NorCal SpecE30 Season Opener at Infineon Raceway
written by Scott Neville
March 2009

The season opener would see another year of growth for Spec E30 in NorCal. Our starting grid for Saturday had a total of 16 cars. New racers included: Team BTM Motorwerks: Brad McClure and Andy Chittum, Team J&F Racing: Steven Ferrario and Mackenzie Johnson. Rounding out the group of new racers was Ryan Gangemi.

This year would see new sponsors jumping on to the SpecE30 bandwagon. PointSix Racing (a new racing division of Valley Motorwerks) has signed on to be the title sponsor for the 2009 season. Each SpecE30 race car will wear the PointSix Racing windshield banner for the year and racers will receive payouts down to 5th place for each race. In addition PointSix will host 3 random prize drawing for the year. Evil Genius Racing will be providing a $100 cash each race weekend for the racer deemed to be the "Hard Charger" of the weekend. John Pagel, Mr Evil Genius himself will be watching each race to decide the recipient of the award. AIM tires will be a sponsor for the 2009 season, with awards still to be determined. SpeedToys will be giving out discount certificates to podium finishers along with random gift certificates to SpecE30 racers for every race.

Other sponsors for the season who will provide random prizes for the racers include: Dr. Laura Machado (Lazar Skin Treatments), Auto AnalystII, Valeo Clutches, Berkeley Motorwerks, Gorman Motorsports, SpeedTrapp Racing, Chops Fine Dining in Sacramento, and Sonoma Outfitters. Finally, Toyo Tires will offer class contingencies in the form of "Toyo Bucks" which pay down to 5th place in every race. Plus, regional podium finishers receive Toyo Bucks awards for the top three points finishers.

The season opener for NorCal SpecE30 was held on a wet and windy February weekend at Infineon Raceway with sixteen SpecE30s in attendance. Saturday's on and off-again rain showers kept everyone guessing what car setup they should use.  In the end it would be a dry track for Saturday's race and a very wet track on Sunday.  Brenden Selvig took the top podium for the first race of the season after the first and second place cars were DQ'd for being underweight.  Donny Edwards (Team Brimstone Dynasty) took second and Carl Chiu (Team PointSix) the third spot.  Brenden was not able to repeat his performance on Sunday as he banged up his car in the wet during the Group A race competing in Performance Touring.  Instead, Andy Chittum with Team BTM Racing drove a flawless rain dance followed by Carl Chiu and Donny Edwards.  Adam Lazur won the Evil Genius Racing "Hard Charger" award for his performance in the rain on Sunday. Watch Adam spin three times go to last place and claw his way back to finished 6th click here. Random drawing winners were Andy Chittum who won a $250 gift certificate for a laser skin treatment package from Dr. Laura Machado (Walter Ford's significant other). Other prize winners were Bennett McMicking and Ron Harness for a tranny and differential service with RedLine/Swepco oils from Berkeley Motorwerks.
  
SpecE30 racers were back at Infineon in March, again with a forecast of unsettled spring weather.  This race weekend would mirror the season opener but with a twist, rain on Saturday and dry on Sunday.  Sixteen SpecE30s took to the track in the drizzle and rain on Saturday. Will Faules (Team PointSix Racing) drove a masterful wet race finishing 25 seconds ahead of the second place car driven by Jon Emerson in the Siris Media BMW.  Andy Chittum (Team BTM Racing) took the third podium spot.  On Sunday, newcomer Mackenzie Johnson (Team J&F Racing), driving a 318is took pole much to the surprise of his 6-cylinder brethren.  Mackenzie would finish 4th overall, Carl Chiu took the top podium spot with Donny Edwards in second place and Will Faules in third. We had another rookie join the group driving the number 33 SpecE30, Kevin Chang. Bennett McMicking's improved lap times won him the Evil Genius Racing "Hard Charger" award for the weekend.  Random drawing winners of a Valeo Clutch were Ron Harness and Scott Neville.

Practice, qualifying and race times can be found here at MyLaps.com. More event photos can be found here at VM Werks Gallery. In-car videos of the event can be found here.

Brenden Selvig Leads Carl Chui in the wet in the Season Opener
HeadOnPhotos

The "Pack" Turn 2 Race Start Saturday
C3 Motorsports Photo

Andy Chittum Leads Brenden Selvig in Turn 2
C3 Motorsports Photo

Ryan Gangemi Leads Bennett McMicking in Turn 2
C3 Motorsports Photo

Saturday's Winners (Lto R) Donny Edwards, Brenden Selvig and Carl Chiu
NASA Norcal Photo

Ron Harness Leads AJ Goldsmith
C3 Motorsports Photo

Adam Lazur Evil Genius "Hard Charger" Award Winner
C3 Motorsports Photo

Saturday's Winners (L to R) Carl Chiu, Andy Chittum and Tommy Lo
NASA Norcal Photo

Evil Genius Racing Febuary Infineon Hard Charger Award (L to R) John Pagel and Adam Lazur
Scott Neville Photo

Pole sitter Mackenzie Johnson #28 Leads the Pack around Turn 11 in the March Sunday Sprint Race
Photo by Kregg Miller



MidPack Battle between Scott Clough #224, Brad McClure #91 and Scott Neville #37 during the March race on Sunday
Photo by Kregg Miller

Battle for the lead on Sunday. Carl Chiu leads Donny Edwards, Will Faules and Mackenzie Johnson
Photo by Kregg Miller


Saturday's March Infineon Podium L to R: Carl Chiu, Will Faules and Jon Emerson
NASA NorCal Photo

Sunday's March Infineon Podium L to R: Donny Edwards, Carl Chiu and Will Faules
NASA NorCal Photo

Evil Genius Racing March Infineon Hard Charger Award (L to R) Bennett McMicking and John Pagel
Scott Neville Photo