Speedvision World Challenge Banquet

SPEEDVISION WORLD CHALLENGE® COMPETITORS HONORED

ENGLEWOOD, Colo.—Speedvision World Challenge competitors received over $150,000 in cash and prizes at the 1999 Awards Banquet, held October 10 in Monterey, Calif. Derek Bell and David Hobbs served as the evening’s Masters of Ceremony. The 1999 Speedvision World Challenge Drivers’ Champions highlighted the list of award recipients, with Speedvision GT Champion Bobby Archer taking home a World Challenge-record $50,000 bonus and Speedvision Touring Car Champion Michael Galati earning $20,000. Archer (No. 32 Viper Speed Dodge Viper), who trailed Peter Kitchak heading to the Laguna Seca season finale by one point, finished third in the event—one position ahead of Kitchak, to win the title by one point (249 to 248). Kitchak (No. 3 Keewaydin/Toad Hall Racing Porsche 911) earned an additional $17,000 for his runner-up finish, followed by George Biskup (No. 22 Biskup Racing Porsche), who finished third in GT with 216 points, garnering the Red Line Oil Rookie of the Year award and over $9,000 in cash and prizes. Galati (No. 19 Duplicolor/Red Line Oil/DC Sports Acura Integra R) finished fourth in the season finale to top Pierre Kleinubing by three points (265 to 262). Kleinubing (No. 42 RealTime Racing Acura) was presented with an additional $8,000 in points fund earnings, followed by teammate Hugh Plumb (No. 43 RealTime Racing Acura), who earned 253 points and $6,000 bonus. Kevin Schrantz, who finished sixth in points in the No. 44 RealTime Acura, was named Red Line Oil Rookie of the Year, taking home over $3,500 in cash and prizes. Porsche and Acura earned the Speedvision Manufacturers’ Championships in GT and Touring Car, respectively. On the season, Porsche took four wins and eight podium finishes to earn 65 points—six better than Chevrolet, with 59. Acura clinched the title in Vancouver, taking seven wins and podium finishes in all 10 events to record 80 points—35 better than BMW, which finished second. Turner Motorsports (Touring Car H&R Springs/Turner Motorsports BMWs) was awarded the prestigious Jim Cook Award for being a team which made significant contributions to the overall success of the Speedvision World Challenge through a consistent display of good character and sportsmanship. Hikari Racing (GT Hikari Racing/TRD Toyota Supras) was named Crew of the Year, earning an additional $1,000 for consistently exhibiting the highest level of sportsmanship, preparation, attitude, appearance and competitive spirit. Pirate Racing (GT Les Stanford Chevrolet Corvettes) was presented with a Special Achievement Award and $1,000 by the SCCA Pro Racing staff for a consistent level of performance, presentation and appearance of its Corvette C5s and crew, both in the paddock and on pit lane. Several “blooper” awards were presented for competitors excelling in entertaining spectators, albeit at their own expense. Recipients included Peter Kitchak, Yan Tom, Pierre Kleinubing, Turner Motorsports, Terry Lackey, Kelly Bradley and George Biskup.

Speedvision GT Drivers’ Championship Top-10

Pos., Driver, Points, Earnings* 1, Bobby Archer, 249, $86,900 2, Peter Kitchak, 248, 54,500 3, George Biskup (R), 216, 26,650 4, David Schardt, 200, 19,600 5, Bill Cooper, 178, 16,900 6, Reese Cox, 136, 16,050 7, Paul Brown, 124, 12,700 8, Scotty B. White (R), 120, 12,950 9, John Heinricy, 114, 16,350 10, Terry Lackey (R), 112, 5,900

Speedvision Touring Car Drivers’ Championship Top-10

Pos., Driver, Points, Earnings* 1, Michael Galati, 265, $47,500 2, Pierre Kleinubing, 262, 31,800 3, Hugh Plumb, 253, 31,500 4, Will Turner, 188, 20,750 5, Alfred DuPont, 185, 14,700 6, Kevin Schrantz (R), 166, 11,050 7, Brian Wade, 133, 7,000 8, Jeff Tarr (R), 121, 6,400 9, Rick Ellinger (R), 119, 5,700 10, Jason Potter (R), 116, 6,650

*-Includes Season and Year-End Earnings

Eric Prill