Spec E30
1. Donny Edwards
2. Kevin Borchers
3. Scott Neville

(little kid provided by GoGoGear.com)

Spec Miata
1. Randy Evans
2. Dean Thomas
3. Todd Wilson

Spec Miata: ZOOM-ZOOM…Hey lookout!

by Rob Krider

            The week after NASCAR used Infineon Raceway to remind their drivers that automobiles do have the ability to turn to the right, the NASA Nor Cal AIM/Toyo Spec Miata Challenge Series came back to compete at the famed track on June 28-29, 2008.  Mazda Miata driver’s used the entire course (as opposed to the abbreviated NASCAR carousel delete version) to punish their Toyo tires and try to win the $1,000 dollar NASA award for the winner or the American International Motorsports $1,500 award to be split between 2^nd through 6^th place.

            Saturday’s race had an interesting twist when the Spec Miata heavy hitter, #6 Randy Evans, was moved to the back of the pack after his qualifying run was DQ’ed due to a pass during a yellow.  During the race, this just allowed him to see the different Miatas that he has been competing with all year as he passed everyone of them to take the come from behind win.

            Sunday’s money race saw a great battle between #6 Randy Evans and #72 Dean Thomas.  Thomas passed polesitter Evans proving to the rest of the Spec Miata field that Evans is actually a mortal.  The two drivers used every ounce of horsepower their Mazda’s had and every bit of grip their Toyo’s could offer as they battled back and forth early in the race.  Evans caught up to Thomas and they went through turns one, two and three in a butt-puckering door to door configuration.  They both came out clean (their cars, I can’t speak for their shorts) then Evans snuck by Thomas in turn 5 to take the lead.  Evans kept his lead to win the race picking up the $1,000 from NASA.  #72 Thomas finished second, #67 Todd Wilson snagged the last podium spot for third.  #61 Jeff Smith, #37 Dan Mairani and #58 Team M Service/Mel & Sons all finished 4^th through 6^th respectively, within the AIM/Toyo money.  Unfortunately, during the first lap of the race #18 Tim Long was determined to have caused a collision which collected #711 Daniel Gehringer and #33 Stephen Thomas.  Both of their cars received heavy damage but luckily each driver was okay.

            Now for the “real” awards.  Sure, first through third place picked up some gorgeous trophies from NASA for their efforts, but these particular folks earned some very prestigious, yet very unofficial and un-politically correct awards: #33 Stephen Thomas and #711 Daniel Gehringer each earned the Reese’s “You put your chocolate in my peanut butter” or is it, “No, you put your peanut butter in my chocolate” award for the heavy hit they unfortunately exchanged with each other during the first lap melee.  And speaking of the #33 Stephen Thomas ride, I was corrected in the pits when I described the color of his car as “pink.”  I was told the color is not pink; it’s “salmon.”  For the record, let any five year old girl describe the color of that car they will say the word “pink.”  For this, Stephen Thomas earns the Malibu Barbie Miata award.  This award does come with matching luggage as well as other pink colored accessories.  #711 Gehringer earned the Verizon “Can you hear me now?” award for getting to grid late and being in such a hurry that he forgot to turn on the radio in his car.  His spotter, Dennis, stood in the stands saying over and over, “Hello, Can you hear me now?  Everything okay?  Hello.  Beuller… Beuller?”

            Ironically, Gehringer and Thomas, the two guys who were directed into each other and coincidentally are hogging all of the awards this week are both part of the Evil Genius Racing Team.  And like most schemes made by any Evil Genius, their diabolical plans to win the Spec Miata race (and then take over the world) were “foiled again!” 

            After all of the Bondo and “pink” paint dries the next AIM/Toyo Nor Cal Spec Miata Challenge Series event will be August 23-24, 2008, at Thunderhill raceway.  Get your sun screen and sign up early!  See you there.