With Rounds 3 and 4 completed at Virginia International Raceway, this was the first time on the 3.27 mile track for several of the young drivers. Heading into the weekend, 18-year old Brandon Newey held a two point lead over 19-year old Thomas McGregor, but by the end of the weekend, McGregor advanced to claim the top position with a two point lead. After a difficult race in Round 3, the drivers returned to put on another great race event in Round 4 of 16. The series next races May 27-30 in conjunction with Grand-Am at Lime Rock Park.
Oak Tree Corner: (l. to r.) Danilo Estrela (80), Brian Cook (76), and Franco Aragonez (75) (Photo: Kelly Brouillet, Courtesy of Skip Barber Racing School)
Round 3Round 3 got off to an uneasy start as the field was finishing the pace lap. In an effort to find the right speed to start the race, the front of the field unexpectedly slowed, forcing the back of the field to check up. This caused Skip Barber Cup drivers Greg Strelzoff and Pat Daly to have contact, resulting in Daly launching over the back of Strelzoff’s car, rolling, then landing right side up. The race was immediately black-flagged and all the cars came to a stop on the back straight. Both drivers involved in the incident were unable to continue and inspected and cleared by medical staff at Virginia International Raceway.
The race officially started with ten laps to go, and after exiting turn one, Scott Anderson grabbed the lead from California Scents pole sitter Sebastian Ordonez. Anderson quickly increased his lead with Brandon Newey and MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development driver Trent Hindman fighting to stay close behind. Newey stayed close and grabbed the lead, while further back, Skip Barber Cup driver Brian Cook spun, went four wheels off track, and continued.
Heading into turn four, Newey and Hindman had slight contact, but both continued. In the next turn, Newey went off course, but again was able to continue back on track. Just a few turns later in the esses at VIR, Remo Ruscitti and Shelby Blackstock became involved in some close racing, resulting in Ruscitti going off course and the race going back to yellow.
For the third time in the session, Sebastian Ordonez led the field to the green flag, gaining a two car length lead. Scott Anderson wasted no time in making a pop for the lead, and Thomas McGregor followed, with Ordonez back in third and MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development driver Danilo Estrela in fourth. McGregor’s day came to an unfortunate end when he went four wheels off course into the wall at turn fifteen. This course of events caused the officials to black flag the race, ending the session early. At the wave of the checker flag, Scott Anderson held first position, with Sebastian Ordonez and Danilo Estrela rounding out the top three.
Ordonez and Anderson, Pre-Race Grid, Round 3
FFICIAL Results for Round 3 at Virginia International Raceway2011 BFGoodrich/Skip Barber National Presented by Mazda1. (2) Scott Anderson, 22, Fort Collins, CO 2. (1) Sebastian Ordonez, 16, Deerfield Beach, FL 3. (7) Danilo Estrela, 17, Goiania, Brazil4. (3) Trent Hindman, 15, Wayside, NJ5. (11) Shelby Blackstock, 21, Nashville, TN 6. (10) Devin Jones, 16, Mooresville, NC7. (6) Franco Aragones, 14, Cancun, Mexico8. (5) Brandon Newey, 18, Indianapolis, IN9. (9) Brian Cook, 41 Northampton, MA10. (8) Thomas McGregor, 19, Saskastoon, Canada11. (4) Remo Ruscitti, 17, Burnaby, Canada 12. (12) Greg Strelzoff, 41, Playa Vista, CA13. (13) Pat Daly (late addition)
California Scents Pole Award: Sebastian Ordonez (2:06.462)Fastest Lap: Shelby Blackstock (2:07.603/ 92.255)Track Conditions: Warm and sunnyRace Length: 22:25.586Margin of Victory: 0.028 secondsLap Leaders: Scott Anderson 1; Brandon Newey 2-3; Newey 4-6; Anderson 7-8California Scents Most Progressive: Shelby Blackstock
Parathyroid.com Most Cumulative Points Winners:1. Scott Anderson2. Sebastian Ordonez3. Thomas McGregor
Championship Point Standings after 4 of 16 Rounds2011 BFGoodrich/Skip Barber National Presented by Mazda1. 122 pts. Thomas McGregor (2 Win, 3 Podiums) Exclusive Management, Inc./Dairy Queen2. 120Brandon Newey (1 Win, 3 Podiums) Bryan Herta Autosport/Sparco/Bell3. 119 Scott Anderson (1 Win, 2 Poles, 2 Podiums) Laser Nail Centers/Neuropathy Testing Centers4. 114 Sebastian Ordonez (1 Pole, 2 Podiums) RDD Motorsports/John Pew/Micheal Auriema/Auto Craze/Oakley5. 107 Trent Hindman (1 Pole) MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development/Sparco/Racelite Protection/Premier Woodcraft6. 105 Danilo Estrela (2 Podiums) MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development7. 100 Shelby Blackstock Starstruck Entertainment8. 92 Remo Ruscitti9. 90 Franco Aragones10. 87 Devin Jones Social Distortion/Impact Racing/Racing Electronics 11. 45 Mukul Sud12. 41 Patrick Gallagher CTL Engineering/Promotion Driver Development
Skip Barber Cup1. 70pts Brian Cook2. 64 Greg Strelzoff3. 30 Pat Daly
Remaining Schedule 2011 BFGoodrich/Skip Barber National Presented by Mazda Rounds 5 & 6: May 27-30 at Lime Rock Park with GRAND-AMRounds 7 & 8: July 1-3 at Road America with Skip Barber Regional SeriesRounds 9 & 10: July 21-23 at Road Atlanta with Skip Barber Regional SeriesRounds 11 & 12: August 11-13 at Lime Rock Park with Skip Barber Regional SeriesRounds 13 & 14: September 9-11 at Autobahn with Skip Barber Regional SeriesRounds 15 & 16: Oct 6-8 at Lime Rock Park with Skip Barber Regional Series
About the Skip Barber National SeriesDedicated to the development of aspiring race car drivers, the Skip Barber National is an open wheel, entry-level, equal car championship that provides the athletes with media exposure, expert coaching, on-track experience, financial awards and motorsport scholarships. The Skip Barber National is the series that launched the auto racing careers of Ryan Hunter-Reay, Marco Andretti, Scott Speed, A.J. Allmendinger, Raphael Matos and many more. The top 10 drivers in the Skip Barber National Series point standings will also receive prizes and awards to aid in the development of their motorsports careers.
About Parathyroid.comParathyroid.com is a multi-media educational website recognized as the leading authority on diseases of the parathyroid glands. Parathyroid tumors are small tumors located in the neck which affect one in 1000 people causing high blood calcium, osteoporosis, chronic fatigue, depression, and kidney stones, among other conditions. parathyroid.com
About California ScentsCalifornia Scents is a manufacturer of high quality air freshening products and has provided consumers with over 17 years of long-lasting fresh scents from exciting and eco-friendly products. California Scents products are available at major retailers throughout North America and are also available in over 65 countries around the world through authorized distributors. Some of the company’s popular brands include; California Scents, Pet Scents, Cool Scents, California Car Scents and Cool Gel. From gels, non-aerosol sprays and fiber pads to car vent clips and odor eliminators, California Scents provides a variety of products to meet any air freshening need. CaliforniaScents.com.
