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2007 Skip Barber National Series Standings:  

1. Joel Miller, 404

2. Ricky Taylor, 368

3. A.J. Riley, 357

4. Stevan McAleer, 352

5. Kyle Lawrence, 332

6. Josef Newgarden, 326

7. Timmy Megenbier, 316

8. Jeff Oleen, 309

9. Juan Pablo Contreras, 256

10. Julien Gerbi, 250

11. Juan Carlos Sistos, 247

12. Jonathan Gore, 238

13. Lee Carpentier, 225

14. Fabio Orsolon, 210

15. Taz Smith, 128

Continued from News

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Skip Barber 

 Virginia

Last weekend at the Virginia  International Raceway, the double-race season finale of the BFGoodrich/Skip Barber National Presented by Mazda took place.  Joel Miller clinched the championship by finishing 10th in Saturday's Race 1. As if to make up for the less than stellar manner in which he won the title, on Sunday Miller put together a sterling effort in Race 2, coming from the 6th row to win with a last-lap corner run on Fabio Orsolon, nipping the young Brazilian by 0.029 seconds at the line.

 With 404 points, Miller's victory in the last of the year's 14  races gives him five wins and a 36-point margin over championship runner-up Ricky Taylor (368), a two-time winner. Third was A.J. Riley, who also won twice and notched up 357 points.

Jeff Oleen was the story on Saturday. He had taken his first  pole of the year and in Race 1 after a ferocious battle involving most of the top 10 - at one point, Oleen had been shuffled back to 5th, while the lead changed hands numerous times (six times officially at the line). Oleen wasn't given up and played his hand perfectly two laps from the end, snatching back the lead from Stevan McAleer. McAleer made a last-lap lunge at the finish line but came up a half- car length short. Josef Newgarden, who had fallen as far back as 12th, charged back to 3rd at the checker. Taylor, like virtually everyone else, had also found himself deep in the running order at some point but worked his way to 4th. Kyle Lawrence figured out a way to 5th followed by Lee Carpentier (his best result of the year), Timmy Megenbier, Julien Gerbi, Beau Debard and champion Miller in 10th. 

''This is so great, so fantastic,'' Miller said. ''This was such great racing this year, everybody's so good. Ricky , A.J., Stevan, Kyle... everybody in the top 10. And I really have to thank Skip Barber Racing and Mazda for this unbelievable opportunity.''

Oleen was very happy to take the win - he hadn't seen a podium since the openers at Sebring -- but even more satisfying was the pole he had taken. ''I hadn't been as fast as the other guys for  most of the year, so getting pole was awesome, gave me a lot of  confidence.''

Like many race weekends this season, Race 2 was even more closely fought - and with a lot less car contact, to boot. In the space of any given lap, the pack would stretch from 4 or 5 cars to 10 or more. Combine Virginia's two long straights with Handford Device-equipped Skip Barber Formula 2000 race cars and a clutch of very hungry, talented drivers and what you get is racing that was so close - and so good - that even the Skip Barber coaches, who've seen it all, couldn't contain their excitement. The bottom line is that Sunday's race saw 5 official lead changes as more than a half-dozen fast guys eyed one last chance to win a Skip Barber National race.

Miller sliced and diced his way from 12th on the grid to 3rd with a couple laps to go. His timing was perfect, from Oak Tree to the finish line, as he got underneath Newgarden in Turn 14 for 2nd, then flew through the fast long left-right complex that leads onto the front straight. The huge run let him nip leader Fabio Orsolon (who had officially led 9 of 11 laps) at the line by the length of the nosecone, 0.029 seconds.

 Miller's title prize is a paid ride in 2008 with a leading Star Mazda team, valued at roughly $350,000, courtesy of Mazda and Skip Barber Racing. If previous Skip Barber National champions are any indication - most recently, Raphael Matos, Marco Andretti, Gerardo Bonilla and Jonathan Goring - Miller's going to go places.

In the Grand-Am Koni Challenge feature race, Bill Auberlen and Chris Gleason won their third race of the year in the No. 96 Turner Motorsport BMW M3 in the season-ending Six Hour at Virginia International Raceway. 

Skip Barber National Series Race 1 Results:

1. Jeff Oleen, Bethesda, Md.

2. Stevan McAleer, Scotland.

3. Josef Newgarden, Henderson, Tenn.

4. Ricky Taylor, Apopka, Fla.

5. Kyle Lawrence, Fort Gratiot, Mich.

6. Lee Carpentier, Great River, L.I., N.Y.

7. Timmy Megenbier, Melrose Park, Ill.

8. Julien Gerbi, Nice, France.

9. Beau Debard, Verdi, Nev.

10. Joel Miller, Hesperia, Calif.

11. Fabio Orsolon, Cabo Frio, Brazil.

12. Dom Bastien, New Canaan, Conn.

13. Dick Lippert, Wichita, Kan.

14. Jeff Kaiser, Santa Clara, Calif.

15. Conor Daly, Noblesville, Ind.

16. Juan Pablo Contreras, Guatemala.

17. A.J. Riley, Wilton, Conn.

18. Jonathan Gore, Franklin, Tenn.

Skip Barber National Series Race 2 Results:

1. Joel Miller, Hesperia, Calif.

2. Fabio Orsolon, Cabo Frio, Brazil.

3. Josef Newgarden, Henderson, Tenn.

4. Ricky Taylor, Apopka, Fla.

5. Stevan McAleer, Scotland.

6. Beau Debard, Verdi, Nev.

7. Kyle Lawrence, Fort Gratiot, Mich.

8. A.J. Riley, Wilton, Conn.

9. Julien Gerbi, Nice, France.

10. Jeff Oleen, Bethesda, Md.

11. Jeff Kaiser, Santa Clara, Calif.

12. Dom Bastien, New Canaan, Conn.

13. Juan Pablo Contreras, Guatemala.

14. Dick Lippert, Wichita, Kan.

15. Lee Carpentier, Great River, L.I., N.Y.

16. Conor Daly, Noblesville, Ind.

17. Timmy Megenbier, Melrose Park, Il

18. (DNS)Jonathan Gore, Franklin, Tenn.

Joel Miller earns championship at VIR

Joel Miller officially captures the 2007 Skip Barber National Series Championship this past weekend at Virginia International Raceway. After a stellar year of 5 wins and 10 podiums in 14 races, Miller had the title clinched with one race to go. However, this did not stop the championship winner from battling to the front from his 13th starting position on Sunday.

A chassis issue hampered Miller's qualifying which resulted in a 13th starting position. At the drop of the green flag he stayed clean, positioning himself to work through the field. Lap after lap, Miller was bettering his position towards the front. "I knew I could make it to the front from 13th, and all I wanted to do was position myself in a good spot for the final lap," commented Miller. That is precisely what he did by starting the final lap in 3rd. After passing into second going down the back straight, there was one opportunity to take the final win. Miller put together a brilliant last sector to catch leader Fabio Orsolon, and make the winning pass at the finish line by .029 of a second. On the podium Miller happily said, "What a run today, that was really fun. Fabio and I had a great race, and I wish him the best of luck next year."

Winning the Skip Barber National Series championship, Miller receives a funded year in Star Mazda for 2008. "I am looking forward to next session in Star Mazda. I have to thank everybody at Skip Barber and Mazda for giving me this opportunity to represent them on my way up the motorsports ladder," commented Miller during the championship awards ceremonies. Many thanks go out to the supporters of Joel Miller this session that includes: Skip Barber, Stars of Karting, SE Games, Sparco, Oakley, Zoombang, IC Homes, Pitfit Training, and IC Homes. Testing will start right away for next session as Miller looks to partner himself with a new team to bid for another championship.

Miller extends lead

Miller Motorsport Park, Utah. September 19th

 In two hard fought races at Miller Motorsports Park, the BFGoodrich/Skip Barber National Presented by Mazda saw a first-time winner, Steven McAleer and the second win of the year for A.J. Riley.  

In Race One at Miller, it was, um, Miller who led the first lap. Polesitter Kyle Lawrence had to slot in behind Joel Miller, who had gotten a good start from 3rd on the grid, drafting Lawrence down the long front straight and getting to the inside of Lawrence going into 1. But Miller's car went instantly into full understeer mode and by the end of lap 2, Lawrence was already back in front, trailed by Ricky Taylor, Steven McAleer and Juan Pablo Glover Contreras. Miller had dropped to 5th.''I was concerned, yes,'' Miller said, ''but I knew if I could get heat into the fronts, I'd get the handle back.'' 

In the meantime, the front running pack was inseparable. Miller Park's staggering number of corners and long, long front straight gave every driver ample opportunity to set up and draft. By the time lap 3 ended, we had yet another leader, Taylor with McAleer 2nd, Lawrence 3rd, Contreras 4th and Timmy Megenbier 5th. Yep, Miller had lost another spot and was in 6th, fighting with Josef Newgarden and Fabio Orsolon. 

At this point, the race ''settled'' a bit, as McAleer seemed content to hook up with Taylor to try and shake the pack behind them. The biggest threat was coming from Megenbier, who by lap 4 was into 3rd, as both he and Miller got around Lawrence and Contreras. By lap 6, Miller's tyres had gotten up to temperature and he dispatched Megenbier to take over 3rd. On that same lap, up front it all changed, thanks to a dust devil. From the start of the race, the wind had been blowing like you read about, 25 mph+. It didn't affect the cars' stability so much as it was throwing desert dust and dirt all over the track. Coming down to Turn 19, a fast lefthander, McAleer was on Taylor's gearbox. But his eyes were high enough that he spotted the remains of a passing dust devil. ''I saw that, hmm, it could be slippery in there, '' McAleer said afterward in his fine Scottish brogue. ''So I checked up a bit earlier. But Ricky didn't and yup, off he went''. Taylor hustled the car right back on, but McAleer was gone, his first win of the year. Taylor would have to settle for 2nd.   

But 3rd was far from settled. On the next to last lap, Miller fell prey to Megenbier and Lawrence and was back to 5th. Even heading to the last corner on the last lap, 5th appeared to be Miller's fate. But Lawrence really wanted to take 3rd from Megenbier and saw daylight going into the final corner, a banked, 3rd gear lefthander. But it was too slippery at the bottom and though there wasn't contact, both he and Megenbier went off. There was Miller's P3. Beau Debard, the Ford Focus Midget up-and-comer who understands that wannabe NASCAR drivers need to be road course experts too, came home a fine 4th, with Lawrence recovering for 5th, Contreras 6th, followed by Megenbier, Newgarden, Orsolon (his best result since a debut-5th at VIR in April) and Riley, an uncharacteristic 10th (he had made a last minute decision to change cars, despite qualifying 6th, and it ended up biting him. Lesson learned...). 

Race Two had Newgarden on pole, his 3rd of the year. Miller again was starting inside row 2 and again he made the green-flag draft work, getting into 2nd as the field exited 1 with Riley, McAleer and Orsolon in hot pursuit. Riley got a run on Miller coming out of the last corner and took over 2nd down the straight before setting his sights on Newgarden. On lap 3, Riley did the same thing to Newgarden; he set up a run-and-draft out of Turn 23 and popped to the front before Turn 1. But Newgarden didn't much like that state of affairs and late-braked Riley into 5 to re-take the lead. Their dicing was letting the guys behind catch up. 5 turns later, Riley got underneath Newgarden in Turn 10 for the lead once again. With Riley [barely] out front, instead of hooking up, Miller, Newgarden and McAleer went at it, which caused two things to happen. First, race leader Riley started to break away and two, a mini-gang of Taylor, Orsolon and Lawrence caught up. It was nuts. Behind Riley, the positions were changing virtually every corner. At one point, they were three wide into, through and exiting 5. Outside of Riley making a mistake, the fraught fighting was guaranteeing a Riley victory. 2nd place was still a toss-up between Taylor, Miller, Newgarden and McAleer (with Lawrence in a position to pounce on any openings).   

The four of them came firing out of the last corner and crossed the line in a dead-heat to begin the last lap, nose tips flying and front wings bending. By the time they got down to 1, Miller was on the inside, McAleer exactly wheel to wheel alongside, Taylor a half-car length back. It had to sort out in some fashion... and it did, with Miller holding on to 2nd, McAleer 3rd and Taylor getting hung out to dry on the outside as they turned into 3. But Taylor wasn't done and sliced under McAleer under braking into 5, but his compromised line let McAleer run up past him as they headed into 6. And that was that. Out of the last corner, McAleer gave it one more shot to try and snag 2nd from Miller but he wound up 0.1seconds shy. 

Joel Miller's pair of podium finishes last weekend have eliminated 2 title contenders, Steven McAleer and Kyle Lawrence. Furthermore it is now unlikely that A.J Riley or Ricky Taylor can keep Miller from clinching the championship and the full 2008 Star Mazda drive that goes with it. Heading to the VIR finale, the championship is Miller's to lose.

In the Grand-AM feature race Jim Matthews, Marc Goossens and Ryan Hunter-Reay persevered in the No. 91 Riley-Matthews Motorsports Pontiac Riley throughout the 1000k marathon to climb 18 spots from their starting position to the top step of the podium.   

Skip Barber National Series Race 1 Results:  

1. Steven McAleer, Scotland.

2. Ricky Taylor, Apopka, Fla.

3. Joel Miller, Hesperia, Calif.

4. Beau Debard, Verdi, Nev.

5. Kyle Lawrence, Fort Gratiot, Mich.

6. Juan Pablo Contreras, Guatemala.

7. Timmy Megenbier, Melrose Park, Ill.

8. Josef Newgarden, Henderson, Tenn.

9. Fabio Orsolon, Cabo Frio, Brazil.

10. A.J. Riley, Wilton, Conn.

11. Julien Gerbi, Nice, France.

12. Juan Carlos Sistos, Mexico.

13. Dion Von Moltke, South Africa.

14. Jonathan Gore, Franklin, Tenn.

15. Dick Lippert, Wichita, Kan.

16. Jeff Oleen, Bethesda, Md.

17. Lee Carpentier, Great River, L.I., N.Y.

18. Jeff Kaiser, Santa Clara, Calif.

19. Dom Bastien, New Canaan, Conn.

20. Marc Bastien, New Canaan, Conn.

Skip Barber National Series Race 2 Results:

1. A.J. Riley, Wilton, Conn.

2. Joel Miller, Hesperia, Calif.

3. Steven McAleer, Scotland.

4. Ricky Taylor, Apopka, Fla.

5. Josef Newgarden, Henderson, Tenn.

6. Fabio Orsolon, Cabo Frio, Brazil.

7. Kyle Lawrence, Fort Gratiot, Mich.

8. Timmy Megenbier, Melrose Park, Ill.

9. Beau Debard, Verdi, Nev.

10. Juan Carlos Sistos, Mexico.

11. Julien Gerbi, Nice, France.

12. Jeff Oleen, Bethesda, Md.

13. Juan Pablo Contreras, Guatemala.

14. Lee Carpentier, Great River, L.I., N.Y.

15. Dick Lippert, Wichita, Kan.

16. Jeff Kaiser, Santa Clara, Calif.

17. Jonathan Gore, Franklin, Tenn.

18. Dom Bastien, New Canaan, Conn.

19. Dion Von Moltke, South Africa.

.

BFGoodrich/Skip Barber National Presented by Mazda.

Rounds 9 and 10 of the BFGoodrich/Skip Barber National Presented by Mazda were at the scenic Lime Rock track last  weekend supporting the NASCAR Busch Series.

You could say that series leader Joel Miller is used to running up front in this year's BFGoodrich/Skip Barber National Presented by Mazda. After all, aside from winning two of the season's first eight races, Miller has finished on the podium three other times. His consistently strong finishes meant he's been atop the points since the championship left Virginia (rounds three and four) in April. But what Miller hasn't done is start from Pole, or even the front row. Coming into Lime Rock, his qualifying record was 3rd, 9th, 4th, 4th, 8th, 7th, 5th and 5th. But Miller took care of fleshing out his Skip Barber Racing C.V. with a few pole positions by qualifying fastest for both races. He nipped polemeister Ricky Taylor (poleman in half the year's races) by 0.014 of a second for race one, then edged Kyle Lawrence by 0.049 for race two. 

In race one Miller maintained his starting position to lead the pack during the opening lap. The top half-dozen or so drivers were wheel to wheel and nose to tail so it was no shock when third-starting Josef Newgarden took command on lap two. But as he flew down to Big Bend, just having taken the lead, Newgarden was too wide and too hot and slid off at the top of the corner. He gathered it up to rejoin at the tail end of the field.

Miller now led, with Lawrence and Taylor filling his mirrors. At the back, the racing was getting frantic. A recovering Newgarden came out of the Downhill glued Dick Lippert's gearbox who in turn was piling the pressure on Mike Distaulo. At the exit Distaulo got a wheel on the grass and spun back onto the track. Lippert locked up and missed him, but Distaulo's car forced Newgarden into the pit wall.

It was a big hit, which brought out the red flags. Fortunately there were no injuries and by the time the track was cleared there was only time for 8 laps at the restart. In those 8 laps, Miller made hay and trotted away while Lawrence, A.J. Riley, Taylor and Peter Ludwig cut each other up trying to secure a podium. Riley squeezed by Lawrence to take 2nd where he stayed until the end, 4 seconds adrift of Miller. 

On the last lap, a three-pack of dicing drivers shot out of the Downhill on the run to the line. The clocks had it Taylor, Lawrence, Ludwig for 3rd, 4th and 5th, with a four-pack just three more tenths behind: Jeff Oleen, Ivo Dimov, Lee Carpentier and Juan Carlos Sistos.   

Race two ran its full length of 25 laps, it was a blur of red, white and blue cars up front as Miller, Riley, Lawrence, Newgarden, Steven McAleer, Taylor and Timmy Megenbier chased the win.

 With around 10 laps to go, two ferocious battles developed: Lawrence and Miller up front, and 2 seconds back, a frenzied fight for 3rd involving Riley, Taylor, Newgarden, McAleer and Megenbier. Race leader Lawrence began the last lap half a car length up on Miller, but Miller had other ideas and jammed his car up the inside entering Big Bend. Lawrence initially held him off but Miller kept attacking and got through at West Bend. But Lawrence wasn't conceding and gave it a terrific go through the Downhill. But he came up just short, 0.036 behind Miller. 

The third place battle was equally nailbiting, with McAleer taking over four laps from the end and nipping Megenbier by 0.2. Megenbier was almost passed by Taylor at the line, who came up just 0.007 short.  

In the NASCAR Busch feature race, Mohegan Sun Chevrolet driver Matt Kobyluck of Uncasville, Conn., muscled his way to a spectacular victory. Kobyluck led 46 of the event's 82 laps on the 1.53-mile road course including the final five. But in a fireworks finish, Kobyluck and second place running Mike Olsen hit a patch of oil and slid off track in turn seven - the last turn of the last lap. Kobyluck manhandled his car back on course to retain the lead and post a 0.258-second margin of victory over Sean Caisse.   

 

Skip Barber National Series

Race 1 Results:  

1Joel Miller US

2.A.J. Riley US

3.Ricky Taylor US

4.Kyle Lawrence US

5.Peter Ludwig US

6.Jeff Oleen US

7.Ivo Dimov US

8. Lee Carpentier US

9. Juan Carlos Sistos, Mexico

10. Steven McAleer, Scotland.

Skip Barber National Series

Race 2 Results:  

1. Joel Miller

2. Kyle Lawrence

3.- Steven McAleer, Scotland.

4. Timmy Megenbier

5.- Ricky Taylor

6.- A.J. Riley, Wilton

7.- Josef Newgarden,

8.- Peter Ludwig

9.- Julien Gerbi, France.

10. Juan Pablo Contreras, Guatemala.

 

Ricky Taylor Wins Another in Skip Barber National Race at Road America

Ricky Taylor increased his impressive statistics in the Skip Barber National Series this past weekend, August 4-5, at Road America. In Saturday's race the eldest son of sports car champion Wayne Taylor collected his fourth pole of the season and second victory.

Ricky, who turned 18 years old on Friday, gave himself a nice birthday present. His qualifying time of 94.353 mph, which he managed on his own without a drafting partner, was fast enough for the pole.

"We had a real close race start," said the soon-to-be high school senior from Apopka, Florida. "I dropped back from first to third in the first corner on the start, then worked my way back to first. We had a full course caution on Laps 2-4 and after the restart I got passed by Reverie Greist going into Turn Five on the back straight. Under braking, I was on the right side, the opposite line of the curve, he braked early and I lost two positions. I worked my way back up and on the last lap and made a pass for the lead in Turn Five and went on to win the race."

Sunday's qualifying occurred in the rain and Ricky qualified fourth overall. By the start of the race, the track was drying and there was a dry line, however off line held standing water.

"I was running fourth and by the first corner lost one position," added Taylor. "I was going up and down in the running order depending on the draft. I was running with Reverie through the Canada Corner and thought I could get by him before Turn 13, but ended up getting pinched into the grass and got dropped back to eighth. By lap five or six, I had worked back up to fourth position, when the spindle broke on the suspension on Lap Six and ended my race."

The second race of the weekend was won by A.J. Riley of Wilton, Connecticut, who now sits second in the championship. The current points leader is Joel Miller of Hesperia, California.

Ricky, who won his first Skip Barber National Race at Sebring International Raceway in March, maintains third position in the points without a race drop. Competitors are allowed to drop one race from their final points scoring at the end of the season.

"For the balance of the season I need to go for pole positions and wins to get as many points as I can because it will be hard to catch Joel (Miller)," said Ricky.

It was a good racing weekend for the Taylor family as Ricky's father, Wayne Taylor, owner of the No. 10 SunTrust Racing team, collected a second victory in the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series on Friday evening in Montreal, with drivers Max Angelelli and Jan Magnussen.

Ricky was recently announced as one of seven candidates vying for a scholarship from Team USA Scholarship, which will send two winners to compete the Formula Palmer Audi Autumn Trophy, which takes place over six races and two weekends at Brands Hatch and Snetterton in England later this fall.

Road America, Wisconsin, August 8th - Rounds 7 and 8 of the
BFGoodrich/Skip Barber National Presented by Mazda

Race Reports

In Race One, Poleman - Ricky Taylor had his mirrors full from the start. On the opening lap, Kyle Lawrence, Timmy Megenbier,
Revere Greist and A.J Riley tripped over one another as they tried to find a way past Taylor. Taylor found himself some
breathing space with 2 laps of full course yellow, after Dick Lippert shunted John Greist from behind putting them both into
the gravel trap and early retirement. When the green flew the action really heated up. Riley found a way past Lawrence into
2nd and then glued himself to Taylor's gearbox. However this didn't last long as R Greist wanting a piece of race leader
Taylor, charged passed Riley to lead the attack on Taylor. Three laps from the end, it was a big flare into the braking zone for
Turn 5 and suddenly Taylor found himself stuck on the outside - and had to fall back in line in 3rd, behind leader R Greist and
Riley. But a lap later Taylor moved back up to 2nd when Riley got shuffled back to 6th on the penultimate lap. On the last
lap, both Taylor and a charging Gabby Chaves who had moved up from 6th, bundled R Greist back to third. Chaves chased Taylor across the line, a scant 2/10s behind. R Greist and Lawrence were nearly dead-heat for third; virtually the same for
Megenbier and Riley as they battled for 5th across the line.

Like Race One, Race Two was full of wheel banging, tyre smoke and nose to tail action as the 26 Skip Barber cars lapped the Road America track. The opening laps saw intense dicing from 1st down to 10th with multiple lead changes on any given lap. In the mix were Chaves, Riley, Poleman - R Greist, Miller, Taylor, Lawrence and Fabio Orsolon. Taylor's day ended with a suspension failure on lap 7 and Orsolon trying too hard to get under Greist for 3rd, spun and beached himself in the gravel. On the last lap with the yellows still waving for Orsolon's beached car, race leader Riley with Chaves shadowing came screaming down to Turn 12. Chaves made his moved and passed Riley under yellows for the lead. On the run up the hill to the checker, Riley had a head of steam that looked good enough to nose past Chaves before the line, but a defensive move by Chaves prevented that and Chaves took the win. 
 
 
In a post race stewards enquiry it was ruled that Gabby Chaves on the last lap had indeed passed A.J Riley under yellows and that his blocking of A.J Riley was over aggressive. He received a 20 second penalty for each incident which dropped him from 1st to 16th in the final standings and awarded Riley the win.
 

August 4, 2007, round 7 of 14, BFGoodrich/Skip Barber National Presented by Mazda
Road America, 14-turn, 4.0-mile road course
Starting position in parentheses

1. (1) Ricky Taylor, Apopka, Fla., 8 laps, 78.576 average speed
2. (6) Gabby Chaves, Colombia, 8 laps
3. (3) Revere Greist, Madison, Wis., 8
4. (2) Kyle Lawrence, Fort Gratiot, Mich., 8
5. (7) Timmy Megenbier, Melrose Park, Ill., 8
6. (4) A.J. Riley, Wilton, Conn., 8
7. (5) Joel Miller, Hesperia, Calif., 8
8. (9), Jonathan Gore, Franklin, Tenn., 8
9. (10) Steven McAleer, Scotland, 8
10. (11) Fabio Orsolon, Cabo Frio, Brazil, 8

Skip Barber National Series Race 2 Results:
 
1.A.J. Riley, Wilton, Conn.
2. Revere Greist, Madison, Wis.
3. Joel Miller, Hesperia, Calif.
4. Steven McAleer, Scotland.
5. Kyle Lawrence, Fort Gratiot, Mich.
6. Jonathan Gore, Franklin, Tenn.
7. Josef Newgarden, Henderson, Tenn.
8. Jeff Oleen, Bethesda, Md.
9. Quentin Wahl, Santa Barbara, Calif.
10. Dick Lippert, Wichita, Kan.
-.
 

Chris Wehrheim Cleveland summary

With little track time, Chris knew he had an advantage going into the weekend. Taking his time to learn the track he was ninth in the first and only practice session. Qualifying was a 40-minute session that would set the grid for both races. After 30 minutes of fighting traffic, Chris was on pole by two tenths and dove for the pits to make a tyre pressure change. Not knowing what times he was turning or what position he was in, Chris continued to push as the car was much better. Chris would loose pole with just minutes to go, but on the last lap would close the gap to just .95 of a second. This would put Chris second on the grid for both races, a great result considering his lack of time in the car.

Race one started off rough and continued to get worse. With a bad start, Chris fell back to seventh but worked his way back to fourth until he was forced off in the chicane. After falling back to twelfth place, Chris set the fastest lap of the race by 4 tenths of a second and finished sixth.

With a new race strategy, Chris jumped out to the early lead. Running in a comfortable second place, Chris was once again forced off in the chicane by the same driver as race one and would fall back to eighth. Knowing that he had a car capable of winning, Chris turned some of the fastest laps of the race and worked his way all the way back up to 2nd where he would later finish the race.

"It was great to finally get back in a car and I have to thank Gent Machine Company for making this possible," commented Wehrheim. "I am disappointed I did not come away with a win, but in the end it was a great weekend and I hope to return for the Lime Rock round of the championship."

Chris is also working on competing in the Star Mazda Championship at Road Atlanta later in the year and possibly in 2008. Also look for Chris at the WKA Manufacturer's Cup where he just earned his third Grand National title and the Stars of Karting Championship.

Skip Barber-Cleveland

Rounds 5 and 6 of the BFGoodrich/Skip Barber National Presented by Mazda was in  Cleveland last weekend supporting the Champ Car World Series. Both races were wheel to wheel affairs from beginning to end. The two winners in the previous two rounds did it again: Josef Newgarden proved his win at VIR in April was a sign of further success to come when he not only took pole for both Cleveland races but converted the first one into a win, while fellow VIR winner Joel Miller took command of the second race to claim his second win of the year.
 
On the opening lap of Race 1, Pole sitter Newgarden not only lost the race lead to National debutant Gabby Chaves but also to Riley dropping him to 3rd. With passes happening in every corner up and down the 30-car field, the next time around Newgarden was in the lead, Riley keeping 2nd and Chaves dropping to 3rd.

With Riley and Chaves running nose-to-tail, Newgarden capitalised to open up a small gap. On lap six Riley broke free of Chaves and went about chasing down Newgarden. On the final lap, Riley timed a move through the front-straight chicane that gave him a run on Newgarden to the checker but his effort fell just short giving Newgarden the win. Chaves came home 3rd, Jeff Relic, who hadn't been in a National in more than a year, was a superb 4th and Conor Daly, son of Irishman and ex F1 Driver Derek Daly came home an impressive 5th in his National debut.
 
Race two was even more closely fought, with six drivers, Newgarden, Chris, Wehrheim, Miller, Riley, Chaves and Ricky Taylor racing wheel to wheel over the first 12 laps. Wehrheim led lap one, then Newgarden took over. Miller snatched the lead from Newgarden on lap seven and then took advantage of the frantic fighting behind to eek out a small gap. Wehrheim who had dropped to 8th after a four-off climbed back up through the field to take 2nd from Newgarden. Wehrheim kept the whip to his Skip Barber Formula 2000 and chased after Miller, but the 2007 Skip Barber/Stars of Karting Scholarship winner was faultless and Wehrheim couldn't get closer than 2 seconds to Miller's gearbox. Meanwhile, with four laps to go, Newgarden succumbed to Riley who closed to within two-tenths of Wehrheim at the checker. 5th was Taylor, with Chaves, Stevan McAleer, Timmy Megenbier, Juan Carlos Sistos and Daly rounding out the top 10.
 

Skip Barber National Series Race 1 Results:
1 Josef Newgarden, Henderson, Tenn.
2.A.J. Riley, Wilton, Conn.
3.Gabby Chaves, Colombia.
4.Jeff Relic, Richfield, Ohio.
5.Conor Daly, Noblesville, Ind.
6.Chris Wehrheim, Norcross, Ga.
7.Ricky Taylor, Apopka, Fla.
8. Steven McAleer, Glasgow
9.Juan Carlos Sistos, Mexico.
10.Jeff Oleen, Bethesda,

Virginia International Raceway

TOUGH BATTLE FOR MEGENBIER IN SECOND BARBER OUTING

Megenbier overcomes difficulties to score valuable points at VIR

Encountering delays getting to event on Wednesday, Megenbier arrived at VIR on Thursday morning for the test day running on very little sleep. However, the 15 year-old was awake and alert by the time he got behind the wheel, as evident by some quick times in the morning session. Megenbier continued to work on getting the most from his car during the test day, encountering heavy rain in the afternoon session. This second run came to a premature end, however, when exiting turn 13 Megenbier got on the grass, resulting in a slow motion spin into the tire barriers.

With the Skip Barber mechanics having fixed his car, Megenbier got back underway Friday morning with qualifying for Round Three. Showing tremendous car control in the changing conditions, he was the man to beat throughout most of the session. Driving on damp but drying track, the Illinois pilot repeatedly posted the fastest time, holding the provisional pole position for the majority of qualifying. Unfortunately, just as everyone was posting the fastest times of the session, Megenbier encountered a brake problem, dropping him to seventh in the final standings.

Entering the opening race of the weekend, Megenbier and the crew had worked on his car and they believed that the brake problem had been resolved. This, however, was not the case, as Megenbier was forced to pump the brakes before entering each braking zone. Finally getting into rhythm after losing several positions, he worked his way back towards the front. Megenbier showcasing his driving talent was fifth when the checkered flag waved.

After a difficult opening first race of the weekend, Megenbier was looking forward to once again challenging for pole position in the second qualifying session. He never got that chance, as he encountered numerous handling problems en route to a 10th place finish on the timesheets. Unsure about how the car would perform in Round Four, Megenbier set about getting the most from his vehicle in Sunday's race. Getting quicker with each passing lap, the talented youngster methodically worked his forward as the race progressed. At the conclusion of the race, he had advanced three positions, earning a top-10 finish and scoring valuable points.

Thanks to backing from Caputo Cheese and Rahal Foods, Megenbier now lies third in the Skip Barber National point standings, one point back of second, entering Rounds Five and Six of the 2007 season at the Cleveland Grand Prix on June 22-24.

Rounds 3 & 4

Joel Miller and Josef Newgarden had dramatic wins at Virginia International Raceway in rounds three and four of the BFGoodrich/Skip Barber National Presented by Mazda. For  Miller, racing under the 2007 Skip Barber/Snap-on Stars of  Karting Scholarship banner, it was his maiden National win. So  too for new guy Newgarden, who had come from impressive wins in  Skip Barber's Regional championships.

In race one, Miller was in fifth place at the beginning of the  last lap. In fact, with just three corners to go he was no better off, still dicing with Peter Ludwig in third and Jeff Oleen - the points leader - in fourth. Newgarden, who had just drafted past polesitter Ricky Taylor down the long backstraight from Oak Tree to Turn 14, protected his line entering the  corner. But Taylor, who had led nine of the 10 laps up to that  point, was trying to out-brake Newgarden, who legitimately thought he already had the corner. Banging wheels-to-sidepods, each were convinced they had rights to the downhill righthander called Rollercoaster. But near the apex, both cars on the razor's edge, their final contact spun the two around.

Third was Ludwig, a Masters Division driver running as quick as the kids, thought for sure the race was going to be his, if he could snake through the melee. But Taylor's spinning car caught Ludwig's, and Oleen's too. Miller had a longer look at the developing maelstrom and was able to find a way by, putting two wheels to the grass to squeeze by, Stevan McAleer and A.J. Riley did the same.

McAleer and Riley had a bit more momentum and made bids to get past Miller through the last corner but fell a few car lengths shy. It was a crazy win for Miller, but it was he who survived and had no trouble savoring the win.

Jonathan Gore ran a smart race to fourth, with Sebring race winner Timmy Megenbier right on Gore's gearbox to take fifth. Kyle Lawrence, Juan Carlos Sistos, Oleen, Julien Gerbi and  Quentin Wahl rounded out the top 10, with Wahl duking it out all  race long with Jeff Kaiser and Dick Lippert to take the Masters Division win.

Race two was a virtual carbon copy of race one. Taylor and  Newgarden were cutting each other up, Taylor leading most of the laps, Newgarden never more than a couple car lengths behind.

Again, it's the last lap, again Taylor is P1 and Newgarden is in second. Newgarden drafts Taylor as they leave Oak Tree and pops left for the lead. Rocketing up to Turn 14, Taylor is less than a car length behind. Both had learned a hard lesson in race one and Turn 14 was negotiated drama-free. Taylor was now perfectly placed to get a run on Newgarden through the very fast righthand Turn 17, which spits the cars out on the front straight, and there's enough of a run to start-finish for a draft-pass to have a legitimate chance.

Taylor almost made it work -- the finish line needed to be another 50 yards up the road. Newgarden did it by three one-hundredths of a second, winning in just his fourth Skip Barber National start. Miller stayed close to this battle, too, and finished less than a half-second behind Newgarden to take third place, while Lawrence, who started on the front row alongside Taylor (two for two in pole qualifying), fell back to fifth mid-race but eventually ran down 2006 Sao Paulo FF1600 champion Fabio Orsolon to take fourth. Oleen, Megenbier and Riley were in their own snarling pack, finishing sixth-through eighth covered by three-tenths, with Sistos a distant ninth. Ludwig was 10th, taking the Masters victory. 

Miller's excellent weekend lifts him to the points lead,  dropping Oleen to second and Taylor to fourth, with Megenbier fifth. Lawrence's unspectacular but solid results now has him third in the standings.

Skip Barber National Series Race 1 Results

1. Joel Miller, Hesperia, Calif.
2. Steven McAleer, Glasgow, Scotland.
3. A.J. Riley, Wilton, Conn.
4. Jonathan Gore, Franklin, Tenn.
5. Timmy Megenbier, Melrose Park, Ill.
6. Kyle Lawrence, Fort Gratiot, Mich.
7. Juan Carlos Sistos, Mexico.
8. Jeff Oleen, Bethesda, Md.
9. Julien Gerbi, Nice, France.
10. Quentin Wahl, Santa Barbara, Calif.
11. Jeff Kaiser, Santa Clara, Calif.
12.  Dick Lippert, Wichita, Kan.
13. Peter Ludwig, New Paltz, N.Y.
14. Dom Bastien, New Canaan, Conn.
15. Juan Pablo Contreras, Guatemala.
16. Josef Newgarden, Henderson, Tenn.
17. Fabio Orsolon, Cabo Frio, Brazil.
18. Lee Carpentier, Great River, L.I., N.Y.
19. Chris Keller, Green Brook, N.J.
20. Taz Smith, Jacksonville, Fla.
21. Mario Ochoa, Mexico.
22. Ricky Taylor, Apopka, Fla.

Skip Barber National Series Race 2 Results

1. Josef Newgarden, Henderson, Tenn.
2. Ricky Taylor, Apopka, Fla.
3. Joel Miller, Hesperia, Calif.
4. Kyle Lawrence, Fort Gratiot, Mich.
5. Fabio Orsolon, Cabo Frio, Brazil.
6. Jeff Oleen, Bethesda, Md.
7. Timmy Megenbier, Melrose Park, Ill.
8. A.J. Riley, Wilton, Conn.
9. Juan Carlos Sistos, Mexico.
10.  Peter Ludwig, New Paltz, N.Y.
11. Lee Carpentier, Great River, L.I., N.Y.
12. Jonathan Gore, Franklin, Tenn.
13. Jeff Kaiser, Santa Clara, Calif.
14. Juan Pablo Contreras, Guatemala.
15. Dom Bastien, New Canaan, Conn.
16. Mario Ochoa, Mexico.
17. Taz Smith, Jacksonville, Fla.
18. Quentin Wahl, Santa Barbara, Calif.
19. Dick Lippert, Wichita, Kan.
20. Chris Keller, Green Brook, N.J.
21. Steven McAleer, Glasgow, Scotland.
22. Julien Gerbi, Nice, France.