race #2 and #3 2016
keystone raceway park
MAY 28th 2016
To cover the entire experience we need to rewind to a month ago when the RRA 1st invaded Keystone Raceway Park, also marking the 1st time the series has ever been featured outside of Ohio. We are traveling far from home so going into the 2016 season we anticipated lighter car counts than usual.
When we had a 10 week gap in our the schedule, we needed to come up with a game plan. I reached out to Greg Miller about bringing the RRA to Keystone Raceway Park. He was not only open to the idea but excited to bring us into the fold of their 2016 season and the reception we have received from Greg, his Staff and the Racers of Keystone Raceway Park has been wonderful. It may take time to establish the car counts we are used to seeing but it will be worth the wait!!
In Race #2 of 2016 we had a total of 53 Entries including 4 Keystone racers...one of whom has become the 111th registered racer in the 2016 Summit Racing Equipment RRA Points Program!!
Welcome Chad Coughanour to the RRA!!
When we had a 10 week gap in our the schedule, we needed to come up with a game plan. I reached out to Greg Miller about bringing the RRA to Keystone Raceway Park. He was not only open to the idea but excited to bring us into the fold of their 2016 season and the reception we have received from Greg, his Staff and the Racers of Keystone Raceway Park has been wonderful. It may take time to establish the car counts we are used to seeing but it will be worth the wait!!
In Race #2 of 2016 we had a total of 53 Entries including 4 Keystone racers...one of whom has become the 111th registered racer in the 2016 Summit Racing Equipment RRA Points Program!!
Welcome Chad Coughanour to the RRA!!
race #2 qualifying
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race #2 eliminations
round #1
With only 9 cars round #1 was all about the bye run other than Tom Swan and Mike Pleveich. Tom didn't quite cover the number so Mike was off to round #2.
round #2
Bill Benson suffered starter issues and failed to make it to the line, giving the round to Al Matuska Mike Pleveich Blaine Huffman and Clay Courson would also make an early departure
round #1
In round #1 we had 3 true pairs in competition. Defending Champion Brian Kennelley would be taken out by Points Newcomer and RRA Rookie Greg Myers. Brad Courson and Chad Pokopatz struggled to cover and would fail to move past round #1 on May 28th.
round #2
Greg would be late on the tree in his 2nd Renegade Round. Barry Donnelly would not make the Rd #2 call to the lanes. Wanda Johnson and Darrin Soterra would also be sent packing in the last 9.90 round completed for the day.
round #1
With 14 racers in competition, we were running off a 16 car ladder so only two bye runs for these boys add in 2 broken cars and we had 4 pairs going at it in 1st round. The winners of a 4 pair would be determined right out of the gate. Scott Fury, Rick Russell, Gary Paine and Bob Singer would be bested on the tree and would say goodbye in Rd #1.
round #2
Late lights, Red lights and break outs were among the stats in those being taken out in Round #2 as Mike Blair (#1 Qualifier for the day) Mike Herno, Jack Battafarano and Rick Pearson went down to their competition.
round #1
11.50 boasted the largest car count of the event with 20 cars entered, this is also one of their largest fields since the class joined the RRA in 2014!! Leaves us with a round riddled with bye runs but it's well worth it to see this class growing!! Two heavy hitters would go down 1st round when Big Ricky and Renee Blair would be among the 1st racers to be eliminated.
round #2
In Round #2 Jim Parrish would take out #1 qualifier Phil Nordquist. Zach Bartos, Jason Roy, Pat Maro, Bill Kennelley, Brad Slaughter, Tim McKenzie and M. Egan would join Phil exiting in the same round.
BRING ON THE RAIN
In our 7 seasons we have had our fair share of rain...but in 7 seasons we have never had a shot at picking up where we left off. For once we had a chance to one up Mother Nature after all!!! We were in uncharted waters but the decision was made to accept the challenge and for the 1st time in RRA history...
race #2 was to be continued...
JUNE 25th 2016
Going into the day, Race #3 was the main priority and our 1st focus...As racers became available through eliminations we would slowly shift our focus to the continuation of Race #2 of the 2016 Season...if successful we could potentially change how much of an impact Mother Nature has on the Summit Racing Equipment Championship Points Program in the future...question that remained is could we pull it off??
We had 49 racers in competition across all 4 classes, again not surprising but it was anticipated with the 1st season of taking the show on the road!! This time we had 6 Keystone racers getting in on some Index Action so that was pretty cool to see the cross over with the regulars from the track!
We had 49 racers in competition across all 4 classes, again not surprising but it was anticipated with the 1st season of taking the show on the road!! This time we had 6 Keystone racers getting in on some Index Action so that was pretty cool to see the cross over with the regulars from the track!
race #3 qualifying
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eliminations of race #2 / race #3
round #1
John Sahli found himself qualified outside of the top spot for the 1st time this season, the car just didn't want to cover so he tweaked a few things before 1st round to see if it would make a difference. It made a difference all right, one that left all of us on the starting line saying "Thank goodness for wheelie bars" as that Monte Carlo left insanely hard!! Brian Prior would be moving on to round #2 and John would be left waiting to see if he would fair any better in the continuation race.
Jay Honsaker was late on the tree in the same round that Bill Benson was killer, and putting up an 8.909 wouldn't be enough and Jay's day would come to an early end.
Jay Honsaker was late on the tree in the same round that Bill Benson was killer, and putting up an 8.909 wouldn't be enough and Jay's day would come to an early end.
round #2
Tom Swan, the #1 Qualifier for the day, would take himself out of competition by going red in Rd #1 of eliminations against Brian Prior.
Mike Pleveich would fall to a similar fate when he jumped the tree before it cycled against Eric Tuuri.
Clay Courson ran a very solid pass but when Bill Benson annihilated the tree, snagging 8 bonus points for the .000 reaction time that is hard for any racer to compete with.
Al Matuska covered Troy Wotring on both ends of the track to take the round #1 win.
Mike Pleveich would fall to a similar fate when he jumped the tree before it cycled against Eric Tuuri.
Clay Courson ran a very solid pass but when Bill Benson annihilated the tree, snagging 8 bonus points for the .000 reaction time that is hard for any racer to compete with.
Al Matuska covered Troy Wotring on both ends of the track to take the round #1 win.
semi-finals
And this is where it all began...
the night of 8.90 domination!!
8.90 would have it's 2nd Perfect light of the day when Eric Tuuri nailed it and Prior couldn't overcome the starting line deficit that .000 light left him with. They would be meeting again in the continuation of Race #2.
Bill Benson would come out on the winning side of his semi-final show down with Al Matuska and the Defending 8.90 Champion would be moving on to the finals. Al may have been knocked out of this race but he still had a shot a victory in the continuation race.
Bill Benson would come out on the winning side of his semi-final show down with Al Matuska and the Defending 8.90 Champion would be moving on to the finals. Al may have been knocked out of this race but he still had a shot a victory in the continuation race.
finals
Eric Tuuri has been running the 8.90 class for a few years now and this weekend proved they have officially transformed that gorgeous tank of a Charger into a force to be reckoned with!!
Eric had Bill off the line and ran him out the back door, causing Bill to break out with an 8.88 Tuuri's 1st points event win would come with his victory over the Defending Class Champion...no easy task there!!
Eric had Bill off the line and ran him out the back door, causing Bill to break out with an 8.88 Tuuri's 1st points event win would come with his victory over the Defending Class Champion...no easy task there!!
Race #3 Ladder
back to race #2...
semi-finals
Al Matuska would come away with the win over John Sahli, with an 8.91 to John's 8.93.
Eric Tuuri would find his way to a 2nd final of the night when he once again got past Brian Prior in the Semi-Final round.
Eric Tuuri would find his way to a 2nd final of the night when he once again got past Brian Prior in the Semi-Final round.
finals
Tuuri would be up against 2 time 8.90 Champion Al Matuska in the finals of Race #2...
You all know the saying...Live by .00's Die by .00's but if you were Eric Tuuri this past Saturday night it was all about living for the win light!!
With one perfect light under his belt during race #3 he almost did it again in the finals of Race #2 Continuation! .001 for the WIN!!! He followed that up with a 8.908 on the Top end...That has to be one of the best packages the Rossler Transmissions 8.90 Class presented by Big 3 Racing has ever had put in the books in all these years!!
There have been a lot of moments over the years that make all the hard work and occasional struggle worth it. The end of Saturday Night, was full of moments just like that across all 4 classes which was something the RRA really needed...something I personally needed!!
For the 8.90 Class it was the pure joy shared between a Father and his Son as they are surrounded by handful of guys waiting to genuinely congratulate them. These were the same guys they had to battle past to on their way to taking 2 event wins in 1 day!! Not only that but they have also taken hold of the 2016 Summit Racing Equipment Points Lead!!
You all know the saying...Live by .00's Die by .00's but if you were Eric Tuuri this past Saturday night it was all about living for the win light!!
With one perfect light under his belt during race #3 he almost did it again in the finals of Race #2 Continuation! .001 for the WIN!!! He followed that up with a 8.908 on the Top end...That has to be one of the best packages the Rossler Transmissions 8.90 Class presented by Big 3 Racing has ever had put in the books in all these years!!
There have been a lot of moments over the years that make all the hard work and occasional struggle worth it. The end of Saturday Night, was full of moments just like that across all 4 classes which was something the RRA really needed...something I personally needed!!
For the 8.90 Class it was the pure joy shared between a Father and his Son as they are surrounded by handful of guys waiting to genuinely congratulate them. These were the same guys they had to battle past to on their way to taking 2 event wins in 1 day!! Not only that but they have also taken hold of the 2016 Summit Racing Equipment Points Lead!!
race #2 Ladder
Congrats to Eric and Neil Tuuri on One Hell of a Night!
round #1
Dave Janu made the trek to Pittsburgh but unfortunately he had some mechanical gremlins that forced him to bow out of competition after qualifying so Greg Myers would be granted a competition single.
Alex Brown would fall to Mike Walker during round #1 as well.
If only it weren't on a bye run...Jack Brown is only the 2nd racer in Renegade Racing Association history to put up a truly perfect light, taking that 4th digit out of the equation. His 1st round reaction time was .0000 but as sweet as it is for the record books it doesn't help Jack in the Championship Chase as bonus points only come with a competitor in the other lane.
Alex Brown would fall to Mike Walker during round #1 as well.
If only it weren't on a bye run...Jack Brown is only the 2nd racer in Renegade Racing Association history to put up a truly perfect light, taking that 4th digit out of the equation. His 1st round reaction time was .0000 but as sweet as it is for the record books it doesn't help Jack in the Championship Chase as bonus points only come with a competitor in the other lane.
round #2
Being late on the tree, red on the tree and on the wrong side of a double break out is how we would say good bye to Wanda Johnson and Greg Myers, Jack Brown and Mike Walker. Mike Walker still had a card in play...he was in the semi-finals of Race #2.
semi-finals
Brian Lake found himself on the right side of yet another double break-out round, this time over Defending Champ Brian Kennelley to move onto the finals.
On the other side of the ladder Brad Courson would come out victorious over Tom Brown, and move on to his 1st finals appearance with the RRA. Tom would now need to shift his focus on his finals appearance in the continuation of Race #2
On the other side of the ladder Brad Courson would come out victorious over Tom Brown, and move on to his 1st finals appearance with the RRA. Tom would now need to shift his focus on his finals appearance in the continuation of Race #2
finals
Last year was Brad Courson's rookie season with the RRA and it was spent playing spoiler but this year he decided to go all in and join points. After a rough start to the season he came out in race #3 with guns blazing. He missed taking that coveted #1 Qualifying Position by a mere .0001 of a second!! That top spot would go to Brian Lake, a Keystone Raceway Park points racer, who decided to throw his hat into the ring literally moments before qualifying began. He not only secured that top spot over Brad but he came away with the victory in the finals as well!! Great Job by both Racers!
CONGRATS TO BRIAN LAKE AND CREW!!!
RACE #3 LADDER
back to race #2...
SEMI-FINALS
Mike Walker met up with Alex Brown in the semis and would come out with the win despite blowing a tire about 700 ft into the run. Glad he was able to keep it under control, and really hope that is the last we hear of Mike Walker and anything tire related for quite some time!! Shout out to fellow 9.90 racer Brian Kennelley for stepping up and taking his tire off the Nova to lend to a friend in need...One of the many moments that make you proud to be a Renegade and part of the drag racing community!!
Tom Brown would get a bye to the finals when Tom Hyatt was unable to make the race.
Tom Brown would get a bye to the finals when Tom Hyatt was unable to make the race.
finals
Not sure what happened to Tom Brown on the starting line but he did not leave on green. With a .39 light to Walker's .05 Tom ran it all out in attempt to make a race of it and broke out with a 9.89. Walker would come away with a much needed reason to smile after the long weekend. One of the highlights of the weekend was to see his little girl celebrating in the Winner's Circle with her Daddy and then proudly posing for pics with his trophy in the days to follow!
Going into Race #4 Mike Walker is officially in the cross-hairs of his competitors who hope to cash in on the Montgomery Car Care Bounty on the 9.90 Points Leader...with an event win hiding among his drop races he is definitely the one to beat!!
Going into Race #4 Mike Walker is officially in the cross-hairs of his competitors who hope to cash in on the Montgomery Car Care Bounty on the 9.90 Points Leader...with an event win hiding among his drop races he is definitely the one to beat!!
CONGRATS TO MIKE WALKER AND CREW!!!
race #2 ladder
Qualifying
This isn't a 1st for the 10.50 Class and somehow I don't think it will be the last...
When you role up the the ET Shack get your ticket and you see a 10.5006 you have to all but assume you have that #1 Qualifying Spot locked up. I can imagine that was Bob Singer's reaction this past weekend but his killer pass just wasn't enough to get it done when Gary Paine snuck around him with a 10.5002!! Top 6 in the class put up 10.52's or better!!
When you role up the the ET Shack get your ticket and you see a 10.5006 you have to all but assume you have that #1 Qualifying Spot locked up. I can imagine that was Bob Singer's reaction this past weekend but his killer pass just wasn't enough to get it done when Gary Paine snuck around him with a 10.5002!! Top 6 in the class put up 10.52's or better!!
round #1
With 14 Cars running off of a 16 car ladder 1st round meant bidding farewell to almost half the field. Jack Battafarano, Adam Courson, Don Eggers, Mike Herno, Jim Hurst and Doug Paine. Doug would have to wait out the day for a 2nd chance in the continuation race.
round #2
Jim Slaughter would take down the #1 Qualifier Gary Paine with his .007 reaction time.
We all know someone has to go down but Mike Blair definitely made Paul Carillon work for it!! So did Bob Singer, Mike Carroll's margin of victory against him was only .006!! Rick Russell was just way too fast running 10.41 on his losing round to Newcomer Chad Coughanour.
We all know someone has to go down but Mike Blair definitely made Paul Carillon work for it!! So did Bob Singer, Mike Carroll's margin of victory against him was only .006!! Rick Russell was just way too fast running 10.41 on his losing round to Newcomer Chad Coughanour.
semi-finals
There were no gimme's in the semi-finals either, competition in the semi's was some of the fiercest of the night. May not have been dead on 10.50's but they were extremely close margins of victory for the boys moving onto the finals.
Paul Carillon has clearly been making his presence known since his return to action late last season but a trip to the finals wasn't in the cards on his 1st trip to Keystone Raceway Park. Rookie to the series, Chad Coughanour is clearly holding his own in what some have deemed the toughest class within the RRA!! 2 races under his belt and 2 semi finals appearances is not too shabby! His night was not over just yet as his loss in race #3 had him waiting for his shot at the continuation race.
Paul Carillon has clearly been making his presence known since his return to action late last season but a trip to the finals wasn't in the cards on his 1st trip to Keystone Raceway Park. Rookie to the series, Chad Coughanour is clearly holding his own in what some have deemed the toughest class within the RRA!! 2 races under his belt and 2 semi finals appearances is not too shabby! His night was not over just yet as his loss in race #3 had him waiting for his shot at the continuation race.
finals
2 time 10.50 Champion Mike Carroll was taking on Jim Slaughter in the finals...this would be Jim's 1st finals appearance since moving up to the 10.50 Class but when the dust settled Mike would prove why he is a 2-time Champion when he came away with his 1st win in 2016! A rematch between the 2 would be coming up very quick as they set to square off again in the continuation race.
CONGRATS TO MIKE CARROLL AND CREW!!!
ladder race #3
back to race #2...
semi-finals
After going out early in race #3 Doug Paine had to patiently wait until the end of the night to get back in on the action against Chad Coughanour but he was no doubt ready with the reaction time to prove it!! Doug killed the tree and bought himself a spot in his 1st Renegade Finals!!
On the other side of the ladder Jim Slaughter and Mike Carroll were back at it again, and unfortunately for Jim Slaughter he would go .001 Red for the loss, sending Mike to his 2nd final of the night!
On the other side of the ladder Jim Slaughter and Mike Carroll were back at it again, and unfortunately for Jim Slaughter he would go .001 Red for the loss, sending Mike to his 2nd final of the night!
back to race #2...
finals
Back to back finals appearances? Yes Back to back wins? No
Carroll had an impressive night but being on the wrong side of the double breakout in Race #2 would cost him the round and Doug Paine would find himself in the Midwest Mine Services 10.50 Index Class Winner's Circle for the 1st time. The Paine Family no doubt had a great day, with Gary taking the Top Spot in race #3 and Doug going home with the win in Race #2...Great Job Guys!!
Carroll had an impressive night but being on the wrong side of the double breakout in Race #2 would cost him the round and Doug Paine would find himself in the Midwest Mine Services 10.50 Index Class Winner's Circle for the 1st time. The Paine Family no doubt had a great day, with Gary taking the Top Spot in race #3 and Doug going home with the win in Race #2...Great Job Guys!!
CONGRATS TO DOUG PAINE AND CREW!!
ladder race #2
qualifying
Another class where the qualifying should not go without mention...Top 8 coming in with an 11.52 or better!! Top 2 running 11.50 and Phil Nordquist narrowly missing out on snagging the spot for his 2nd race in a row! Impressive #'s put up by the racers of the Jim Clere Memorial 11.50 Class!
Round #1
Full 16 Car Ladder...No bye runs, everyone earns their trip to Rd #2 on this one. Lady luck would not be smiling on Jamie McBride, Mark Franko, Shawn Matis, Jason Roy, Andy Lake, Bill Kennelley, M. Egan and Defending Champion Scott Chitty (who was .003 red) and they would all make that dreaded 1st round exit. Shawn Matis and Scott Chitty would be sticking around until the end of the night for the Continuation of Race #2.
round #2
It was all about the break outs. Jacob Matis, Tyler Green and Jim Parrish would all take themselves out of the equation during round #2 of eliminations by going just a bit too fast. Big Ricky put up a sick light .006 but didn't quite cover them number and would fall to Zach Zapp's 11.509 pass.
semi-finals
If only it was an 11.49 Index this past weekend...Tim McKenzie and Zach Zapp would also say goodbye in the round of 4 both breaking out and sending their opponents into the finals. Zach was still in eliminations
finals
Can you guess how the final round of Race #3 would go for the Jim Clere Memorial Index Class...that's right another break out round for these boys!!!
Phil Norquist had a very solid final round package but the trip to the Winner's Circle was locked up when Jim Harty pushed it a little too hard going an 11.48. Jim's night wasn't over as he was still in the continuation race.
Presenting Phil with his trophy and check was a moment that will stick with me for a very long time. Phil has been racing with the RRA for years now, beginning in 10.50 and dropping back when we brought 11.50 in the mix. Keystone is his home track and his sense of pride with the series running there this season was apparent in the people I had met in our 1st trip out in May...Phil had been doing some bragging about how cool the cars and racers of the RRA were in advance of our 1st time out there!! He was beyond excited and honored to make it to the Winner's Circle representing the Jim Clere Memorial 11.50 Index at Keystone this past weekend...Job Well Done Phil, very proud to have racers like yourself racing in the series and making the RRA something to be proud of!!
Phil Norquist had a very solid final round package but the trip to the Winner's Circle was locked up when Jim Harty pushed it a little too hard going an 11.48. Jim's night wasn't over as he was still in the continuation race.
Presenting Phil with his trophy and check was a moment that will stick with me for a very long time. Phil has been racing with the RRA for years now, beginning in 10.50 and dropping back when we brought 11.50 in the mix. Keystone is his home track and his sense of pride with the series running there this season was apparent in the people I had met in our 1st trip out in May...Phil had been doing some bragging about how cool the cars and racers of the RRA were in advance of our 1st time out there!! He was beyond excited and honored to make it to the Winner's Circle representing the Jim Clere Memorial 11.50 Index at Keystone this past weekend...Job Well Done Phil, very proud to have racers like yourself racing in the series and making the RRA something to be proud of!!
CONGRATS TO PHIL NORDQUIST!!
ladder race #3
round #3
I have never been in eliminations myself but I imagine the red lights that burn the most come with a .00 in the front. Jim Parrish would go .008 Red and Scott Chitty would be .0004 on the wrong side of perfect to bring their days to an end.
Mark Franko had a decent pass but it couldn't contend with Shawn Matis' 11.506. On the other side of the ladder Jacob would not fair as well as his Dad, he was the #1 qualifier for the class in Race #3 so not a bad day at all but quarter-finals would be as far as he would go in race #2.
Mark Franko had a decent pass but it couldn't contend with Shawn Matis' 11.506. On the other side of the ladder Jacob would not fair as well as his Dad, he was the #1 qualifier for the class in Race #3 so not a bad day at all but quarter-finals would be as far as he would go in race #2.
semi-finals
Semi-finals came down to 3 Rookies and a Veteran. The Veteran to the Class, Jim Harty, who is 70 years old and going rounds race in and race out against the young guns of the class, how could you not love that!!! A 2nd trip to the finals in one day was not going to happen for Jim and he would call it a day in the semi-finals.
Tyler Green would also made his exit in the semi-finals...I expect we will see a lot out of this kid this season...excited to watch him develop as a racer and player in the RRA!!
Tyler Green would also made his exit in the semi-finals...I expect we will see a lot out of this kid this season...excited to watch him develop as a racer and player in the RRA!!
finals
.009 and 11.53 is how Shawn Matis would get it done in the finals against fellow rookie Zach Zapp. Zach and his crew busted did a great job this weekend, already moving up into 5th place overall, think we definitely have a new player in the 11.50 game.
I think Shawn Matis is going to make sure I never forget his name again!! He is currently sitting just outside of 1st place overall after a 1st round loss in Race #3 he waited these guys out and came back to pull off his 1st trip the the RRA Winner's Circle!!
I think Shawn Matis is going to make sure I never forget his name again!! He is currently sitting just outside of 1st place overall after a 1st round loss in Race #3 he waited these guys out and came back to pull off his 1st trip the the RRA Winner's Circle!!
ladder race #2
