RACE: Valvoline Runoffs: John Fernandez race report

John Fernandez, Director of Dodge Motorsports, claims second place in SCCA Championship Runoffs

LEXINGTON, Ohio (Sept. 19, 2003) -- John Fernandez, Director of Dodge Motorsports, raced to a second place finish in the Showroom Stock SSC class race at the SCCA National Championship Valvoline Runoffs at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio, on Friday.

Fernandez held the class's fastest qualifying time (1:48.153) through the first two days of time-trials, but was bumped to second on the third an final day of qualifying for the Valvoline Runoffs on Wednesday.

Residue of Hurricane Isabel kept race conditions damp and windy for Friday's 20-lap event, but Fernandez battled to a runner-up finish while running in the top-three throughout the course of the race. He dropped from second to third by lap four of the race but was able to re-claim second place on his 11th lap around the 11-turn roadcourse. Fernandez also posted the fastest lap of the day (1:50.053) en-route to his second-place run.

"My car was a little better in the wet," Fernandez said. "Tom Long was able to get around me and as we battled Mike Kramer got away. The track was drying and it was very tricky driving."

Mike Kramer, of Franklin, Tenn., led from flag-to-flag to earn his first ever Runoffs Championship.

-dodge motorsports-