Most Mazda winners doubled up at Watkins Glen International in the last SCCA Hoosier Racing Tire Super Tour event of 2018
The final Hoosier Racing Tire Super Tour of 2018 took place again at Watkins Glen International. For drivers in 27 different car classes, the weekend hosted by SCCA’s Glen Region represented the last chance to garner a victory and accumulate points toward the championship that concludes with the 2018 SCCA National Championship Runoffs at Sonoma Raceway this October.
The weekend ended with a lot of sweeps by Mazda drivers, with every Saturday winner repeating on Sunday, save in Super Touring Lite – all of this happening despite changing weather conditions that threw a lot of drivers for a loop.
The sweep included Spec Miata, where the critical strategic thinking started before the race began. A band of rain came through and dampened the course before the start. On grid, SM competitors were out of their cars and chatting with one another about whether to use dry or rain tires. The conclusion was dry rubber, with the general consensus being, “Well, we’re all in this together.”
At the start, as the 22-car field came to the green flag, Saturday winner Tyler Kicera struggled right away as his left foot accidentally hit the brake pedal instead of the clutch. To the front went Danny Steyn, Michael Carter and Ralle Rookey, followed by Nick Leverone, Kicera and Elivan Goulart.
As the race progressed, Steyn and Carter set the pace up front while Kicera picked off competitors lap by lap until he was running second. Steyn, Carter and Kicera then took turns at the front for the last quarter of the 14-lap race. As the white flag flew, it was local and WGI expert Kicera with Steyn and Carter in hot pursuit. Kicera, driving the Flatout Motorsports/XFactor Engines/Carbotech Mazda Miata, would not be moved from the top spot and swept the SM class with two wins over the weekend.
“I just felt like my car was handling much better than everybody in front of me, so it allowed me to make up time with the draft on the back straight,” Kicera said. “But I couldn’t get a breakaway. I think Carter, Steyn and myself traded the lead at least four or five times in the last couple laps. It was extremely competitive and a lot of fun racing with those guys.”
Carter may not have won at Watkins Glen, but he accumulated enough points in Hoosier Super Tour events to win the $30,000 Mazda contingency awarded to the Spec Miata driver that scored the most points across eight Hoosier Super Tour events. The award will be paid to a Idemitsu Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by BFGoodrich® Tires team on behalf of Carter to compete in two events in 2019.
The other drivers beside Kicera to sweep the weekend included Don Girven in E Production (RX-3); Charlie Campbell in his F Production Miata; Larry Howard driving a Star Pro Formula Mazda to victory in Formula Atlantic; Scott Rettich in Formula Enterprises; Todd Vanacore in FE2; and John Mcaleer in P2. Danny Steyn and Nick Leverone, both driving a different generation of MX-5, split the Super Touring Lite wins.
The 2018 Hoosier Super Tour regular season may be over, but the chase to become a Super Tour Point Champion continues later this year at the 2018 Runoffs. A driver’s best six Hoosier Super Tour finishes, plus their Runoffs performance, count toward overall Hoosier Super Tour Point totals. And drivers looking to earn an SCCA Road Racing Super Sweep honor in 2018 must become a Super Tour Point Champion, win a U.S. Majors Tour Conference Championship and be victorious at the National Championship Runoffs all in a single class.
SCCA Hoosier Super Tour
Watkins Glen International
Watkins Glen, N.Y., June 23-24, 2018
Saturday Provisional Mazda Winners
E Production: Don Girven; Scottsville, NY; Finger Lakes Region; Mazda RX-3
F Production: Charlie Campbell; Corry, PA; Mohawk Hudson Region; Mazda Miata
Formula Atlantic: Larry Howard; Kansas City, MO; Kansas City Region; Star Pro Formula Mazda
Formula Enterprises: Scott Rettich; Columbus, OH; Ohio Valley Region; SCCA FE Mazda
Formula Enterprises 2: Todd Vanacore; Ormond Beach, FL; Central Florida Region; SCCA FE2 Mazda
Prototype 1: John Mcaleer; Roswell, GA; Atlanta Region; Elan DP02
Spec Miata: Tyler Kicera; Manheim, PA; Susquehanna Region; Mazda Miata
Super Touring Lite: Danny Steyn; Fort Lauderdale, FL; Florida Region; Mazda MX-5
Sunday Provisional Mazda Winnerz
E Production: Don Girven; Scottsville, NY; Finger Lakes Region; Mazda RX-3
F Production: Charlie Campbell; Corry, PA; Mohawk Hudson Region; Mazda Miata
Formula Atlantic: Larry Howard; Kansas City, MO; Kansas City Region; Star Pro Formula Mazda
Formula Enterprises: Scott Rettich; Columbus, OH; Ohio Valley Region; SCCA FE Mazda
Formula Enterprises 2: Todd Vanacore; Ormond Beach, FL; Central Florida Region; SCCA FE2 Mazda
Prototype 1: John Mcaleer; Roswell, GA; Atlanta Region; Elan DP02
Spec Miata: Tyler Kicera; Manheim, PA; Susquehanna Region; Mazda Miata
Super Touring Lite: Nick Leverone; Mendon, MA; New England Region; Mazda Miata