SBNC Season Finale at Mid-Ohio will crown Bonilla, Vorrath or Nelson as 2005 Champion

The Skip Barber National's final two races of the year, at Mid-OhioSports Car Course, are next Tuesday and Wednesday (Sept. 6-7). The top three drivers arewithin 19 points -- one point less than a race win is worth -- of each other. Gerardo Bonilla is 13points up on Jordy Vorrath, who in turn is six up on Cole Nelson. Any of these three can win the2005 championship and its $100,000 bonus, the largest for an entry level professionalchampionship in North America.

Through the year's first 12 races, Bonilla has three victories and two poles; Vorrath has four winsand two poles; Nelson has a solo win at VIR, and is tied at seven with Bonilla for most podiumfinishes (and has the most second-places, four).Who would you pick?

Bonilla has 177 points, Vorrath 164 and Nelson 158. Because there are two races remaining andnot just one, and poles are worth a point apiece, the various "clinch" scenarios would need to befigured out by a Cray Supercomputer. Nevertheless, regardless of what Vorrath and Nelson do,Bonilla can decide his own fate as long as he scores 30 or more points between the two races atMid-Ohio. A win combined with a second, third, fourth, fifth or sixth would do it. So would twoP2s. Or second and a third. How about two third places and two poles? You get the point…For Vorrath and Nelson, all they can do is try to finish each race in front of Bonilla -- and eachother.

The bottom line is that there'll be some fantastic racing, for sure. Remember, it's not just thesethree guys who have the speed to win at Mid-Ohio. Matt Varsha has two poles and a win, AndyRossetto is a two-timer in wins and poles, and Jonathan Goring has a victory notch. Garrett Zineand Paul Albert are frontrunners, too.

Qualifying for Round 13 is Tuesday (the 6th) at 11:30 a.m. Eastern, with a scheduled green forthe race at 1:30. Qualifying for the finale is set for Wednesday at 9:00 a.m., with the race at11:00.