Press Release
SCCA: Report and Results from St. Petersburg
02/28/97
KENDALL GOES FROM LAST TO FIRST TO TAKE ST. PETERSBURG TRANS-AM
SEASON-OPENER
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (February 23) -- Tom Kendall, driving the No. 11
All Sport Body Quencher Ford Mustang Cobra, came back from an
early-race spin to claim his 16th career Trans-Am victory, a
1.853-second margin of victory over his teammate Jon Gooding at the
Kash N' Karry Florida Grand Prix.
On the third lap, Kendall, who started third, was running fourth when
he spun at an oil-slickened turn seven on the 1.69-mile, eight-turn
temporary St. Petersburg street circuit. While a full-course yellow
came out to clean the track, Kendall rejoined the field from the back
of the pack, setting the stage for his back-to-front charge.
"There was a lot of oil down and I though the other guys would
crash--then they made it through and I was the one spinning," said
Kendall.
Dorsey Schroeder, driving the No. 12 Raybestos Mustang Cobra, started
the 60-lap, 101.4-mile race from the pole and led the first nine laps
before a broken rear axle forced him to pit, losing six laps. After
repairs Schroeder managed to work his way back through the 25-car
field to an 11th-place finish, four laps down from the leaders.
As Schroeder pitted, his teammate Brian Simo, in the No. 22 Valvoline
Mustang Cobra, took over the lead and held off Paul Gentilozzi for 16
laps before dropping to second as Gentilozzi made his move for the
lead.
Gentilozzi held the lead position for the next 27 laps until pressure
from Kendall, who had advanced to second when Simo was forced to pit
to clear debris stuck to his radiator opening, caused Gentilozzi to
over drive a corner, spinning at turn seven.
"Things really went my way today," said Kendall. "I got some really
good breaks in traffic, and Paul got some bad breaks, and then I was
right behind him and able to take advantage when he spun."
"I messed up," said Gentilozzi. "We'd hurt the motor early, breaking a
rocker-arm, and I was nursing the car a bit. Towards the end Tom was
right behind me and I new he'd be fast on the straight-away so I got
aggressive in the corner, hit a bump and spun."
Once in the lead, Kendall was there to stay, earning he DynoMax Turn
On The Power Award for his winning charge, while Gentilozzi recovered
to finish third, followed by Greg Pickett, No. 6
AutoLink/HighwayMaster Chevrolet Camaro, and Bill Saunders, in the
No. 8 HighwayMaster/AutoLink Camaro.
Gooding's second-place result was his career best effort and his first
podium finish, while Gentilozzi's third was his 20th top-three
performance. Finishing sixth to earn the Raybestos Rising Star of the
Race Award was Don Meluzio, in the No. 31 Manheim Auto Auction Camaro,
while Pickett earned the OPTIMA Batteries Quick Charger of the Race
Award for improving 20 positions and Simo picked up the CIPA Mirrors
Pass of the Race Award.
With the win, Kendall takes the points lead with 33, followed by
Gooding and Gentilozzi, 28, Pickett, 23, and Saunders, 21.
The Trans-Am next compete April 19 at Phoenix International Raceway,
part of the Desert Star Classic.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Results from Sunday's 60-lap, 101.4-mile Kash N' Karry
Florida Grand Prix of St. Petersburg Trans-Am race, with finishing position,
starting position in parentheses, driver, hometown, car, laps and reason out.
1, (3), Tom Kendall, Manhattan Beach, Calif., Ford Mustang Cobra, 60.
2, (2), Jon Gooding, Longwood, Fla., Ford Mustang Cobra, 60.
3, (5), Paul Gentilozzi, Lansing, Mich., Chevrolet Camaro, 60.
4, (24), Greg Pickett, Alamo, Calif., Chevrolet Camaro, 60.
5, (23), Bill Saunders, Dallas, Texas, Chevrolet Camaro, 60.
6, (10), Don Meluzio, York, Pa., Chevrolet Camaro, 59.
7, (4), Brian Simo, Carlsbad, Calif., Ford Mustang Cobra, 58.
8, (9), Randy Ruhlman, Greensboro, N.C., Dodge, 57.
9, (12), Peter Shea, Irvine, Calif., Chevrolet Camaro, 56.
10, (11), John W. Miller IV, Johnson City, Tenn., Chevrolet Camaro, 56.
11, (1), Dorsey Schroeder, Osage Beach, Mo., Ford Mustang Cobra, 55.
12, (17), Frank Cioppettini Jr., Morristown, N.J., Chevrolet Camaro, 55.
13, (21), Jim Briody, Cherry Hill, N.J., Chevrolet Camaro, 54.
14, (18), Bill Eagle, Tampa, Fla., Chevrolet Camaro, 52.
15, (20), James G. Crist, Clearwater Beach, Fla., Chevrolet Corvette, 51.
16, (25), Jim Maguire, Glendale, Ariz., Chevrolet Camaro, 39.
17, (15), Trent Terry, Benton, Ill., Olds Cutlass, 38, Mech.
18, (7), Mike Borkowski, Middlebury, Conn., Ford Mustang Cobra, 33, Mech.
19, (6), Max Lagod, Barrington, Ill., Chevrolet Camaro, 27, Crash.
20, (16), Rick Dittman, Mt. Prospect, Ill., Chevrolet Camaro, 26, Mech.
21, (19), Alain Nadal, Miami, Fla., Chevrolet Camaro, 22, Mech.
22, (13), Kenny Bupp, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., Chevrolet Camaro, 20, Mech.
23, (14), Bob Ruman, Monroe Falls, Ohio, Chevrolet Camaro, 19, Mech.
24, (8), Michael Lewis, San Diego, Calif., Ford Mustang Cobra, 2, Mech.
25, (22), David Rubins MD, Treasure Island, Fla., Chevrolet Camaro, 1, Crash.
Time of race: 1 hours, 14 minutes, 44.227 seconds.
Average speed: 81.405 miles-per-hour
Margin of victory: 1.8530 seconds
Fastest race lap: Tom Kendall, 1:05.209 (93.300 mph)
Lap leaders: laps 1-9, #12 Schroeder; laps 10-26, #22 Simio;
laps 27-54, #5 Gentilozzi; laps 55-60, #11 Kendall.
CUNNINGHAM TOPS WORLD CHALLENGE FIELD AT ST. PETERSBURG; SCHWARTZOTT
TAKES T2 WIN
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Overcoming the combination of a very wet track
and dry tires, Peter Cunningham, of West Bend, Wis., topped 24 T1 and
T2-Class SCCA World Challenge competitors to take the T1 and overall
win on the streets of St. Petersburg for the 1997 season-opener.
Cunningham, driving the No. 42 Comptech RealTime Racing Acura NSX,
averaged a yellow-flag-delayed 46.779 mph en route to his
third-consecutive series win (including Reno and Sears Point in 1996)
in a victory over Mark Dixon, in the No. 5 LM Race Engineering Pontiac
Firebird.
Finishing first in T2, and third overall, was Peter Schwartzott, in
the No. 41 Schwartzott Motorsport Honda Prelude Si. Schwartzott
finished 15.532 seconds ahead of series rookie Pierre Kleinubing, who
made a sensational debut driving the No. 43 Comptech/RealTime Racing
Honda Prelude.
The 40-lap, 67.6-mile race was run under yellow for the first nine
laps when a light rain turned to a deluge, bringing out a red flag as
the race was declared a "wet" start and all competitors were offered a
10-minute window to switch to rain tires.
When the race finally went green, still on lap nine, T1 pole-sitter
Lou Gigliotti, in the No. 1 LG Motorsports Saleen Mustang, was quickly
passed by Cunningham, who slipped and slid his way around the
eight-lap, 1.69-mile circuit for three laps before Dixon passed for
the lead, his first time at the front of a World Challenge field.
Nine laps later Dixon, who had built a half-circuit lead, overshot
turn eight, a mistake that cost him the lead as Cunningham just pulled
by as Dixon rejoined the field.
"I saw a green traffic signal down at the end of the track and headed
for it," said Dixon. "It was too late when I realized that it was
outside of the track and I was into the runoff area."
As the race continued rain slackened, drying the course and giving the
advantage to Cunningham, who was able to pull out to a 44.753-second
margin of victory.
Defending T2 Class champion Michael Galati finished third in the
Comptech/RealTime Racing Acura Integra GS-R.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Results from Saturday's 40-lap, 67.6-mile SCCA
World Challenge race, part of the Kash N' Karry Florida Grand Prix at
St. Petersburg, with finishing position, starting position in
parentheses, driver, hometown, car, laps and reason out (if any).
Touring 1 Class
1, (2), Peter Cunningham, West Bend, Wis., Acura NSX, 40.
2, (10), Mark Dixon, Goodrich, Mich., Pont Firebird, 40.
3, (1), Lou Gigliotti, Garland, Texas, Saleen Mustang, 40.
4, (3), Terry Borcheller, Crysler River, Fla., Ford Mustang, 39.
5, (9), Duane Grahovec, Palos Park, Ill., Chevy Camaro, 39.
6, (6), Chris Camadella, Milford, Pa., Camaro, 39.
7, (12), Keith Mitchell, Chicago, Ill., Ford Mustang, 38.
8, (5), C. David Seuss, Charlestown, Mass., Saleen Mustang, 37.
9, (7), Simon Gregg, Jacksonville, Fla., Saleen Mustang, 36.
10, (8), Ron Johnson, LaJolla, Calif., Saleen Mustang, 35.
11, (11), Doug Frazier, Aliso Viejo, Calif., Saleen Mustang, 35.
12, (4), Rob Fellows, Ontario, Can., Saleen Mustang, 14, Mech.
Time of race: 1 hour, 26 minutes, 42.265 seconds.
Average speed: 46.779 mph
Margin of victory: 44.752 seconds
Fastest race lap: Peter Cunningham, 1:23.678 (72.707 mph)
Lap leaders: laps 1-9, #1 Gigliotti; laps 10-12, #42 Cunningham;
laps 13-21, #5 Dixon; laps 22-40, #42 Cunningham
Touring 2 Class
1, (3), Peter Schwartzott, Niagara Falls, N.Y., Honda Prelude Si, 40.
2, (1), Pierre Kleinubing, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., Honda Prelude, 40.
3, (5), Michael Galati, North Olmsted, Ohio, Acura Integra GSR, 40.
4, (7), Paul Booher, Pinellas Park, Fla., Saturn SC, 40.
5, (4), Taz E. Harvey, Danville, Calif., Honda Prelude, 39.
6, (11), Lu Ryba, Huntington Beach, Calif., Oldsmobile Achieva, 39.
7, (9), Jim Lovett, Chicago, Ill., Honda Prelude Si, 38.
8, (12), Fred Meyer, Dallas, Texas, Honda Prelude Si, 36.
9, (10), Dino Hamilton, Sherman Oaks, Calif., Dodge Neon, 36.
10, (2), Alain Chebeir, Pelham, N.Y., BMW 328is, 34.
11, (8), Johannes vanOverbeek, Pleaston, Calif., BMW M3, 34.
12, (6), David Rosenblum, Langhorne, Pa., Saturn SC, 14, Mech..
Time of race: 1 hour, 27 minutes, 36.55 seconds.
Average speed: 46.296 miles-per-hour
Margin of victory: 15.532 seconds
Fastest race lap: Peter Schwartzott, 1:26.849 (70.052 mph)
Lap leaders: laps 1-19, #43 Kleinubing; laps 20-27, #3 Booher;
laps 28-40, #41 Schwartzott
CAPALDI, MUMM SPLIT ST. PETERSBURG SPEC RACER SEASON-OPENING DOUBLE-HEADER
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Leo Capaldi and Robert Mumm each scored a win
at the SCCA Spec Racer Ford Pro Series season-opening double-header at
St. Petersburg, part of the Kash N' Karry Florida Grand Prix.
Capaldi, of Lenox Township, Mich., scored his first series win in
Saturday's contest, besting Johnny Santo Spirito by 0.573-second in a
crash-filled contest that damaged the cars of many of the series' top
drivers but resulted in no serious injuries.
Finishing the 30-lap, 50.7-mile race third was Keith Scharf, followed
by Johnny Meriggi and Jack Willes.
Sunday's 30-lap race, absent three drivers from the previous day's
crash damage, went without a hitch as Robert Mumm, started first and
finished first, topping Capaldi by 3.633 seconds.
Scharf finished in the familiar third position, this time followed by
B.J. Zacharias and Mike Buck.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Results from Saturday's 30-lap, 50.7-mile SCCA
Spec Racer Ford Pro Series race, part of the Kash N' Karry Florida
Grand Prix of St. Petersburt, with finishing position, starting
position in parentheses, driver, hometown, car, laps and reason out
(all drivers in identical Spec Racer Ford sports racers).
1, (5), Leo Capaldi, Lenox Township, Mich., 30.
2, (11), Johnny Santo Spirito, Escondido, Calif., 30.
3, (2), Keith Scharf, Kirkwood, Mo., 30.
4, (6), Johnny R. Meriggi, The Woodlands, Texas, 30.
5, (8), Jack Willes, Cornelius, N.C., 30.
6, (10), Mike Buck, Buffalo, N.Y., 30.
7, (20), John Bowden, Lawrence, Kan., 30.
8, (15), Bob Boudinot, Fishkill, N.Y., 30.
9, (13), Derek Schofield, Lakeland, Fla, 30.
10, (19), Neil Tilbor, New Smyrna Beach, Fla., 30.
11, (18), Denny Marklein, Dodgeville, Wis., 30.
12, (21), Steve Rehkemper, Chicago, Ill., 30.
13, (14), Lance Miller, West Palm Beach, Fla., 30.
14, (23), Rodney Thompson, Melbourne, Fla., 30.
15, (9), Jeff Beck, Ingleside, Ill., 30.
16, (27), Jim D. Lewis, Praire Village, Kan., 30.
17, (34), John Strickler, Kansas City, Kan., 30.
18, (31), Lynn Trapp, Arbor Vitae, Wis., 30.
19, (24), Craig A. Van Eaton, Lafayette, La., 30.
20, (25), Andy Carlino, Ipswich, Mass., 30.
21, (17), Louis Beall, Tallahassee, Fla., 30.
22, (32), Larry Flowers, Olathe, Kan., 30.
23, (30), Domenic DeLuca, Melbourne, Fla., 30.
24, (36), Wells Dickson, Des Moines, Iowa, 30.
25, (38), Steve Ladoniczki, Palm Harbor, Fla., 30.
26, (37), W. Neil Brown Jr., Tulsa, Okla., 30.
27, (12), B.J. Zacharias, Cincinnati, Ohio, 28, Mech.
28, (3), Robert Mumm, Hales Corners, Wis., 23, Mech.
29, (4), Chris Funk, Kansan City, Mo., 20, Crash.
30, (22), Jim Marinangle, McHenry, Ill., 19, Crash.
31, (40), Scott Zanotti, Rock Springs, Wyo., 19, Crash.
32, (33), John Annis, Tampa, Fla., 18, Mech.
33, (35), Jeff Tillman, Osage Beach, Mo., 15, Mech.
34, (7), James Goughary Jr., Jupiter, Fla., 14, Crash.
35, (26), Duane Neyer, Deland, Fla., 14, Crash.
36, (1), Warren Stilwell, Hartville, Ohio, 13, Crash.
37, (39), C. Peter Pope, Hickory, N.C., 8, Mech.
38, (28), Bill Ladoniczki, Tampa, Fla., 7, Mech.
39, (16), David A. Donovan, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., 6, Mech.
40, (29), Mark Broyles, Lombard, Ill., 6, Mech.
41, (41), Steve Djerebian, Amherstburg, Can., 6, Crash.
42, (42), Toto Lassally, San Salvador, El Salvador, 0, Crash.
43, (44), Joe Ginn, Johnson City, Texas, 0, DNS.
44, (43), C.J. Hund, Leavenworth, Kan., 0, DNS.
Time of race: 54 minutes, 1.895 seconds.
Average speed: 56.300 miles-per-hour
Margin of victory: 0.57299 seconds
Fastest race lap: Leo Capaldi, 1:19.651 (76.383 mph)
Lap leaders: laps 1-9, #28 Stilwell; laps 10-12, #68 Capaldi;
lap 13, #28 Stilwell; laps 14- 30, #68 Capaldi.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Results from Sunday's 30-lap, 50.7-mile SCCA
Spec Racer Ford Pro Series race, part of the Kash N' Karry Florida
Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, with finishing position, starting
position in parentheses, driver, hometown, car, laps and reason out
(all drivers in identical Spec Racer Ford sports Racers).
1, (1), Robert Mumm, Hales Corners, Wis., 30.
2, (5), Leo Capaldi, Lenox Township., Mich., 30.
3, (3), Keith Scharf, Kirkwood Mo., 30.
4, (6), B.J. Zacharias, Cincinnati, Ohio, 30.
5, (8), Mike Buck, Buffalo, N.Y., 30.
6, (23), Jack Willes, Cornelius, N.C., 30.
7, (15), David A. Donovan, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., 30.
8, (10), Johnny R. Meriggi, The Woodlands, Texas, 30.
9, (14), Denny Marklein, Dodgeville, Wis., 30.
10, (7), James Goughary Jr., Jupiter, Fla., 30.
11, (16), John Bowden, Lawrence, Kan., 30.
12, (28), Bob Boudinot, Fishkill, N.Y., 30.
13, (19), Derek Schofield, Lakeland, Fla., 30.
14, (18), John Strickler, Kansas City, Kan., 30.
15, (31), Bill Ladoniczki, Tampa, Fla., 30.
16, (11), Neil Tilbor, New Smyrna Beach, Fla., 30.
17, (17), Duane Neyer, Deland, Fla., 30.
18, (25), Lynn Trapp, Arbor Vitae, Wis., 30.
19, (26), Andy Carlino, Ipswich, Mass., 30.
20, (27), Craig A. Van Eaton, Lafayette, La., 30.
21, (33), Domenic DeLuca, Melbourne, Fla., 30.
22, (35), Wells Dickson, Des Moines, Iowa, 30.
23, (32), Larry Flowers, Olathe, Kan., 30.
24, (37), Steve Ladoniczki, Palm Harbor, Fla., 29.
25, (13), Lance Miller, West Palm Beach, Fla., 29.
26, (39), Steve Djerebian, Amherstburg, Can., 29.
27, (41), C. Peter Pope, Hickory, N.C., 29.
28, (2), Warren Stilwell, Hartville, Ohio, 26, Mech.
29, (36), Jeff Beck, Ingleside, Ill., 26, Mech..
30, (40), W. Neil Brown Jr., Tulsa, Okla., 23.
31, (24), Mark Broyles, Lombard, Ill., 17, Mech..
32, (21), Rodney Thompson, Melbourne, Fla., 16, Mech..
33, (38), Scott Zanotti, Rock Spring, Wyo., 15, Mech..
34, (29), Jim D. Lewis, Praire Village, Kan., 14, Crash.
35, (30), John Annis, Tampa, Fla., 14, Mech..
36, (34), Jeff Tillman, Osage Beach, Mo., 11, Mech..
37, (9), Johnny Santo Spirito, Escondido, Calif., 5, Mech.
38, (12), Louis Beall, Tallahassee, Fla., 1, Crash.
39, (20), Steve Rehkemper, Chicago Ill., 0, Mech..
40, (22), Jim Marinangle, McHenry, Ill, 0, DNS.
41, (42), Toto Lassally, San Salvador, El Salvador, 0, DNS.
42, (4), Chris Funk, Kansan City Mo, 0, DNS.
Time of race: 40 minutes, 0.847 seconds.
Average speed: 76.023 miles-per-hour
Margin of victory: 3.633 seconds
Fastest race lap: Keith Scharf, 1:18.915 (77.095 mph)
Lap leaders: laps 1-9, #6 Scharf; laps 10-30, #10 Mumm
