SCC: Season finale just around the corner

America's Ultimate Race Place
Road Racing Season Finale Just Around The Corner

ROAD RACING MASTERS HEADED TO SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA: The experts of the Grand American Road Racing Association will bring their season to a close at California Speedway during the Lexus Grand American Champions Weekend on October 29-31. Masters on winding roads, the Daytona Prototypes, Grand Touring (GT) class and Super Grand Sport (SGS) class will be competing in the Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series 400k on Sunday, while the Grand Sport (GS) class and Sport Touring (ST) class will be competing in the Lexus Grand-Am 250 on Saturday. Such notable drivers as two-time (Champ Car) California Speedway pole sitter Scott Pruett, two-time (Champ Car) California Speedway runner-up Max Papis and Southern Californian Boris Said will take on last year's event winners David Donohue, Mike Borkowski, Michael Levitas and Randy Pobst as they compete on the 2.88-mile, 21-turn road course. As the season winds down, only the season finale at California Speedway will be the determining factor of who takes home the crown and the series championship.

LEITZINGER, FORBES-ROBINSON ENJOY WIN ALONG WITH AUBERLEN, MARKS, BUNTING AND LALLY: Daytona Prototype co-drivers Butch Leitzinger and Elliott Forbes-Robinson extended the Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series record for most different race winners in one season, six, when they claimed the checkered flag at Barber (Ala.) Motorsports Park on Sunday, October 10. The team took the lead from Scott Pruett on a lap 59 restart. Max Angelilli and Wayne Taylor gave a strong try for the win, but when a caution flew with four laps remaining, they finished second. Max Papis and Pruett finished third followed by Jimmy Morales and Luis Diaz in fourth and Didier Theys and Andrea Montermini in fifth.

In the GT class, points leader Bill Auberlen and co-driver Justin Marks won their second consecutive race this season at Barber. They edged out teammates Boris Said and Joey Hand, who finished second, by more than one lap. Finishing third where Mark Greenberg and Spencer Pumpelly, followed by Gunnar Jeannette and Marino Franchitti. Jeff Segal and Rusty West round out the class top-five.

In the SGS class, co-points leaders Marc Bunting and Andy Lally drove their way to another class victory. California Speedway winners Michael Levitas and Randy Pobst finished second, followed by Leh Keen and Cory Friedman in third. Mae Van Wijk and Craig Stanton came home fourth, while Bob Ward and Michael Baughman completed the SGS top-five.

TAYLOR PUTS PRESSURE ON PAPIS AND PRUETT IN POINTS STANDINGS: Lexus co-drivers Pruett and Papis have enjoyed three wins this season and sit side-by-side in the top-spot in the Daytona Prototype points standings with 327 points. Wayne Taylor, who sits third, has been putting pressure on the points leaders and now trails by only three points. Andy Wallace (-18) and Max Angelelli (-26) round out the top-five in the Daytona Prototype points. In the GT class, Auberlen's win extended his points lead by seven points (348 points) ahead of Boris Said. Justin Marks (-33) sits third followed by Chris Gleason (-50), RJ Valentine (-50) and Ian James (-50) who sit in fourth in the GT class. Bunting and Lally's win allowed the co-drivers to extend their lead in the SGS class title hunt as they hold 345 points. Michael Levitas (-16) sits third followed by John Littlechild (-44) and Joe Nonnamaker (-63) who are fourth and fifth in the points, respectively

STANTON AND MURRY HOLD OFF POWELL AND BROCHELLER FOR WIN: Co-drivers Craig Stanton and David Murry of the GS class claimed a victory in the Grand-Am Cup race at Barber on Saturday, October 9. Terry Borcheller and Devon Powell fought hard to finish second in the 93-lap event and were followed by Joe and Wayne Nonnamaker who finished third. Bobby Julien and Jean-Francois Dumoulin finished fourth and Michiel Schuitemaker and BJ Zacharias finished fifth.

David Haskel and Sylvain Tremblay took top honors for the ST class followed by Eric Curran and Bob Endicott in second. Bill Fenton and Bob Beede finished third, David Tauty and Scott Schlesinger finished fourth while Andy Brumbaugh and Andy Lally finished fifth.

BORCHELLER OUT FRONT IN TITLE CHASE: Brocheller's (246) second place finish puts him out front in the GS class title chase followed by Stanton (-4). Zacharias (-37) and Schuitemaker (-37) sit together in third while Cronin (-49), Wayne Nonnamaker (-49) and Joe Nonnamaker (-49) are fifth in the GS class points. Will Turner and Don Salama lead the ST class points battle with 264 points followed by the duo of Tremblay (-8) and David Haskell (-8) in third. Curran (-30) sits fifth in the ST class points.

HEART WALK: Join California Speedway and the American Heart Association on Sunday, October 31 for the 13th annual Inland Empire Heart Walk. The 2004 Heart Walk will precede the Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series' season finale. VIP Walkers who raise $1,000 or more will be able to stay for the race activities in a VIP trackside suite. Discount event tickets will be offered to all walkers. For more information on the Heart Walk, call 909-424-1670 or log onto www.ieheartwalk.org.

FANS SPEAK: California Speedway is looking for favorite memories from its local fans here at the speedway, whether it's in the parking lot, grandstand, infield or pit row - we want to know. Jog your brain and tell us what makes this track your track. Include a picture if possible; a picture is worth a thousand words. Please send your stories and pictures to California Speedway, Fans Story, 9300 Cherry Avenue, Fontana, CA 92335. Stories and pictures will not be returned unless a self addressed stamped envelope is provided.

TICKET INFORMATION: Tickets for the Lexus Grand American Champions Weekend at California Speedway October 29-31 are available by calling 1-800-944-RACE [7223]. Prices for Sunday's Grand American 400k race are $30. For Saturday's Lexus Grand American 250, tickets are $20, while Friday's practice and qualifying tickets are just $10. A three-day pass is available for $45. Children 12 and under are free with a ticketed adult. Tickets can be purchased on the speedway's website at www.californiaspeedway.com.

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