NATIONAL AUTO SPORT ASSOCIATION
October 4-5, 2008
Llihrednuht Raceway

(Click on small pictures for a larger one)

Sunday

Spec Miata Loot:  Thank god someone else besides that Randy-what's-his-name picked up a check!  Barry Hartzel presents the winner of the AIM/Toyo Tires Spec Miata race, Dean Thomas with a check for $1,000.

Spec Miata Special “Two for One!”

 by Rob Krider

            Remember when fans of heavy metal rock would play their records backwards and hear the voice of the devil?  No?  You don’t even remember records?  Well, forget all that then.  On October 4-5, 2008, NASA decided to run Thunderhill Raceway Park backwards calling it Llihrednuht (to pronounce this strange word do your best impression of a French guy saying, “Le Red Nut.”)  NASA subjected the AIM/Toyo Nor Cal Spec Miata Challenge Series to a four race weekend marathon/extravaganza where drivers battled for position on the newly paved race course in the unconventional clockwise direction.  Yes, running the track backwards was endorsed by the band Judas Priest. 

            Spec Miata drivers where treated to the extra races at the low, low price of their normal entry fee (What a bargain!).  The drivers vied for position, burning rubber and swapping paint for the coveted $1,000 purse paid by NASA to the winner as well as $1,500 to be split between 2nd through 6th places provided by American International Motorsports (AIM).

            Saturday’s qualifying saw a familiar name at the top of the list, series points leader Randy Evans, crushing his competitors by 1.644 seconds.  The first race finished with Randy winning in his #6 Miata with #12 Dave Vodden in second (setting fastest time on lap 10) and #21 Ben Brandt picking up the bronze.  Saturday’s second race starting line up was the inverse of the earlier race’s finish.  Which meant Randy Evans would start dead last.  He wasn’t there for long, setting the fastest lap of the race and winning from behind.  Daniel Gehringer in the #711 car picked up second place and #12 Dave Vodden was on the final podium spot.

            On Sunday strange things were afoot at Le Red Nut (not to be confused with Le Blue Nut – which is a totally different and frustrating situation).  Without any warning, the pace car took the Spec Miata field out onto the track in the traditional counter-clockwise direction where the drivers did battle for about four laps.  Then an unsuspecting full course yellow came out and the cars were turned around on track to finish the race in the clockwise direction.  The driver’s were previously unaware of the plans to run the race both ways.  The split personality race was won by #12 Dave Vodden, with #72 Dean Thomas in second spot and #711 Daniel Gehringer on third base (Is it just me? Or when you read Gehringer’s car number, are you jonesing for a Slurpee?).

            The final race for the weekend, known as “the money race” started with Randy Evans in the back of the pack due to a penalty issued during the prior race for passing under yellow.  When the race started Randy got to work passing his way through the field (yes, this time under green), setting the fastest lap for the race and setting his sights on the win.  But it was not to be.  It was Dean Thomas in the #72 Team Momentary Laps Racing Mazda Miata who picked up the big check from NASA.  After his win he graced the course workers and fans with some hairy donuts at the start/finish line.  Congratulations Dean!  You found a way to do a donut in a Miata.  Randy Evans came in second, #711 Daniel Gehringer in third, #44 Jeff Lyon picked up fourth, #98 Jeremy Pike fifth, and #21 Ben Brandt grabbed the last AIM/Toyo money spot in sixth.

            Dean Thomas earns this week’s Trixs Cereal Award for his post win tire smoking antics, “Silly rabbit donuts are for NASCAR!”  This award has all the vitamins and minerals for a complete breakfast.  Jeremy Pike earned the hard hitting award called, “Tell me again, why we removed the air bags from these cars?” when he ate some of the wall during Saturday qualifying.  Just to keep score: Thunderhill Wall – 1.  Mazda Miata – 0. 

            Tyler Vance earned the Lawn Job award for going off big at turn 15 during Sunday’s first race.  It should also be mentioned that Tyler also earned the Playschool My First Spec Miata award since he is only fourteen years old.  Yes, this award is a plush toy.  Randy Evans earned the Wall Street DOW Disaster Award for not winning all the money this weekend (a first after the last five NASA events).  Randy blames the economy.

            The census around the paddock was the racing was exceptional and the unorthodox directions and change ups were good times had by all.  There is only one sanctioning body that can bring drivers that kind of “bass ackwards” action: That’s NASA.

Send all bench racing, comments and complaints to nasaspecmiatamedia@sbcglobal.net.

Spec Miata

1. Dean Thomas
2. Randy Evans
3. Daniel Gehhringer

Honda Challenge - 1

1. Graham Downey
2. Devin Raynal
3. David Wright

Honda Challenge - 2

1. William Downey
2. Chris Smith

Legends Masters
1. Rick Zollman
2. David Allen NIP
3. Ronald Booth NIP

Legends Pro
1. Scott Sheldon (Spencer Gallagher accepting award)
2. Frankie Marks
3. Albert Flores

Legends Semi Pro
1. Brian Kamisky NIP
2. Spencer Gallagher
3. Robert Czub

Super Unlimited
1. Ken Kurtz
2. Andy Sutak NIP
3. Kevin Smith NIP