Pikes Peak Preview

WORLD CHALLENGE SEASON FINALE SHOWDOWN AT PIKES PEAK

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (Sept. 15, 1998) -- The World Challenge returns to Pikes Peak International Raceway for the Children's Hospital Grand Prix, Sept. 27 for a high-octane, no-holds-barred season finale.

Sunday's 45-lap, 60.30-mile World Challenge race will be televised with tape-delay coverage on Speedvision beginning Friday, Oct. 2, at 9:30 p.m. (EDT).

Terry Borcheller enters the final round of competition as the crowned T1 Class Drivers Champion after his win at Road America last month. Riding a three-race winning streak, Borcheller has not lost a World Challenge race since July 26 (Grand Rapids) in the No. 56 Home Improvement/RRR Speedlab Saleeen Mustang, and has also amassed six poles and four fastest race laps in seven races (Borcheller missed the World Challenge season-opener).

"We're very excited about the Drivers Championship," said Borcheller, "but we're still going to try and keep the momentum going at Pikes Peak. The team is really working hard for a strong showing at PPIR, and we would like to get Ron Johnson a win. Even with the banked turns on the oval, we are approaching the race like every other road course."

The T2 Class Drivers Championship, however, is up for grabs. Lance Stewart, in the No. 34 DC Sports Acura Integra Type R, holds a slim four-point lead over Michael Galati, in the No. 44 RealTime Racing/Comptech Acura Integra Type R. Defending T2 Class Drivers Champion Pierre Kleinubing is third, 14 points behind Galati, looking to play the role of spoiler.

"It's going to be a difficult battle," said Stewart, "but the talent and ability of the DC Sports team is outstanding. In April, we knew we had a chance to be competitive, but to be in this position going into the last race of our first season is amazing. The crew has been working tremendously hard to give me every chance of doing well in the race."

The battle for Rookie of the Year honors in both classes is also a tight contest. In T1, Reese Cox, in the No. 90 Forgeline Wheels/Carerra Shocks Chevrolet Corvette, sits just one point ahead of David Schardt, in the No. 94 Toyota Motorsports/The Wheel Source Toyota Supra Turbo (107 to 106). Cox scored identical fourth place finishes at Topeka and Lime Rock, while Schardt's best efforts were fifth at Minneapolis and sixth at Watkins Glen.

The T2 Class Rookie of the Year battle features a pair of hot BMW drivers. Will Turner, clinging to a two-point edge, is fending off the challenge of Hugh Plumb for the top spot (146 to 144). Turner, in the No. 92 Turner Motorsports BMW 328is, carries the late season momentum after a career-best runner-up finish at Road America. Plumb has also enjoyed a break-out season in his No. 50 Eurpoean Motorsports Technologies BMW 328is with his first-ever World Challenge win at Mid-Ohio, followed by a runner-up effort at Minneapolis.