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RACE #1 (4-27)
Opening day of the 2014 season found us at Summit Motorsports Park alongside our friends at Norwalk's Buick Raceday. The 8.90 class debuted 11 cars at the 1st event with many new or returning faces among the racers in competition. However, the racers missing were the most notable...Some of the top in points from 2013 were no where to be found. Brian Prior, who nipped at Getsy's heels the entire 2013 season had many commitments within his New York based shop (2 Fast Garage) and just could not break away. As for the Champ, Jimmy Getsy, well after back to back seasons on top and walking away from 2013 as the Official B.O.S.S of the RRA (Best Overall Season) guess he decided to kick back and take a relaxed approach to 2014 and the season got underway without him or the Vette we are all so use to seeing in the lanes. Also Scott Williams, with the winter came time to make some changes to that beautiful Malibu of his...unfortunately we all know how that can go, and the season arrives and the car is just not together in time. Scott was there with us even without the car, he was along side me on the starting line and pitching in to help throughout the day.
Don Scullin was the SKW MOTORSPORTS #1 Qualifier coming out for the 1st time in a few years to put up a 8.909. Don would make it as far as round #2 of eliminations where the KLABEN FORD BOUNTY Winner, Ray Galvin took him out of competition . Chico ended 2013 on a hot streak and it looked as if it may carry over into the new year, that is until he met Bill Benson in the finals. Bill stepped it up to 8.90 this year (he was a strong competitor in the 9.90 class in 2013) and claimed the victory in the 1st event officially in the books this season, also a .019 light in the finals got him the ULTRATECH MEMORIAL REACTION TIME Bonus.
Don Scullin was the SKW MOTORSPORTS #1 Qualifier coming out for the 1st time in a few years to put up a 8.909. Don would make it as far as round #2 of eliminations where the KLABEN FORD BOUNTY Winner, Ray Galvin took him out of competition . Chico ended 2013 on a hot streak and it looked as if it may carry over into the new year, that is until he met Bill Benson in the finals. Bill stepped it up to 8.90 this year (he was a strong competitor in the 9.90 class in 2013) and claimed the victory in the 1st event officially in the books this season, also a .019 light in the finals got him the ULTRATECH MEMORIAL REACTION TIME Bonus.
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RACE #2 (5-10)
Back at Home!! Race #2 brings 12 cars total for the 8.90 Class. We had a Getsy returning to 8.90 but not Jimmy, Bob brought the '57 back out after running his Camaro for the past year or so. Ray Galvin claimed the SKW Motorsports #1 Qualifying position with an 8.932, Bob Getsy was back long enough to knock Ray out and take home the KLABEN FORD BOUNTY Bonus but the car went down to mechanical issues and he had to pull out of competition. That would give Al Matuska a competition single right into the finals to face Bill Benson. With back to back event wins and snagging the ULTRATECH MEMORIAL REACTION TIME Bonus again (.013 in rd#2) Benson would prove he is going to be a force to be reckoned with in the 2014 season.
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RACE #3 (5-31)
13 Cars go at it this time around!! Who comes out on top of qualifying with your SKW MOTORSPORTS #1 Qualifier bonus? None other than the man on a roll...Bill Benson 8.942. Guys struggled to get it done in qualifying right behind Bill was Mike Pleveich in his 1st outing putting up a 9.00. Clay Courson, who is new to points this season attempted to take Bill Benson out in the semi's but pushed a bit to hard and came up on the short end of a double break out. In the finals we had a round of deja-vu from the last race and Al Matuska lined up against Bill Benson, Bill took him on the tree and ran an 8.91 no way for Al to overcome the .04 advantage off the line and for the 3rd time in a row Bill Benson would be pulling up to the winners circle at the end of the night. Was this guy going to be unstoppable in 2014?!?!
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RACE #4 (7-3)
Weekday racing tend to be tough, and July 3rd once again fell on a weekend and car counts showed it...we had just 9 cars in 8.90 but the main points players were all present and accounted for. Al Matuska was your SKW MOTORSPORTS #1 Qualier (8.907) and the guys got it together this go round with the top 6 all putting up passes from 8.90 - 8.97. Jimmy Getsy returned to 8.90, after being MIA the 1st 3 events but the Champ had some cobwebs, he qualified in the 8th spot and when he went .009 Red in the pigtail round was sent packing early. Officially into round #1 of eliminations Bill Benson proved he was not invincible after all when he went .009 Red as well. Bummer for Bill since his 8.907 would have been hard to beat. On opposite sides of the ladder Al Matuska and Clay Courson put up some great times during the semi-finals Al ran a 8.902 and Clay a 8.909. They would face each other in the finals however there was not so much intensity at the strip as their previous rounds. Al Matuska not only walks away with his 1st win of the 2014 Season, he was also the Klaben Ford Bounty Winner since no one took him out during eliminations and he snagged the ULTRATECH MEMORIAL REACTION TIME Bonus for his .021 light in the finals.
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RACE #5 (8-2)
This was to be our RPM MAGAZINE/LUCAS OIL EXTREME EVENT presented by MICKEY THOMPSON TIRES...sadly Mother Nature would get to call the shots and we were forced to cancel the day and reschedule the race to our next event date on the calendar. However the 8.90 Class was able to barely squeak through the 1st round of qualifying where Eric Tuuri and his "66 Charger would make their first ever 8.90 pass...8.909!! Eric's Charger was featured in the June issue of RPM Magazine so it was awesome to see him reach his milestone at an event supported by the magazine!!! Congrats to Eric, Neil and Scotty for never giving up and pushing to finally run the number!!!
RACE #6 (9-13)
In the 8.90 Index all 7 guys entered were eligible for the bonus. Unfortunately for Clay Courson he suffered some mechanical issues prior to the event and was not able to come out and race. Bill Benson put his car into the wall at over 150 mph just a week before, I can only imagine the late night thrashing but somehow they were back out with the Nova!! Unfortunately for Bill some issues cropped up during 1st round of qualifying, but never say die right?? Bill came up during rd #2 with a back up car that just couldn't compete and he was a sitting duck come rd #1 of eliminations.
Things just went all wrong for Troy Wotring in round #1 when something caught his eye and he let go of the button before the tree had cycled giving the win away to Ray Galvin. Ray moved on to take Al by .01 off the line then ran dead on with a 4 to secure his spot in the finals.
On the other side of the ladder Mike Pleveich went red against Chico sending him on to meet Ray...Ray came out on the good side of a double breakout final round to take his 1st ever event win in the 8.90 class and the $1150 to go with it.
Things just went all wrong for Troy Wotring in round #1 when something caught his eye and he let go of the button before the tree had cycled giving the win away to Ray Galvin. Ray moved on to take Al by .01 off the line then ran dead on with a 4 to secure his spot in the finals.
On the other side of the ladder Mike Pleveich went red against Chico sending him on to meet Ray...Ray came out on the good side of a double breakout final round to take his 1st ever event win in the 8.90 class and the $1150 to go with it.
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POINTS CHAMPIONSHIP/ABRUZZI SMACKDOWN
Going into the finale nothing is set in stone...
WHO IS GOING TO BE CROWNED THE 2014 JIM MIKESINA SECURITIES 8.90 INDEX CHAMPION???
WHO IS GOING TO BE CROWNED THE 2014 JIM MIKESINA SECURITIES 8.90 INDEX CHAMPION???
Will Bill Benson be able to get his Nova back into fighting condition to even have a shot at defending the top spot he has held all season long???
Al Matuska has been steadily gaining ground and is only 9 points behind Benson, so even if his car is back and at 100% this is really anyone's game!!! Watching this play out will be intense to say the least.
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Chico pulled out a 9th inning miracle last year to make the Top 4 and a spot in the ABRUZZI SMACKDOWN...This year if the stars align just right I think he may even have a shot at taking the title, a slim shot but a shot just the same!! |
WHO IS GOING TO CLAIM THE LAST SPOT IN THE ABRUZZI SMACKDOWN???
Ray Galvin has been showing he's got what it takes to run with the big boys of the RRA Index Classes and as of the last race he locked in the #4 position but can he hang onto it...we will have to wait till the 27th to find out!?!?
Will Clay Courson make it back in time for the finale?? Having to sit out the RPM race due to engine issues cost him and he is now sitting just outside the coveted Top 4 Positions.
Troy Wotring is another guy needs everything to go just right and we may see him sneak back into the Top 4, Troy has skills and he is capable of going rounds in the class but if he can do it at the finale, will it be enough to crack the Top 4?!?!
There are lots of guys capable of playing spoiler to guys mentioned above...Eric Tuuri, Jimmy Getsy, Mike Pleveich, Vic Santo (if his car is done?) just to name a few.
SEPTEMBER 27th - THOMPSON RACEWAY PARK - SEASON FINALE!!
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