By John Muller
Near perfect weather was on tap for round one of the NASA's Southern California Spec Miata Championship at Willow Springs Raceway in Rosemond, CA. Qualifying for the first time on the new Toyo R888's found Grant Westmoreland, Austin Christian and Clement Lee starting in the top three spots. The race was epic, with the lead changing hands at the stripe during each of the first six laps. It was a dogfight, and despite an off track excursion which found him drifting through the outside of turn-nine, Westmoreland was able to finish 2nd behind Jonathan Christian while Clement Lee captured the 3rd podium position.
Near perfect weather was on tap for round one of the NASA's Southern California Spec Miata Championship at Willow Springs Raceway in Rosemond, CA. Qualifying for the first time on the new Toyo R888's found Grant Westmoreland, Austin Christian and Clement Lee starting in the top three spots. The race was epic, with the lead changing hands at the stripe during each of the first six laps. It was a dogfight, and despite an off track excursion which found him drifting through the outside of turn-nine, Westmoreland was able to finish 2nd behind Jonathan Christian while Clement Lee captured the 3rd podium position.
By John Muller
Near perfect weather was on tap for round one of the NASA's Southern California Spec Miata Championship at Willow Springs Raceway in Rosemond, CA. Qualifying for the first time on the new Toyo R888's found Grant Westmoreland, Austin Christian and Clement Lee starting in the top three spots. The race was epic, with the lead changing hands at the stripe during each of the first six laps. It was a dogfight, and despite an off track excursion which found him drifting through the outside of turn-nine, Westmoreland was able to finish 2nd behind Jonathan Christian while Clement Lee captured the 3rd podium position.
Sunday found a little more warmth to give the track a tiny amount of grip more. Qualifying was amazingly close with the top three cars separated by 6-tents of a second. Top spot went to William Christian II followed by his brother Jonathan Christian and Grant Westmoreland. A nice clean 5-wide group drove into the first turn and allowed the leaders to form a freight train and pull out a substantial gap over 6th place. For the second race in a row Bill Nelson & Angela Swan raced each other hard, at times each trying to see just how wide a little Miata can really get. At in the end, Jonathan Christian and Westmoreland swept the front two spots, followed by William Christian II in 3rd.
Honorable mention goes to Charles Miller who collected a spinning car in the Saturday morning practice. The left front was bent-up and suspension mangled. Charlie and his crew rebuilt the corner of his wounded car in time to make the Saturday race, starting all the way in the back he made-up several positions and finished 15th. Outstanding!
There were also two first time race class drivers. With their novice licenses in hand Jennifer Coomer & Stephen Pan got out there and mixed-it-up making-up time along the way.
Two great races to start the 2009 SoCal season and the next round will take place on March 28th & 29th at California Speedway in Fontanta, CA.
Near perfect weather was on tap for round one of the NASA's Southern California Spec Miata Championship at Willow Springs Raceway in Rosemond, CA. Qualifying for the first time on the new Toyo R888's found Grant Westmoreland, Austin Christian and Clement Lee starting in the top three spots. The race was epic, with the lead changing hands at the stripe during each of the first six laps. It was a dogfight, and despite an off track excursion which found him drifting through the outside of turn-nine, Westmoreland was able to finish 2nd behind Jonathan Christian while Clement Lee captured the 3rd podium position.
Sunday found a little more warmth to give the track a tiny amount of grip more. Qualifying was amazingly close with the top three cars separated by 6-tents of a second. Top spot went to William Christian II followed by his brother Jonathan Christian and Grant Westmoreland. A nice clean 5-wide group drove into the first turn and allowed the leaders to form a freight train and pull out a substantial gap over 6th place. For the second race in a row Bill Nelson & Angela Swan raced each other hard, at times each trying to see just how wide a little Miata can really get. At in the end, Jonathan Christian and Westmoreland swept the front two spots, followed by William Christian II in 3rd.
Honorable mention goes to Charles Miller who collected a spinning car in the Saturday morning practice. The left front was bent-up and suspension mangled. Charlie and his crew rebuilt the corner of his wounded car in time to make the Saturday race, starting all the way in the back he made-up several positions and finished 15th. Outstanding!
There were also two first time race class drivers. With their novice licenses in hand Jennifer Coomer & Stephen Pan got out there and mixed-it-up making-up time along the way.
Two great races to start the 2009 SoCal season and the next round will take place on March 28th & 29th at California Speedway in Fontanta, CA.
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