April 2010 Thunderhill Race Report
written by Scott Neville
July 2010
Six races…six different race winners! As the 2010 mid-season approaches the NorCal SE30 regional point’s race remains very tight amongst the top seven drivers/teams. Only 61 points separates the point leader Team SpeedTrapp Racing and the seventh spot, Team Road Runner Racing. In six races there have been 5 different pole sitters and 6 different race winners. The third race of the season was held in April under warm sunny skies at Thunderhill Raceway Park in Willows, CA with fifteen SE30s taking to the track. Tony Zwain, Team SpeedTrapp racing, took Saturday’s pole (his second pole of the year). Scott Clough took second position and Brad McClure of Team BTM Motorwerks grabbed third. Following a clean standing start, Tony Zwain and Scott Clough tangled fenders in Turn 1 giving up the lead to Brad McClure. Brad was followed closely by Scott Neville and Greg Peterson. Scott was able to pass Brad on the first lap in Turn 10 and went on lead the rest of the race but not without last lap pressure from both Brad and Greg, who took the second and third podium spots respectively. Sunday saw Greg Peterson capturing pole position with Tony Zwain in second and Scott Neville in third. Greg took the lead following an incident-free standing start and led the race from flag to flag finishing 5 seconds ahead of Tony Zwain. Andy Chittum of Team BTM Motorwerks finished in third.
Donny Edwards and Kevin Nichols (last month's EGR HC Winner) were enlisted to make the selection for this weekend's SE30 Evil Genius Hard Charger Award since Mr. Evil Genius (John Pagel) was not at the track. This month's Evil Genius Racing Hard Charger was Sean Trapp of SpeedTrapp Racing. With his beautifully prepared SE30's and is positive attitude, Sean is a great ambassador for NorCal SE30. He has consistently showed a Hard Charger attitude for his own racing and has unselfishly helped and encouraged others with their racing. This last weekend he learned how to bump draft and how to be bump drafted. He made tremendous improvement in his lap times on a track he had limited experience with. Donny and Kevin agreed that Sean deserved the award for his actions over the entire weekend with a package of proper attitude followed up by his on-track performance all while finding the time to help and encourage others. Well done Sean! Congratulations!
The winners of the North Face hoody sweatshirts (courtesy of Greg Peterson's company Sonoma Outfitters went to the driver who finished behind Greg Peterson in Saturday's race (Kevin Nichols) and the driver who finished in front of Greg on Sunday. Because Greg won Sunday, it was decided that the last place SE30 driver on Sunday should get the sweatshirt...that driver was Dan Gorman! Dan Gorman also won the $100 AIM Tire certificate in a random draw for those SE30s that finished Saturday's race in 6th place or lower. Derek Welch was the Exedy Clutch winner in a random drawing of car numbers.
The winner of the fine Central Coast wine, sponsored by Nichols Wealth Management, was Greg Peterson! Greg won both bottles of wine! The plan was that Saturday's winner would go to the driver who finished ahead of Kevin Nichols. Kevin finished in 4th and Greg took 3rd place. Sunday's winner would go to the driver who clocked the fastest race lap...that driver was first place winner Greg Peterson. Because Kevin didn't have time to pick out some Central Coast wine...he made a quick trip to the Wal-Mart in Willows and grabbed the best wine he could find that didn't have a screw top. Greg took home two big bottles of Wal-Mart's finest vintage. Thanks Kevin and congratulations Greg! (BTW...Kevin will be sending Greg some actual Central Coast vino later...Greg, just keep the Wal-Mart wine in a paper bag and nobody will notice...I'm told that vintage is pretty good at removing rubber tire scuffs...you might save it to detail out your race car).
Season points leaders to date are Team SpeedTrapp Racing in first with 502 points, Scott Clough in second with 489 points and Greg Peterson in third with 480 points. Team BTM Motorwerks is in 4th with 469 followed by Scott Neville with 465 points. The next race will be at Thunderhill in May going backwards. Practice, qualifying and race times can be found here at MyLaps.com.
Scott Neville took his first SE30 Win on Saturday
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Sunday's Race Winner Greg Peterson
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Scott Clough leads a pack of hungry SE30s
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Midpack action Derek Welch leads Bennett McMicking and Jim Bucha in Turn 10
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Sean Trapp was the Evil Genius Hard Charger and gets a crisp Ben Franklin from Scott Neville
Scott Neville Photo
Dan Gorman was the lucky AIM Tire Gift Certificate Winner
Scott Neville Photo
Dan also won the North Face Hoodie from Sonoma Outfitters Greg Peterson (L)
Scott Neville Photo
Kevin Nichols (R) won a North Face Hoodie from Sonoma Outfitters Greg Peterson (L)
Scott Neville Photo
Derek Welch won the Exedy Cluth Gift Certificate
Scott Neville Photo
Greg Peterson won a bottle of Walmart's finest from Nichols Wealth Management. Kevin Nichols (R)
Scott Neville Photo
Saturday's winners, Andy Chittum (L) Scott Neville (C) and Greg Peterson (R)
S. Neville Photo
Sunday's winners, Andy Chittum (L) and Greg Peterson (C) Tony Zwain (R)
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