewear, SaferRacer, Randy Lajoie and Hess Racing Products.
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Bill Smith, the irascible driver of the "worlds fastest 55 Chevy Bel Air" (more accurately a winged super late model stock car) took the measure of all comers at the V8 StockCar Road Racing Series HESS RACING PRODUCTS points races April 25 & 26 at Roebling  Road Raceway. The series was running with the Buccaneer Region SCCA at their Jim Stark Memorial Races. The combination of Smith, crew chief extraordinaire Andrew Blaske and an 800 horsepower V8 GT1 rocket proved to be deadly to the competition.
During Saturday qualifying, Smith put his ride on the pole despite the treacherous track conditions encountered when a Camaro lost an engine in spectacular fashion, oiling down much of the circuit. In somewhat of a surprise, V8 GT2 fast guy Bob Mayer took the outside in his ex World Challenge Corvette. 2008 series champ Dave Machavern layed down a couple of easy laps then came down  pit road to let traffic clear a bit, only to find the session black flagged. The easy laps relegated him to third overall on the grid. Saturday afternoon at the checker, Smith made it into turn one first, followed by Machavern, who simply outpowered Mayer's much less powerful V8 GT2 entry. Smith and Machavern ran nose to tail for a number of laps before encountering a gaggle of backmarkers, resulting in a several second lead for Smith as he scooted through the slower cars cleanly, with Machavern getting chopped off and hung up a bit. Machavern made a game effort to close the gap but ran out of time, finishing less than a second back at the checker.
Back behind the front running duo, there was great racing through out the group in the four classes. Lee Arnold charged from his back of the pack starting spot, to third overall and  first in V8 SPO ahead of Paul Breehne in the DANISA ENTERPRISES Ford Fusion and Tad Segars in his HY POXY Monte Carlo. In the V8 GTA class there was great nose to tail racing between Tony Amico (CADDY'S ON THE BEACH Monte Carlo), Tom Graham in the FINANCIAL FEEDOM Ford Taurus and Kentuckian Randy Walker. Walker led early but an axle failure sidelined his Monte Carlo and Amico led Graham to the checker. Florida racer Bill Minnear took third in the AIRCADIA Monte Carlo.
In the new V8 GT2 class for ex World Challenge GT type cars and the like, Duluth, Georgia's Bob Mayer, piloting his ex Scotty B White Corvette was flying, He layed down a 1:13 and change qualifying lap, a standard that may stand  a while and then ran third overall in the race until a failure of a brake caliper bracket slowed him a bit. Mayer was still quick enough to take the class win over Ed Lewis in his beautiful black Z06 Corvette and newcomer Tres Childs in his C6 Vette.
Looking to avenge his Saturday loss, Dave Machavern wanted to get the pole in a bad way for the Sunday race. Machavern did just that, laying down a 1:10 and change lap in his HERITAGE AUTOMOTIVE GROUP Corvette that Smith was not able to match, as he was suffering some braking issues. At the green for Sunday's race Machavern held off Smith's charge and led into  one and stayed there until lap three when Smtih closed to his bumper coming out of turn nine onto the front straight then powering by. Machavern hung close for a couple of laps before Smith once again used lapped traffic to effectively open a gap on the Corvette. Ray Webb made a nice charge through the field after a lackluster qualifying effort to come home third in V8 GT1 in his KENCO SIGNS Olds Cutlass. In V8 GT2, Mayer was again unstoppable and easily led Lewis and Childs to the checker and Arnold and Amico repeated in V8 SPO and V8 GTA respectively.
Next up for the group is storied Virginia International Raceway on May 9th & 10th. The historic track just outside Danville is a favorite of the V8 Racers.
The V8 Series thanks the Buccaneer Region SCCA and its' workers for hosting another great event and looks forward to racing with them again at the SIC in October.
As always the Series thanks its' marketing partners:
SCCA, Buccaner Region, Mo's Gold, Hoosier, Goodyear, RaceCar Engineering, FiveStar, Howe, DRP, RacingJunk.com, Racing Limo's, Roehrig-Enders Suspension, GrassRoots Motorsports Magazine, Dash Racewear, and Hess Racing Products
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NO STIMULUS PACKAGE NEEDED, AS V8 RACERS BLAZE THROUGH FLORIDA
The V8 StockCar Series racers don't need no stinkin' stimulus package; just the opportunity to turn up the wick on their red hot stock car and GT racers. They came from as far away as New Hampshire, Vermont, Kansas, Kentucky and the Carolina's to do battle with the Florida contingent at the series "Winter Heat" openers at PBIR and Sebring.
Running with the PBOC group for the first time at the all new Palm Beach International Raceway many of the V8 Racers took the opportunity to get to know the track on the Friday test day and by Saturday qualifying were already cutting some impressive lap times.
Charlotte, Vermont's Dave Machavern was there in his customary spot at the front in his Heritage Motorsports Corvette. Machavern led wire to wire both days, with Jon "Chevy" Leavy taking second overall in his Rocketsports Camaro on Saturday.
Lee Arnold got the V8 SPO win both days despite being constantly pushed by Paul Breehne in his flyin Ford Fusion. Former Nascar Dash Champ Larry Hoopaugh had his cup style Monte Carlo out on the edge as he gave chase.
The action was hot n heavy in the V8 GTA class usually with four to five cars constantly nose to tail. Kansas Tornado Ron Keith got the Saturday win with Kentuckian Randy Walker getting his first career win on Sunday after a sterling duel with Gary Grubbs in his first racing weekend in more than a dozen years. Grubbs had not forgotten how to do this, as he was fast from the moment he climbed into the Mike Cope Racing prepared Monte Carlo.
Bob Turnage got the first ever win in the new V8 GT-2 class in his ex Grand Am Corvette.
Most of the out of state contingent stayed in Florida as the Sebring event was now less than a week away.
V8 Racers were greeted with clear skies and temperatures in the 70's for the Sebring round of Winter Heat. Nearly thirty cars were on hand to test the famous 12 hour course.
In a mild surprise, Charles "Quick" Wicht took the overall and V8 GT-1 pole in his winged Monte Carlo over Machavern's C6 Vette and "Babe" Branscombe in his ex Grand Am series C5 Vette. In the V8 SPO class "Crazy Paul" Breehne was liking the new set up by crew chef Mike Breault and edged out Arnold for the class pole.
That Kansas Tornado Ron Keith was at it again showin' his tailights to the V8 GTA group in qualifying, besting Sebring veterans Tony Amico, Jay Marshall. Tom Graham and the rest.
Michael Wheeler took the V8 GT-2 point in his beautiful Porsche GT3 Cup car over the quick BMW M3 of Cape Coral's Doug Wilson.
At the start of Saturday's race polesitter Charles Wicht broke a suspension piece and had to quickly pull out of the way. This created a few anxious moments for some of the group but for the most part everyone made it through unscathed.
With Wicht out of contention, Machavern pulled out a quick lead over second running Babe Branscombe and V8 SPO fast guys Lee Arnold and Paul Breehne. In V8 GTA, the front five of Ron Keith, Jay Marshall, Tony Amico, Tom Graham, and Randy Keith were swapping positions every lap and the pace was clearly faster than any V8 GTA group ever.
At the checker, Machavern got the overall win with Arnold second overall and first in V8 SPO. Branscombe faded a bit at the end with mechanical issues but held on to second in V8 GT-1 and third overall. Breehne succumbed near the end to a motor problem allowing Jerry Douglas the runner up spot in V8 SPO. Rob McElheny ran strong in his Camaro, coming in fourth overall and third in V8 GT-1.
In V8 GTA Jay Marshall held off Ron Keith and Tony Amico for the win. Doug Wilson got the V8 GT-2 win in his BMW M3 over Paul Gordon in his Koni Challenge Mustang and George Corso in his Koni 350 Z.
Sunday had the sam e great weather and featured the return of Charles Wicht in his pole sitting winged Monte Carlo as the crew repaired the broken part overnight.
Starting from the pole Wicht used the torque of his 18 degree small block Chevy to good advantage and jumped out to a quick several second lead over Machavern. From there though Machavern came clawing back, closing in about a second a lap. Unfortunately for Dave he ran out of laps and at the finish was still about five car lengths behind the hard driving Wicht. Lee Arnold again took the honors in V8 SPO with Jerry Douglas second and Bill Minnear third.
The V8 GTA race again was hard fought, with Marshall winning again in his Mike Cope Racing prepared Impala over Randy Keith and George Lutich.
Doug Wilson ran his best laps of the weekend in his well prepared M3 again besting the Mustang of Paul Gordon.
 All in all, another great weekend of racing for the V8 racers. When asked recently why the V8 series participation remains high despite a cool economy, founder Lee Arnold responded, " I think it is because racers are always looking for the best bang for the buck." Where else can you compete in safe, 170 mph race cars at storied tracks against fierce competition for so few bucks." "It's racing that makes sense."
The V8 series moves to Carolina Motorsports Park March 28 & 29 for the Hoopaugh Grading Twins.
V8 StockCar thanks it partners:PBOC, SCCA, Central Florida Region SCCA, Mo's Gold, Hoosier, Goodyear, RaceCar Engineering, FiveStar, Howe, DRP, RacingJunk.com, Racing Limo's, Roehrig-Enders Suspension, GrassRoots Motorsports Magazine, and Dash Racewear.
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2008 V8 STOCK CAR SEASON IN REVIEW
The V8 StockCar Road Racing Series' 2008 season, its' fifth anniversary, was an unqualified success story. Despite a serious  economic slowdown and sky high fuel prices, V8 racers still found their way to track. Two venues, VIR and Daytona experienced their largest, most talented fields ever. All of the ten race weekends were well attended and with the best competition ever.
Winning in any V8 StockCar class got a whole lot tougher in 2008, taking nothing less than a professional effort to get the job done. Former Grand Am Champion
Dave Machavern showed up to do battle in V8 GT-1 in his Tommy Riggins built C6 Corvette and quickly demonstrated he was going to be the man to beat.
Machavern got two wins on the opening weekend at Sebring and never looked back enroute to seven more wins and the class championship. The Riggins Competition crew always had the Heritage Motorsports rocket ready to rumble enab ling Machavern to set two new track records at Sebring and Daytona erasing standards set by fast guys Tony Ave and Jeff Emery. Daytona's Ray Webb rode multiple podium finishes to second place in the points chase. Bill Riddell had two wins in 2008 in his ex Tommy Riggins Buick V8 GT-1 and will be back in 2009 in a brand new 1963 Ford Falcon racer. You'll have to see it to believe it. Charles Wicht and Bill Smith converted their already super fast late model stock cars to V8 GT-1 configuration later in the year, garnering wins at Road Atlanta & Daytona (Wicht) and Roebling Road (Smith) the duo look to upset Machavern's plans of repeating in 2009.
In the V8 GTA class, the action was hot-n-heavy, often with a dozen or so cars quick enough to challenge for a win. The championship went down to the wire at the ARRC with both points leader Tony Amico and Tom "Hollywood" Graham having problems yet Amico emerging the champ by just four points. Both Amico and Graham improved remarkably upon their 2007 performance with Tony taming his aggressive driving style just a bit, resulting in multiple wins and  Graham seemingly getting faster in the car at every round. Other GTA drivers who were a force during the year were 2007 Champ Jay Marshall, Daytona winner Bob Stretch, Ron Fariss, Ron Keith, Bob Davis, Randy Gay, George Lutich, Roger and Bobby Reuse, Kenny Liesfeld and more. Nascar Nationwide series racer Scott Lagasse Jr made his first road racing start ever with V8 StockCar at Daytona in a V8 GTA. Scott showed he has the knack for turning right as well coming home second in his first weekend. Look for this class to be even more hotly contested in 2009.
In V8 SPO, the big story was the emergence of Paul Breehne Jr. Breehne, wheeling one of the few Ford powered entry's, a Fusion prepped in the Riggins Competition shop, was improving at every outing and showed a remarkable ability to quickly get up to speed at tracks he had never seen before. Breehne garnered two wins at Sebring and also the ARRC at Road Atlanta, ultimately finishing second in the points race to Lee Arnold. Danny Foster used an ex Ganassi Racing Dodge to his advantage in 2008, running strong and taking his first win at Daytona no less. Former three time Nascar Dash series champ Larry Hoopaugh made his first start in the series also getting a win at Daytona. Hoopaugh's steed was an ex ARCA car prepped by ARCA star Bob Schacht. Schacht himself competed at VIR and was fast in his new ARCA road racer, Bob will test the V8 SC waters again at the Winter Heat at PBIR and Sebring. Doug Sanders in his Baucom Motorsports prepared cup car picked up his second career series win in V8 SPO win, getting it done at the SIC at Roebling Road. In 2009 look for former Florida late model racer, Robert "Bubba" Longbottom to be a strong challenger for class wins. Longbottom picked up the super fast ex Scott Murphy road race late model chassis and has acquired a hot 18 degree Chevy small block to go with it. Also returning in 2009 will be road racing legend Gene Felton in one of his ex Nascar Cup cars. Felton, 72 years young set a new track record at Road Atlanta in 2008.
Rich Koehler will bring out his fast super late model type racer in 2009. Koehler broke the VIR track record last year and was running away with the class win before suffering a late race accident. Scott Murphy will probably alternate between his fast V8 SPO stock car and his even faster V8 GT-1 Corvette. "Slideways" Murphy is crazy fast and entertaining every time he shows up.
Bosco Logsdon and SqueaK Kennedy will again share their V8 SPO Monte Carlo while the build of their new V8 GT-2 Corvette is in progress.
In 2009, V8 StockCar will add the V8 GT-2 class for ex World Challenge cars, Koni Challenge racers, Grand Am GT cars and similar performing sports cars.
Look for 2008 SCCA SE Division Champ Bob Mayer to be a front runner in his ex Scotty B White World Challenge C6 Corvette, as well as Tom Wilson in an ex Archer Brothers Viper, and Ed Lewis, Steve Epley , Henry Gilbert in Z06 'Vettes. Husband and wife racers Ed and Kim Braswell will be competitive in their World Challenge type Corvette's whenever they show up, as well as IMSA and SCCA veteran Al Wicht in his ex World Challenge Camaro or his ultra reliable winged 5.0 Mustang.
The 2009 season will kick off with the "Winter Heat" at PBIR February 14 & 15 and then move to Sebring the following week.
Come check out V8 StockCar in 2009, America's favorite stock car and GT road racing series.
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KERRY ALEXANDER TAKES THE ARRC
Machavern, Amico & Arnold are Class Champs
The American Road Race of Champions was a fitting finale to the 2008 V8 StockCar season. The cool but clear weather, the incredibly challenging Road Atlanta circuit and thirty five very competitive race teams ensured big noise and big excitement. Racer's like California's  Rudy Revak, travelled from all over the country to test the North Georgia track that can quickly humble even the most talented of drivers.
After two rounds of qualifying on Friday, former Trans Am competitor and SCCA A Sedan national champ Kerry Alexander stood a top of the overall order at a fast 1:24.8 clocking. Alexander's effort was just one tenth off of Jeff Emery's track record. Alexander's ride was the Larry Beebe Racing Mustang prepped and sometime driven by Tony Ave. In all three Ave Racing race cars were in the top six on the grid. Bill Smith was second in his winged stockcar with Zach Monette third.
V8 GT-1 points leader and seven time 2008 winner, Dave Machavern lost a motor in practice on Thursday, however the Riggins Competition crew had a new SB2 in place in time for qualifying. Machavern, who hadn't raced at Road Atlanta since 1983, and that a different configuration, was still getting reacquainted with the circuit and settled for fifth fastest just behind road racing legend Gene Felton's V8 SPO entry an ex Reed Sorenson Target Ganassi Dodge Cup car. Felton's 1:27 and change lap was his quickest lap ever in a stock car and took out Scott Murphy's class track record. All at 72 years young.
In V8 GTA, Bob Stretch put his Fix Rim, Wheels America Monte Carlo on the pole with record setting blast 1:29.xxx. Ron Fariss was second fastest with Butch Kummer gridding third.
Saturday's race went off under blue skies with the temperature around 60 degrees. Wild Bill Smith, sitting on the outside pole got the jump and out dragged Alexander to turn one. Smiths' lead didn't last long as he got the tranny stuck in third as he headed up the esses and Alexander was quickly gone. Smith retired,  leaving Zach Monette, Felton and Machavern to give chase.
In V8 GTA, leader Bob Stretch was quickly extending his lead until he had a tire go down just three laps into the race. Ron Fariss inherited the lead, one which he would not relinquish.
Up at the front Alexander had a comfortable lead over Zach Monette and Machavern was now beginning to get the track figured out and was starting to reel in Felton.
Along about lap 8 Tony Amico ended up in the sand trap at the bottom of 12 and about the same time Zach Monette tangled with a stock car and a full course caution flag was flying. Just before the double yellow, Paul breehne caught Lee Arnold for second in the V8 SPO class which would prove to be significant a few caution laps later when class leader Felton had to pull off with tranny problems.
The pace car picked up the field and they lapped under caution until the checker flew on lap 13.
Alexander got the overall and V8 GT-1 win over Machavern and Bob Monette. In V8 SPO Breehne took the win over Lee Arnold and in V8 GTA Ron Fariss bested Bob Davis and Gregg Rodgers.
In the season Class Championships, Machavern took the V8 GT-1 title over Ray Webb, In V8 SPO Arnold edged Breehne, and in V8 GTA Tony Amico edged Tom Graham by four points.
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SMITH TAKES NO PRISONERS AT ROEBLING
Bill Smith had heard about all the noise Charles Wicht has been making in the V8 series lately since adding a V8 GT-1 wing and rubber to his already fast super late model. Wicht has been winning overall and challenging V8 GT-1 track records wherever he shows up in his ex  Kevin Harvick SouthWest Tour Monte Carlo. Smith, who has long enjoyed beating up on the V8 GT-1 entry's in his V8 SPO class super late model and winning overall, knew what he had to do. Smith had crew chief Andrew Blaske add the needed wing and big rubber to the SB2 Chevy powered rocket to even things up. The impact was immediate as Smith put the big Chevy on the pole with a 1:09 and change clock that was some two seconds faster than he had gone before. Wicht was not far behind at 1:10.
When the green dropped for the race, Smith spun the tires in the big Chevy, getting  sideways, and had to check up a bit, scaring those behind him momentarily. Smith, however, quickly gathered it up and was off, cutting laps near his qualifying time and outpacing the game Wicht by about a second a lap. Charles was fighting a horrendous push in his racer but was still cutting laps around 1:10.
Back in third overall and in the V8 GT-1 class was Ray Webb running solidly in his Riggins Oldsmobile with its' new Byron Koury motor. Webb, who came into the event third in V8 GT-1 points looked to move past Bill Ridell, who did not race this event.
At the Checker, the order remained the same with Smith getting the overall and V8 GT-1 win. In V8 GTA, Tom "Hollywoo  d" Graham led briefly, but had an off that put him a straightway behind Tony Amico who went on to victory.
In V8 SPO, Doug Sanders got the win in his Baucom Motorsports prepared ex NASCAR cup Monte Carlo.
The V8 StockCar Series thanks the Buccaneer Region SCCA officials and w  orkers for another well run event.
The V8 group will be back in action November 7 & 8 at the American Road Race of Champions hosted by the Atlanta Region SCCA where some 40 plus stock cars and GT machines are expected.
V8 StockCar thanks it partners: SCCA, Buccaneer Region SCCA, Mo's Gold, Hoosier, Goodyear, RaceCar Engineering, FiveStar, Howe, DRP, RacingJunk.com, Racing Limo's, Roehrig-Enders Suspension, GrassRoots Motorsports Magazine, and Dash Racewear.
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HURRICANE GUSTAV DOMINATES V8 STOCKCAR SEBRING, RACECAR ENGINEERING
SPRINTS
Dave Machavern and his bad Corvette, V8 StockCar's Incredible Hulk, will go into the record book as the Labor Day weekends overall and V8 GT-1 clas s winner, but Hurricane Gustav was the big story. Gustav, churning in the Gulf of Mexico and with a reach of some 250 miles from it's center, kept delivering bands of squalls that dampened the track and the competition. Qualifying went off Saturday on a wet but drying track about 15 minutes after one of the bands of rain rolled through. Machavern cut a "fast for the conditions", 2:14 to take the V8 GT-1 pole over Rob McElhenny and his red Derhaag type Camaro, Kim Braswell in her 'Vette and Paul Gordon in his Grand Am Mustang. Lee Arnold took the V8 SPO honors with a 2:19 with ageless Bill Minnear taking the V8 GTA top spot. Minnear, who had lost a motor in his racer at the June Sebring event, got a surprise loan of a race car from competitor and  all around good guy Tom "Hollywood" Graham. Minnear paid him back by stealing the pole with Graham second. Sunday found Gustav not only still hanging around, but looking worse. After a few mid morning and early afternoon downpours V8 StockCar officials concluded things were not going to get any better. They chose to take points from the qualifying session and not put man and machine at risk with high horsepower and slick tires on the wet track.Machavern got the V8 GT-1 win, Arnold V8 SPO and Minnear his first V8 GTA win. The inclement weather spoiled the debut of Sherri Lutich in V8 GTA. Sherri, wife of former V8 StockCar Sebring winner George Lutich was on hand to get her first laps in a stockcar, more specifically, the fast ride of father in law Tony Amico. Sherri's regular ride is a Spec Miata, talk about a step up.
All was not lost during the weekend as the series announced the participation of two new marketing partners; TRACKTEK RACING  FUEL will now be the official Racing Fuel of the series and DASH RACEWEAR will now be the official racing safety equipment supplier to the series. A big thanks to Mike Croley of TrackTek and Paul Latella of Dash Racewear for their support.
V8 StockCar thanks it partners: SCCA, Central Florida Region SCCA, Mo's Gold, Hoosier, Goodyear, RaceCar Engineering, FiveStar, Howe, DRP, RacingJunk.com, Racing Limo's, Roehrig-Enders Suspension, and GrassRoots Motorsports Magazine
The V8 StockCar group will return to action September 20 and 21 at Roebling Road, Georgia, at the South Atlantic Road Race of Champions.
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HUGE FIELD, CLOSE COMPETITION, TRACK RECORDS ARE THE BUZZ AT THE DAYTONA MO'S GOLD TWINS
With the largest, most competitive field in V8 StockCar history on hand, and racers from as far away as California, Texas, Kansas, and Vermont, ther  e is little doubt the V8 StockCar Series has arrived. There was outstanding competition in all three classes and three new first time winners to boot.
At the very front, the faces were familiar as series "stars" Charles Wicht in his winged super late model Monte Carlo and Dave Machavern in his Heritage Motorsports Corvette split the overall and V8 GT-1 wins on Saturday and Sunday. Machavern, the V8 GT-1 points leader, already with six wins this year had a clutch failure in Saturday's race leaving Wicht firmly in control in his ex Kevin Harvick Sonoma winning South West Tour Monte Carlo. Wicht took the win over Gary Jensen in his Porsche, Bill Ridell, in his ex Tommy Riggins Championship ride, and Ray Webb in another Riggins built chassis. Wicht eclipsed the track record of former champ Jeff Emery during the race. In the V8 SPO class Danny Foster garnered his first series win at the helm of his ex Ganassi Racing Coors Light/Outback Dodge Charger.
The V8 GTA field was extremely competitive ex SPEED World Challenge winner Bob Stretch from Arlington, Texas took the top spot  over team mate
Gregg Rodgers and 2007 Champ Jay Marshall. Also running strong in the class were Ron Fariss, Kansas Tornado Ron Keith and Sebring winner, George Lutich.
Sunday Morning, The Heritage Motorsports/Riggins Engineering crew had replaced the clutch in Machavern's Corvette and he immediatley went out and re-set the V8 GT-1 standard at a fast 1:52.331. In the V8 SPO class three time NASCAR Dash series champ Larry Hoopaugh grabbed the class pole with a quick 1:59.490 in his Chevy SB2 powered ex ARCA stock car. Texan Bob Stretch took the V8 GTA point at 2:00.273.
At the drop of the green, Machavern roared off with Wicht in hot pursuit, but the Corvette  was really stretching it's legs, and Machavern's lead was increasing at about a second a lap margin. In V8 SPO Hoopaugh was out front running laps in the 1:58-1:59 range in his big stock car and holding a several second advantage over "Bosco" Logsdon in the MO'S GOLD Monte Carlo. In V8 GTA, Stretch was really flying, cutting consistent laps and running in the top six overall. From his middle of the pack starting spot, Nascar racer, Scott Lagasse Jr. was on the move in his ex ASA stock car
and he was now running laps equal to Stretch, this in only his first weekend in road racing. Around lap 7 a full course caution was called to remove the V8 GTA entry of Tom "Hollywood" Graham which had come to a stop just out of the chicane on the back straight. At the restart, Logsdon made a move on Hoopaugh in the chicane, getting by when Hoopaugh took the opportunity to do a little agricultural racing. Hoopaugh was relentless though and repassed in the tri-oval up high as the two approached a Porsche running about forty miles per hour slower. Up front, at the checker, Machavern had a six second advantage over the pursuing Wicht, with Bill Ridell coming home third in class and overall. Hoopaugh got his  first win in V8 SPO and Bob Stretch took the V8 GTA class over Lagasse Jr. and Bob Davis in third.
The Central Florida Region SCCA hosted and sanctioned the event with something like 370 cars in all six groups. Nobody handles the logistics of these big events better than these folks, and V8 StockCar thanks their officials and workers for the opportunity to race with them.
The V8 StockCar group will be back in Action Labor Day weekend at Historic Sebring International Raceway with another big field expected.
For more info on the series check out:
http://www.v8stockcar.com
V8 StockCar thanks it partners: SCCA, Central Florida Region SCCA, Mo's Gold, Hoosier, Goodyear, RaceCar Engineering, FiveStar, Howe, DRP, RacingJunk.com, Racing Limo's, Roehrig-Enders Suspension, and GrassRoots Motorsports Magazine
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FELTON AND WICHT TAME THE ROAD...........ATLANTA THAT IS!
Taming Road Atlanta, well that is a chore. Some would say, like Darlington, you just survive. But one racer who seems to just do that is road racing icon, Gene Felton. The former IMSA champion and one of America's winningest road racers is still at it despite being past his 70th birthday. "Gen e the Machine" started his racing career nearly fifty years ago while serving in the Marine Corps on the tiny South Pacific island of Okinawa. In those days, Felton's steed was a motorcycle, and he used it to win the island championship. That was 1959, yet today Gene is still racing and winning. Felton's latest adventure was with the V8 StockCar Road Racing series, running with the Atlanta Region SCCA. Felton had qualifed fourth overall and second in class out of nearly forty cars, just behind Charles Wicht (V8 GT-1 winged Monte Carlo) and the SB2 Chevy powered super late model stock car of Bill Smith. Felton's weapon of choice was an ex Ganassi Racing Dodge Charger formerly piloted by Reed Sorenson. At the green Wicht led, followed by Smith, but by lap three both were sidelined by mechanical gremlins. Zach Monette in his Tony Ave built Camaro had taken the point. Zach was flyin' cutting the weekend's quickest lap at 1:26 and change, but by lap 5 h e too was slowing and Felton took over, pushed to the checker by Zach's Dad Bob Monette in another Ave built ride. Bob Monette's second overall also gave him the V8 GT-1 win over hard charging Richard Bridgette in his good looking Trans Am type Mustang. 2008 V8 GTA points leader Tony Amico added to his point total with another win over Tom Graham and Butch Kummer. Lee Arnold came home second in V8 SPO in a fine run after having to started dead last due to missing qualifying. Paul Breehne was third in the class in just his first weekend racing at Road Atlanta.
Zach Monette had qualified on the pole for the afternoon race by virtue of his fast 1:26.873 lap in the morning race. However, the newly refurbished Camaro 's mechanical issues from earlier had not been resolved so he was a no show on the grid. Charles Wicht was now sitting in the catbird seat with Bob Monette and the new Vette along side.
 At the green, Monette spun the tires and got loose with the result being that some cars checked up while others were accelerating and a melee ensued. A number of cars were put out of action and the race was black flagged. The track was cleaned up for a restart, and Wicht took the point, roared off at the green, never to be headed. Charles led wire to wire in his winged rocket, with Gene Felton valiantly chasing in the big cup car. Lee Arnold came home third overall and second in the V8 SPO class, with V8 GTA winner Tony Amico fourth overall. Roger Reuse and Randy  Gay finished fifth and sixth overall and second and third in V8 GTA. Bob Mayer was next in his ex Scotty B White World Challenge Vette for second in V8 GT-1.
The Atlanta Region SCCA did an outstanding job with the logistics and also threw a well attended party at the end of Saturday's action. Thanks Atlanta Region.
The V8 StockCar racers will be back in action August 9 & 10 at Daytona where up to 35 plus stockers and GT's are expected.
V8 StockCar thanks it partners: SCCA, Atlanta Region, Hoosier, Goodyear, Mo's Gold, HRP,RaceCar Engineering, FiveStar, Howe, DRP, RacingJunk.com, Racing Limo's, Roehrig-Enders Suspension, and GrassRoots Motorsports Magazine
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The V8 StockCar Road Racing Series has created two new classes for the Panoz race cars.
We believe the Panoz GT & GTS cars and racers and the V8 StockCar Road Racing Series will be a great fit. You may know that we have a ten weekend schedule at America's marquis tracks in the south and east racing with SCCA. With 25-30 car fields commonplace, support from the racing community and media ( Grassroots Motorsports, WhoWon.com, Karnac, the Race Site and many more), plus new marketing partners such as Racing Junk, Mo's Gold, and Outback we believe we are uniquely positioned to continue growing and  become a motorsport force.
We will administer your class points and awards, provide excellent exposure through print,racing web sites, internet radio, you tube, my space etc, while giving the racers the competition and feel of "pro racing" at no charge to your racers. Racers would pay only their normal SCCA fees. There is no V8 StockCar fees!
It should be noted that NASA license holders and others are now eligible to compete at SCCA events.
We believe this will be a win-win for our group and yours with our strong five year history of getting tube frame V8 race cars out of the garage and on the track competing, and the great Panoz name and it's well built GT  race cars.
There will be two classes for Panoz racers:
Panoz GT: for the ex school cars
Panoz GTS: for the GTS and ex Panoz WC cars (there will be some adjustments to make the two as equal as possible)
as an aside your more heavily modified cars could possibly compete in our V8 GT-1 class.
We would love to hear from those interested and look forward to having a Panoz group at our next event at Road Atlanta July 19 & 20.
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Machavern Wins Again at Sebring in V8 StockCar
Charlotte, Vermont's Dave Machavern continued his winning ways in the V8 StockCar Road Racing Series, dominating the weekend, winning  both days and setting a new Sebring V8SC short course record. Machavern's qualifying time of 1:05.978 nipped the previous record of 1:06.042 set by SCCA GT-1 National Champ Tony Ave. Despite temperatures in the mid 90's in Sebring, Machavern's Heritage Automotive Group Corvette ran flawlessly all weekend. Road racin  g legend Tommy Riggins was on hand with his Riggins Engineering crew to help make it happen. Ageless Bob Borders, a 37 year veteran of SCCA, IMSA Camel GT and Grand Am wars came home second both days in the V8 GT-1 class in his Corvette. Rob Mcelhenny took third in V8 GT1 on Saturday in his Camaro, with Ray Webb taking that spot on Sunday in his Tommy Riggins built Olds Cutlass. In the two stock car classes, Paul Breehne took the V8 SPO win both days displaying some impressive speed in his super late model type racer with it's new Progressive Racing Engines power plant. Danny Foster came home second both days in his ex David Stremme, Ganassi Racing Sprint Cup Dodge. Foster is quickly improving and is sure to be a force to be reckoned with. In V8 GTA, Tom "Hollywood" Graham took the win on Saturday with teammate George Lutich returning the favor on Sunday. Lutich set a new track record for the class in Saturday's race with a 1:10.5 and change clocking. Also running strong during  Saturday's race was veteran IMSA, SCCA and Grand Am veteran Squeak Kennedy, driving his Bemco Fabrication Monte Carlo. Kennedy, who had qualified 10th overall, drove down the inside at the green, hopping the turn one curb and picking off several competitors. By lap four Kennedy had fought his way to fourth overall and second in V8 SPO an d looked to be headed for a class win and 2nd place overall, however the oil temp in  his bright yellow Chevy began to spike and he decided to save it for another day.
The Central Florida Region SCCA hosted and sanctioned the races and its' officials and workers had the logistics handled to near perfection.
The Group will return to action in July at Road Atlanta before heading to the high banks at Daytona in August.
V8 StockCar thanks it partners: SCCA, Central Florida Region, Hoosier, Goodyear, Mo's Gold, HRP,RaceCar Engineering, FiveStar, Howe, DRP, RacingJunk.com, Racing Limo's, Roehrig-Enders Suspension, and GrassRoots Motorsports Magazine |
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| MACHAVERN BESTS HUGE FIELD AT V.I.R.
A race win anywhere is sweet, but it has to be just a bit sweeter to win one at VIR., the beautiful, fast, twisting circuit on the banks of the Dan River, just outside historic, Danville, Virginia. The esses, the incredible elevation changes, the high speed sweepers, all give the track a character  rarely found. Charlotte, Vermont's Dave Machavern sounded confident before the race, as he had practiced well, and qualified on the outside pole, next to VIR "hotshoe" Scott Murphy. Murphy, a race winner a year ago, is always tough to beat here in his C5 Corvette. Machavern, once again had his car builder, mentor and former Grand Am Co-Champ Tommy Riggins on hand for support.
Some fifty two big bore cars took the green, with more than thirty participating in the three V8 StockCar classes. Murphy, led into turn one with Machavern on his tail, they headed up the esses, with their small block chevy's screaming that sweet song. At turn sixteen of lap one, Murphy made an uncharacteristic mistake, over cooking it and going off. Machavern quickly assumed command, one that he would not  relinquish. Now in second overall was the suprisingly fast V8 SPO entry of Rich Koehler, who was setting a new class record about every other lap. Ron Fariss, of Lynchburg, Virginia, a veteran of may wars at VIR was running in third overall and first in the V8 GTA class in his late model type Monte Carlo. Kenny Liesfeld in his V8 GTA Monte Carlo, was keeping the pressure on Fariss.
Lee Arnold and ARRC champ Bryan Dobyn's were having a great race with Bob Davis keeping them honest. Charging up into the top ten overall midway through the race was Naples, Florida racer Paul Breehne in his V8 SPO car that was fresh from the prep shop at Tommy Riggins Engineering. Breehne found the new setup to his liking and the first year racer was having his best race to date. Scott Murphy, down two laps as a result of his spin was still entertaining the crowd as he charged through the field running some very quick laps. On lap eight, Paul Breehne's motor started making  some ugly noises and he parked his blue racer ending his charge. On lap nine, Rich Koehler got in some oil deposited by a backmarker and was launched off track, sending corner workers scurrying when his car ended up nearly in their station.
Machavern, now running just fast enough to keep his concentration, was unthreatened to the end, and took the checker well ahead of second overall, and first in the V8 GTA class, Ron Fariss.
"Wild Man" Kenny Liesfeld entertained everyone with his slideways style and came home third overall and second in V8 GTA. Lee Arnold got the V8 SPO win and finished fourth overall, with Baucom Racing's Doug Sanders garnering second in the class in his ex Nextel Cup car.
The V8 StockCar group heads back to Sebring, June 6 & 7 running with the Central Florida Region SCCA. Another large field is expected, including Roebling V8 GT-1 winner Bill Riddell, V8 SPO winner and track record holder Charles Wicht, 2007 V8 GTA Champ Jay Marshall and more.
The V8 StockCar series thanks the North Carolina Region SCCA for their outstanding job hosting the Al Fairer SARRC races and the management at VIR for providing such an outstanding, world class facility with the most helpful and courteous staff.
V8 StockCar also thanks its' partners: SCCA, North Carolina Region, HRP, Hoosier, Goodyear, Mo's Gold, DRP, RaceCar Engineering, Roehrig- Enders, GrassRoots Motorsports, FiveStar, Howe, RacingJunk.com, and Racing Limo's
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Smith and Riddell Big Winners at Roebling V8 StockCar Races
The V8 StockCar Road Racing returned to one of the racer's favorite tracks, Georgia's Roebling Road running with the Buccaneer Region SCCA at their annual Jim Stark Memorial Races.
Amelia Island, Florida resident, Bill Riddell put his name in the series record book taking both ends of the V8 GT-1 class races. Ridell, driving the ex race winning Buick Somerset Regal of legendary road racer Tommy Riggins was solid all weekend, running fast and consistent and seemingly never putting a wheel wrong. On Sunday, Ridell put his racer that is still prepped in the Riggins Engineering shops on the pole and never looked back.
Ridell finished ahead of Duluth, Georgia's Bob Mayer, in his beautiful, yellow, ex Scotty B. White Speed GT Corvette and Daytona's Ray Webb in his Olds Cutlass, once the ride of road racing star Terry Borcheller. Chapin, South Carolina's Wayne Cabaniss came home fourth in the class in his C4 vette.
In the Stock Car Classes, perennial front runner "Wild Bill" Smith took both V8 SPO wins in his "worlds' oldest tube frame stock car." Smith, always a crowd favorite, with his relentless, "out on the edge" style destroyed his own class track record in Sunday's qualifying with an impressive 1.10.658 clocking. Smith's racer is prepped in the  shop of crew chief Andrew Blaske, only about a mile down the road.
Local oval track racer, Andrew Smith, who only recently started road racing startled everyone with his quick lap times and hard charging style. Smith, just twenty years old, from nearby Pooler, battled hard on Sunday with V8 SPO winner Bill Smith and last years class champion, Lee Arnold. Andrew earned a spot on the podium, finishing just behind the two talented veterans.
Amico Racing teammates, Tony Amico and Tom "Hollywood" Graham took control of the top step of the podium in V8 GTA  for the weekend, with Graham getting the pole and win on Saturday and Amico doing the same on Sunday. Amico set a new track standard for the class at 1.14.240 during Sunday morning qualifying. Wrens, Georgia's most famous racer, Randy Gay Jr. took second on Sunday in V8 GTA in his Monte Carlo stock car, with Hilton Head Island's Tad Segars taking the final spot on the podium.
The series thanks the Buccaneer Region SCCA for the fine job hosting the event which brought more than 250 entry's from around the country in all the classes.
The V8 StockCar group will take to the road again for the May 10-11 races at Virginia International Raceway running with the North Carolina Region SCCA on the historic course near Danville.
The V8 StockCar Series wishes to thank it's partners: SCCA, Hoerr Racing Products, Goodyear,Hoosier, Five Star Bodies, Howe, DRP, RaceCar Engineering , Roehrig, and Mo's Gold.
For more series info please go to www.v8stockcar.com
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AVE SCORES AT CAROLINA MOTORSPORTS PARK
A fine field of big  bore racers made the tow to Kershaw, South Carolina to test the newly reconfigured and improved Carolina Motorsports Park at the South Carolina Regions Buck Muse Memorial Double SARRC event. Our hats are off to CMP management for their commitment to improving the track and facility. The team at CMP had recently completed a redesign of the turn 12-13-14 complex, and repaved most of the turns providing faster speeds, reduced lap times and improved tire life. In addition 24 day garages were constructed and made available to racers.
The sky was overcast and threatening on Saturday morning and the temperature a cool 50 degrees but the track was dry when the group hit the track for qualifying. Tony Ave quickly put everyone on notice that just  because he didn't bring the 2007 National Champ GT-1 Beebe Racing Corvette, that he wouldn't be fast. Tony took the pole in convincing fashion in a beautifully refurbished ex Tom Gloy, Beebe Racing Mustang, setting a new standard at 1.29.574. Tony's considerable driving talent is well known, but his expertise at constructing and setting up these big bore racers deserves notice. Sebring winner and former Grand Am Champ Dave Machavern took the outside pole in his fast Tommy Riggins Corvette, with the always quick and exciting Scott "Slideways" Murphy third.
 In V8 SPO, Lee Arnold took the honors in his ex Boris Said South West Tour Monte Carlo, with colorful, enigmatic "Wild Bill" Smith second in his tube frame replica of a '55 Chevy prepped by Georgia stock car Ace, Andrew Blaske. A fast learning Paul Breehne took the third spot in the race winning, ex Bruce Perra Monte Carlo.
Tampa Bay's racer, Tony Amico followed up his V8 GTA pole at Sebring, with another, over Augusta, Georgia's Randy Gay Jr and Charlotte's Steve Magowan. Magowan and Gay were separated by one, one thousandth of a second.
With the group sitting on the grid for the afternoon race, waiting for workers to clear the track from the previous race, the rains came, just sprinkling at first, but then a steady shower.
Pole sitter Tony Ave departed from his car as did Scott Murphy, Lee Arnold, Randy Gay and more. With most of the big bore cars without rains and  ill suited for the conditions anyway, V8 StockCar officials decided to draw points from qualifying. The SCCA group went off anyway with the slowest car in the field, T-2 Nissan, lapping the entire field. It helps to have rains, a defroster, and wipers.
Sunday looked like more of the same with temperatures around 42 degrees and a steady drizzle. V8 StockCar's decision was to double qualifying points from Saturday, and look forward to better weather at Roebling Road, April 26 and 27.
V8 StockCar thanks the South Carolina Region SCCA and its' workers for the excellent job planning and hosting the Buck Muse Memorial Races.
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Few race tra  cks anywhere in the world have the rich history of Sebring. The circuit where racing legends like Jimmy Clark, Phil Hill, Dan Gurney, Mario Andretti, AJ Foyt, Mark Donohue, Juan Manuel Fangio, Stirling Moss and Pedro Rodriquez, just to name a few, made racing history, A track where great marques became greater, like the Ferrari GTO's and 512, the Porsche 917, 935, and 962, Jim Hall's Chaparral, the Bird cage Maserati's, the Group 44 Jaguar, the Toyota and Nissan GTP's and the recent Audi R8.
Ask just about any road racer, "What tracks do you just have to drive,?" Sebring would be at or near the top of their list. It was no surprise that there was a great turn out for V8 StockCars season opener, running with the Central Florida Region of SCCA. Some thirty racers in V8GT-1's, V8 SPO's and V8GTA's were on hand in fa  st, well prepared machines, and they came to race.
Dave Machavern brought out his fast V8 GT1 Tommy Riggins C6 Corvette powered by a new Sprint Cup type SB2 motor, he put the new ponies to good use, easily taking the overall pole. Gene Felton (V8 SPO) of IMSA fame, was here with his hot ex Kasey Kahne Dodge qualifying second behind Charles Wicht, who shattered his own SPO track record with a quick 2.10.9. In V8 GTA, Tony Amico was running his fastest laps ever, taking the pole with a 2.18 and change. Tony was a couple tenths quicker than "Fast Phil" Tapia who has been showing great speed everywhere he shows up.
On Saturday afternoon as the group was lining up, the skies darkened and a light rain ensued. SCCA officials declared the race a "rain race," offering competitors extra time to switch to rain tires. Few competitors did so, and the race went off anyway. Some competitors pulled off on the first lap. A few laps into the race the bottom fell out and the race was shortened by SCCA officials.  Per V8 StockCar policy points were awarded from qualifying position.
Sunday's race was spared the inclement weather, and Machavern used his big horsepower and excellent Tommy Riggins set up to drive away easily outdistancing the field. Robert Borders came home second in V8 GT1, with Bill Ridell third. Running second overall and at a pace that most GT1 drivers would love to run, was Charles Wicht, in that wicked ex Kevin Harvick South West Tour car. Charles took the win over a game Paul Breehne in his series debut in his Ford powered super late model. Boo Morgan took the final podium spot in V8 SPO in his return to series after taking most of 2007 off.
 In V8 GTA, Tapia had gotten away to about a six second advantage over 2007 V8 GTA champ Jay Marshall, but half way through the event, Marshall in his MIKE COPE RACING prepared Monte Carlo had worked his way through some traffic and now was closing on Tapia at about two seconds a lap. Marshall, driving as though possessed caught and passed Tapia on the last lap. "Kansas Tornado" Ron "Burr" Keith ran consistently to come home third in V8 GTA. The Central Florida Region SCCA did their usual outstanding job of hosting the event with some 375 cars in all the groups in attendance.
The V8 StockCar series moves to the newly improved and reconfigured Carolina Motorsports Park March 29th and 30th for the Buck Muse Memorial Double SARRC event
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