SOLO: ProSolo Topeka results

Red Light Special Paves Way for Templeton Win at Topeka ProSolo

TOPEKA, Kan. (March 28, 2004) -- Jeff Templeton, of Maplewood, Mo., won the five-round Hawk Performance Super Challenge at Forbes Field, and he did it only running four times.

The 25th-qualifier in the 32-person field, Templeton (who finished fourth in G Stock) had marched through the field in his G Stock www.pfmracing.com 2000 Subaru Impreza and was sitting on the grid ready to compete in the semifinal round against H Stock competitor Jeff Jacobs.

But as the two watched, the other half of the final four, Matthew Grainger, of Florissant, Mo., and Erik Strelnieks, of Austin, Texas, both red-lighted to start their second run. A review of Solo rules showed that both competitors were eliminated, meaning the Jacobs/Templeton semifinal then turned into the final.

Templeton then took care of business, defeating Jacobs' MiniUSA.com/Comcast 2003 Mini Cooper. Strelnieks, in his Jungle Cat Racing/Soul Speed 2004 Chevrolet Corvette, defeated Grainger's Acura/AutoTire/Hoosier 1997 Acura Integra Type R for third.

Kathy Fitzpatrick, of Omaha, Neb., in her 2001 Acura Integra Type R took home the Ladies Challenge title after Beth McClure-Strelnieks red-lighted the start (in the same Corvette her husband, Eric, red-lighted in) in the final.

In class competition, the weekend was decided by Sunday morning's runs after Saturday's soaked conditions moved east overnight and the sun came out, warming and drying the courses completely.

Kevin Dietz, of Federal Way, Wash., borrowed the keys to Strelnieks' Corvette for the weekend and took advantage of Sunday's improved conditions as he ripped off three runs under 27 seconds and jumped from his Saturday third position to grab the class win. Strelnieks finished second, 0.189-sec. behind. John Ames, of Colorado Springs, Colo., finished third.

Subaru Impreza WRX models, with their superb all-wheel drive, dominated A Stock in the wet on Saturday. But when the courses dried out on day two, Chevrolets and the Facilities 2004 Honda S2000 driven by Daniel Heydlauff, of Colorado Springs, Colo., came alive as Heydlauff snuck out with the win by 0.026-sec. over Michael Bullis, of Lake in the Hills, Ill., whose 1995 Chevy ZR-1 finished 0.623-sec. ahead of third-place finisher Jason Isley, of Chino Hills, Calif.

Chris Lindberg, of Utica, Mich., went into the weekend as an F Stock entry but was bumped to B Stock. The change didn't affect Lindberg or his Jack Demmer Ford/FME/Mid-Atlan 2001 Ford Mustang as he snared the victory by a meager 0.030-sec. over James Yom, of Palatine, Ill., who was gunning for back-to-back B Stock wins after he topped the field at San Bernardino, Calif.

G Stock was a battle as well, with Robert Carpenter, of Knoxville, Tenn., coming out on top by just 0.024-sec. over Jacobs, who was bumped to the class mix from H Stock. Mark Chiles, of Rocky Mount, N.C., drove to a third-place finish in his Mini of Charleston/miniusa.com, 0.472-sec. behind Jacobs.

Gerry Terranova, of Allen, Texas, dominated Street Touring S in his Kumho/Evolution/intercrew 1989 Honda Civic Si, winning by 1.499 seconds over Andy Hollis, of Austin, Texas. Terranova then won the Honda Street Challenge by being the last Street class car in the Hawk Performance Super Challenge before bowing out in the second round.

The weekend's most lopsided class victory was in Street Modified as Bob Tunnell, of Superior, Colo., smoked everyone in his Bimmerhaus/Hoosier/H&R Springs 1995 BMW M3 and got the win by 2.658 seconds. Michael Snyder, of Burtonsville, Md., finished second and Frank Miller, of Peoria, Ill., wound up third. Tunnell's performance earned him the top overall qualifying spot in the Hawk Performance Super Challenge, but brake problems befuddled Tunnell as he was upset in the first round by Albert Cram, of Iowa City, Iowa.

Round Four of The Tire Rack® SCCA ProSolo NationalSeries is set for Castle Airport in Atwater, Calif.. April 24-25. The next stop on The Tire Rack® SCCA Solo National Tour is scheduled for April 3-4 at the Gulf Greyhound Park in Houston, Texas.

CLASS WINNERS
(Class -- Driver, Hometown, Car)

Super Stock -- Kevin Dietz, Federal Way, Wash., 2004 Chevrolet Corvette

A Stock -- Daniel Heydlauff, Colorado Springs, Colo., 1995 Chevrolet ZR-1

B Stock -- Chris Lindberg, Utica, Mich., 2001 Ford Mustang (bumped from F Stock)

C Stock -- Steve Telehowski, Novi, Mich., 1999 Mazda Miata

D Stock -- Matthew Grainger, Florissant, Mo., 1997 Acura Integra

G Stock -- Robert Carpenter, Knoxville, Tenn., 2001 Toyota Celica

A Street Prepared -- Rod McGeorge, Richmond, Va., 2002 Toyota Spyder (bumped from C Street Prepared)

D Street Prepared -- David Fauth, Centennial, Colo., 1995 BMW 325is

Prepared Index -- John Brown, Maynardville, Tenn., 1986 Toyota MR2

Modified Index -- Alan Sheidler, Rochester Hills, Mich., 1996 Honda/Renspeed Shifter kart

Street Touring S -- Gerry Terranova, Allen, Texas, 1989 Honda Civic Si

Street Touring X -- Mike King, Jacksonville, Fla., 2002 Subaru Impreza WRX

Street Modified -- Bob Tunnell, Superior, Colo., 1995 BMW M3

Ladies 1 -- Michelle Wyant-Seelig, Edmond, Okla., 1990 Civic

Ladies 2 -- Beth McClure-Strelnieks, Austin, Texas, 2004 Chevrolet Corvette

-scca-