RACE: National Runoffs: Day two qualifying report

Day Two of Runoffs Qualifying Sets 15 New Provisional Polesitters

ELKHART LAKE, Wis. (Sept. 23, 2009) -- Weather would not be an issue for day two of the SCCA National Championships Runoffs0x00ae qualifying, as sunny skies prevailed over Elkhart Lake, Wis. Fifteen new provisional pole times were set under ideal conditions at the 14-turn, four-mile road course.

Winner of Sunday's Muscle Milk0x00ae SCCA Trans-Am Finale race, Cliff Ebben, of Appleton, Wis., took over the provisional pole spot in the GT-1 class. Driving the No. 36 McMahon Group/Stumpf Ford/Lamers Ford Mustang, Ebben entered a fast time of 2:08.133 (112.383 mph).

Another Wisconsin driver, Dan Meller, of Milwaukee, Wis., kept his hold on the H Production pole. Meller, who turned a 3:03.660 (78.406 mph) in Tuesday's wet qualifying session, improved to a 2:40.414 (89.768 mph) in the much improved Wednesday qualifying conditions.

Spec Racer Ford was another of the few classes to retain Tuesday's polesitter, as Brian Schofield, of Lakeland, Fla., continues to lead the 46-car field in his No. 61 PM Racing Spec Racer Ford with a 2:37.921 (91.185 mph).

In GT-Lite, 2007 National Champion Chris Bovis, of Lawrence, Kan., has taken nicely to the change in venue from his hometown track to Road America. Bovis moved into the GTL provisional pole spot with a 2:35.972 (92.324 mph) in his No. 4 Goodyear/Redline/JDM Motorsports Honda CRX.

Defending Formula Enterprises National Champion Mark Eaton, of Melbourne, Fla., is the new FE provisional polesitter. Making the trip from Florida, Eaton put his No. 92 Robinson MotorSports SCCA Formula Enterprises/Mazda at the top of the qualifying times with a 2:16.155 (105.762 mph).

A resident of nearby Sheboygan, Wis., Brian French is the new C Sports Racing provisional polesitter. After skipping Tuesday's wet qualifying session, French clocked a 2:05.396 (114.836 mph) in today's qualifying session behind the wheel of his No. 45 Motorsports Enterprises LTD Ralt RT-41 Toyota.

The condition of Michael P. Tracy, from Morton Grove, Ill., who was transported to Froedert Hospital on Wednesday for injuries sustained in an on-track incident has improved. The Touring 1 driver was reported as being awake and responsive today.

Final grids for the 2009 SCCA National Championship Runoffs will be set Thursday, Sept. 24, with the first group of cars hitting the track at 8 a.m. (CDT). Live timing and scoring is available at www.scca.com/runoffs.

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Provisional polesitters after the second of three days of qualifying at the 2009 SCCA National Championship Runoffs at Road America with class, driver, hometown, car and best lap time and speed. Entries with an asterisk and bold type indicate a change from the first day.

American Sedan*: Andy McDermid, Grand Ledge, Mich., Ford Mustang, 2:29.373, 96.410.

C Sports Racing*: Brian French, Sheboygan, Wis., Ralt RT-41 Toyota, 2:05.396, 114.830.

D Sports Racing*: Lawrence Loshak, Milwaukee, Wis., Stohr WF1 Suzuki, 2:06.033.

E Production: Jon Brakke, Fargo, N.D., Mazda Miata, 2:28.517, 96.959.

Formula 500*: Patrick Gallagher, Thornville, Ohio, Invader QC-1 Rotax, 2:24.523, 99.638.

Formula Atlantic: Keith Grant, Germantown, Tenn., Swift 014 Toyota, 2:03.832, 116.284.

Formula Continental*: Justin Pritchard, Granville, Ohio, Van Diemen Ford, 2:13.738, 107.673.

Formula Enterprises*: Mark Eaton, Melbourne, Fla., Formula Enterprises, 2:16.155, 105.762.

Formula Ford*: Timothy Kautz, Geneva, Ill., Piper DF3, 2:22.485, 101.063.

Formula Mazda*: Juan Marchand, S. Haven, Mich., Star Mazda, 2:16.988, 105.119.

Formula Vee*: Michael Varacins, Burlington, Wis., Speed Sport AM-5, 2:43.263, 88.201.

F Production*: Steve Sargis, Frankfort, Ill., Triumph Spitfire, 2:32.342, 94.524.

GT-1*: Cliff Ebben, Appleton, Wis., Ford Mustang, 2:08.133, 112.383.

GT-2*: Gerry Mason, Fishers, Ind., Nissan 300ZX, 2:20.100, 102.784.

GT-3*: Rob Warkocki, Frankford, Ill., Mazda RX-7, 2:24.095, 99.934.

GT-Lite*: Chris Bovis, Lawrence, Kan., Honda CRX, 2:35.972, 92.324.

H Production: Dan Meller, Milwaukee, Wis., Honda CRX, 2:40.414, 89.768.

Showroom Stock B: Michael Scornavacchi, Manheim, Pa., BMW Z4, 2:42.901, 88.397.

Showroom Stock C: Joel Lipperini, Pittston, Pa., Honda Civic Si, 2:49.235, 85.089.

Spec Miata: Steven Gorriaran, Providence, R.I., Mazda Miata, 2:45.290, 2:45.809.

Spec Racer Ford: Brian Schofield, Lakeland, Fla., Spec Racer Ford, 2:37.921, 91.185.

Sports 2000*: Mark Mercer, Aurora, Colo., Lola 2003 91/90, 2:17.182, 104.970.

Touring 1: Scott Tucker, Overland Park, Kan., Ferrari 430, 2:21.714, 101.613.

Touring 2: Marty Grand, Manassas Park, Va., Mitsubishi Lancer Evo, 2:32.091, 94.680.

Touring 3, Bob Boileau, Monument, Colo., Honda S2000, 2:34.869, 92.982.

-credit: scca