SOLO: National Championships Thursday report

32 More Drivers Half Way To Championships Thursday at Tire Rack Solo Nationals

LINCOLN, Neb. (Sept. 9, 2010) -- Competitors in 35 more classes put in their first day of runs Thursday, as day three of the 38th Tire Rack SCCA Solo National Championships went into the books at the Lincoln Airpark. Out of the 549 drivers that took to the courses, 32 of them are halfway home to a 2010 National Championship.

Despite threatening skies, there was never a full rain shower, and the cloud cover made for some lightning quick times on the two courses.

Sam Strano, of Knoxdale, Pa., wasted no time working toward defending his three-consecutive F Stock titles, wheeling his brand-new brand new, Strano Performance Parts/Summit Mtg 2011 Ford Mustang to a 0.649-second lead over Greely, Colorado's Kevin Youngers.

Likewise, two-time defending C Prepared driver Mike Maier, of Livermore, Calif., got out to a big lead on his 39-car field in the Maier Racing 1965 Ford Shelby Mustang. Maier holds a stout 2.002-second advantage over second place, co-driver and four-time Champion Frank Stagnaro.

Maier is one of three husband-wife tandems to lead at their half-way point--a similar number to the Tuesday-Wednesday classes. Defending Champion Brianne Maier leads CPL in the same car as husband Mike. Jerry and Kyra Jenkins, of Vancouver, Wash., lead E Stock and ESL, respectively, in their Americas Tire-Vancouver Mazda Miata. Finally, Toby and Beverlee Larsson, of Anaheim Hills, Calif., lead F Prepared and FPL in their elitetint.com/OS Giken/Bilstein BMW 328is.

Three of the battles are nearly even heading into Friday's final three runs, with margins less than one tenth of a second. Defending Champion Jerry Jenkins has the tightest battle, as he is only 0.042-second ahead of second place Bartek Borowski, a two-time D Stock Champion. Beverlee Larsson has just a tick more breathing room, with 0.060-second on nine-time National Champion Jodi Fordahl. Kyra Jenkins has nearly twice the lead husband Jerry does, but it still stands at a scant 0.081-second over Tara Johns.

Today's 549 competitors, plus the 608 from Tuesday-Wednesday total 1157 racers this week, equaling the mark for the most ever at a single Tire Rack SCCA Solo National Championships. The 2007 event also had 1157.

In addition to the 32 classes running for Championships, three classes (Street Modified FWD, Street Modified FWD Ladies and Formula SAE) are competing as supplemental classes, but will not formally recognize National Champions.

Friday's final runs begin at 8 a.m. (Central). Follow the results live at sololive.scca.com. For more event information, please visit www.scca.com/solonats.

-source: scca