News 1999-07-15

July 15, 1999

RETURN TO ROAD ATLANTA UP NEXT FOR THE TRANS-AM, WORLD CHALLENGE, PRO SPEC RACER: The Trans-Am Southern Dash Weekend at Road Atlanta, featuring the Automationdirect.com Trans-Am 100, July 23-25, is up next for the BFGoodrich Tires Trans-Am Series, the Speedvision World Challenge and the Pro Spec Racer series. The last time these series competed at Road Atlanta was 1995, a rain-soaked weekend that saw Tom Kendall claim the Trans-Am win, Kermit Upton (GT) and Ron Emmick (T) post World Challenge victories and Warren Stilwell triumph in Pro Spec Racer.

WORLD CHALLENGE TV/MEDIA SEMINAR TO BE HELD AT ROAD ATLANTA: Speedvision and the Pro Racing Media staff invite all World Challenge team owners, drivers and crew chiefs to a Speedvision World Challenge TV and Media Seminar. Topics to be covered during the seminar include driver and crew chief interviews; how to get your story told; how the media system works; and race presentation. The seminar will be held July 23rd at the Road Atlanta Meeting Room on the backside of the Administration Building, and will start at 6:00 p.m. The seminar will last about one hour, and SCCA Pro Racing will host a BBQ following the seminar for all team owners, drivers and crew chiefs that attend.

ROAD AMERICA REVISITED: In addition to the action levied against Paul Gentilozzi (penalized 16 Drivers’ Championship points and fined $9,000), Mike Gagliardo, driver of the No. 27 LG Motorsports/G2 Performance Parts Chevrolet Corvette, was penalized for passing under a yellow flag in last weekend's Road America Trans-Am race, moving his finishing position from 22nd to 25th. As a result of Gagliardo’s penalty, Tom Coleman, Brian Simo and Bob Ruman each advanced one position from their original finishing position. BFGoodrich Tires Trans-Am Series Top-10 Point Standings (after five races): Pos., Driver, Car, Points 1, Michael Lewis, Ford Mustang Cobra, 120 2, Paul Gentilozzi, Ford Mustang Cobra, 113 3, Brian Simo, Ford Mustang Cobra, 108 4, Chris Neville, Ford Mustang Cobra, 108 5, Johnny Miller IV, Chevrolet Camaro, 102 6, Randy Ruhlman, Ford Mustang Cobra, 80 7, Simon Gregg, Chevrolet Camaro, 78 8, Leighton Reese, Pontiac/Chevrolet, 71 9, Dorsey Schroeder, Ford Mustang Cobra, 70 10, Tomy Drissi (R), Ford Mustang Cobra, 66

BFGOODRICH TIRES TRANS-AM SERIES ROOKIE OF THE YEAR TOP-10 POINT STANDINGS* (AFTER FIVE RACES): Pos., Driver, Car, Points 1. Steve Pelke, Chevrolet Camaro, 51 2. Tomy Drissi, Ford Mustang Cobra, 48 3. G.J. Mennen, Ford Mustang Cobra, 41 4. Tom Coleman, Chevrolet Camaro, 35 5. Kenny Bupp, Chevrolet Camaro, 18 6. Jerry Kinn, Chevrolet Camaro, 13 7. Henry Gaudens, Chevrolet Corvette, 12 8. Mike Davis, Ford Mustang Cobra, 9 9. Frank Sanchez, Chevrolet Camaro, 8 10. Ted Sullivan, Chevrolet Camaro, 7 10. Rael, Chevrolet Camaro, 7 *Rookie of the Year standings do not include Long Beach points.

PRO SPEC RACER TOP-10 POINT STANDINGS (AFTER THREE RACES): Pos, Driver, Points 1, Jim Goughary Jr., 42 2, Neil Tilbor, 40 3, Jack Willes, 39 4, Warren Stilwell, 34 5, John Strickler, 30 6, Keith Scharf, 23 7, Carl Harris, 20 8, Steve Rehkemper, 18 9, John Black, 18 10, Johnny Meriggi, 17

BFGOODRICH TIRES TRANS-AM SERIES FORD CONTINGENCY PROGRAM: Ford Racing/Ford Motor Company is sponsoring a contingency program for 1999 BFGoodrich Tires Trans-Am Series drivers that compete using Ford Division-based Mustang Cobras powered by Ford engines. This program is retroactive to the first race of the season and will continue through the end of the 1999 racing season. Eligibility requirements include displaying Ford car decals and uniform patches, registration with Ford and SCCA Pro Racing, and Ford mentions in any post race interviews. Decal and patch kits are available from Ford. Awards will be paid by Ford for eligible competitors that finish races in first, ($2500), second, ($1000) or third, ($500) position. Contact Kevin Bayless with Trans-Am Ford contingency questions: Phone: (317) 858-3910 or Fax: (317) 858-3822

ALLAN CRAIGHEAD NEW SCCA PRO RACING COMMUNICATIONS STAFFER: Please join us in welcoming Allan Craighead as the newest member of the SCCA Pro Racing communications staff. Al will assist in the media, promotions and publicity activities for the all of Pro Racing’s series. Al replaces Dave Bratten, who has taken a position with the Denver Broncos. Craighead, 29, graduated from Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada in 1995 with an Honours Bachelor of Commerce degree in Sports Administration. The past three years have seen him operate Keyhole Racing from Toronto, Ontario, and work as a freelance writer covering formula cars in Canada. "I'm really excited about joining the staff at SCCA Pro Racing, and making the most of this great opportunity" said Craighead.

POST-ROAD AMERICA TID-BITS: Gentilozzi's Road America win gave the Ford Mustang nameplate 87 Trans-Am wins, just one short of the leading all-time Trans-Am race-winning nameplate, Chevrolet's Camaro . . . Gentilozzi’s win also marked Rocketsports' 24th Trans-Am win, good for fifth place on the all-time Trans-Am entrant wins list . . . With Michael Lewis moving into the Drivers’ Championship point lead, three drivers have now topped the standings in 1999, the greatest number of point leaders in a Trans-Am season since 1996, when there were four point leaders: Tom Kendall, Ron Fellows, Jamie Galles, and Dorsey Schroeder.

Source: SCCA/SCCA Pro Racing/USRRC