NA-F2000: Road America season finale summary

Wilson Captures 2004 Zetec Championship in Winning Style

ELKHART LAKE, WIS. (August 22, 2004) - Bobby Wilson, of Dousman, Wis., won the season-finale Round Sixteen of the Formula Ford Zetec Championship, part of the Cooper Tires Championship Series, at Road America. Completing the top-three is Wade Cunningham, of Auckland, New Zealand and Ian Lacy, of Lake Havasu City, Ariz. In winning, Wilson captures the 2004 Formula Ford Zetec Championship. Winning the American Continental Championship is Jerry Szykulski, of Ham Lake, Minn.

Separated by a mere two points in the fight for the championship, all eyes were on Wilson and Andrew Prendeville in race two of the Road America doubleheader. Starting on pole, Wilson, in the No. 3 Citrus Systems/Miller Milling/Stars of Karting Cape Motorsports Van Diemen Ford, did not get a good jump at the drop of the green flag. Going three-wide into turn one, race one winner Adam Pecorari took the lead, followed by Lacy, in the No. 8 JDC Motorsports Van Diemen Ford. Battling for position around the 4.0-mile course, Lacy was able to make his way past Pecorari and officially lead the opening lap. Running nose-to-tail, the duo continued to battle for position, while Wilson came under attack from Cunningham, in the No. 2 RCC/WPL/Placemakers Mt. Wellington/Turbo Traders Cape Motorsports Van Diemen Ford. By the completion of lap two, Pecorari had retaken the lead, followed by Wilson and Lacy. While the leaders ran in close formation, Prendeville steadily moved up from his 10th place starting position. While leading on lap five, Pecorari spun in turn five, rejoining the race back in the field, as Wilson inherited the lead. Realizing that a win would secure the Championship, Wilson pushed his car to the limit, as Prendeville battled a damaged car. Behind the leader an epic battle ensued for second place, between Lacy and Cunningham. Running nose-to-tail, the duo swapped the position several times in the closing stages of the race. At the checkered flag, Wilson had captured his co-series leading fourth win by 2.484 seconds ahead of Cunningham. With the win and Prendeville's eighth place finish, Wilson captured the 2004 Formula Ford Zetec Championship by 16 points (333-317).

"To capture the championship with a win in front of all my friend, family and supporters is unbelievable," said Wilson, who becomes the second consecutive America driver to win the Zetec Championship at the season-finale. "I was a little slow at the start, but just tried to stay relaxed and drive my best. I can't thank Cape Motorsports enough for this great season. Now it's time to party!"

"The car was great," said Cunningham, who finishes fifth in the standings and runner-up in the Greg Moore Rookie of the Year standings. "The battle with Lacy at the end of the race was a lot of fun. I'd like to be back here next year fighting for the championship."

"What a great race," said Lacy, who won three times in 2004. "The battle at the end of the race with Wade [Cunningham] was pretty exciting. I've had a great time this year, in my return to the series."

Completing the top-five is Adam Pecorari, of Aston, Pa., in the No. 28 Grand Prix Distributing/SAI Hydraulics Andersen Walko Van Diemen Ford, who won a co-series leading four races in 2004 and Jason Bowles, of Ontario, Calif., in the No. 7 Citywide Electronics/Sparco/Service Software Systems JDC Motorsports Van Diemen Ford, who captured the Greg Moore Rookie of the Year award with his finish.

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