Thursday, October 06, 2005 The Skip Barber Triple Crown Championship was new for '05, and the Regional finale at Road America was the third leg for the Midwest. Road America in July and Mid-Ohio in September were the first two. Each division -- Championship, Sportsman and Masters -- had its own Triple Crown titlist.
Jonathan Gore of Franklin, Tenn., was the Championship Group Triple Crown winner, accumulating just 22 points over the six races. At the first Road America, he had a sixth and a second; at Mid-Ohio a fifth and a fourth; and the Road America finale, a fourth and the clincher, a win on Sunday. Charles Anti and Jonathan Frost were just six and nine points back, respectively.
Jonathan Gore, the overall 2005 Midwest Triple Crown Champion, with "Henn," the famous and fabulous celebrity presenter.
The Sportsman Triple Crown Champion was Steve Ablondi, from Sterling, Va. Third and fourth at Road America in July, eighth and second at Mid-Ohio, and seventh and a big win at the finale secured the title, a single point in front of Dirk Daems and Mike Kolacki.
Steve Ablondi took Midwest Sportsman Triple Crown, scoring just 25 points
Mike Kolacki of Chicago really stepped it up in 2005, underscored with his first-time win -- followed with his second! -- at Road America in July. With a second (and a 16th) at Mid-Ohio, plus two third-places at the finale. Dirk Daems, from Clarkston, Mich., was just as solid, finishing five of the six Triple Crown races in the top-five. Mike & Dirk both "shot" 26, so they're co-champions of the Midwest Masters Triple Crown Championship.
Mike Kolacki (l.) and Dirk Daems (r.) are Masters Triple Crown co-champions. The short guy in the middle is reputedly a very fast race car driver, too.
Congratulations, again, to the Midwest Triple Crown titlists! In a few days time, we'll be racing to anoint the Eastern Series Triple Crowners. Jim Craige, Kevin Hoffman and Adrian Dixon are the category leaders.
Click here to see the PDF of the final Midwest Triple Crown standings as well as where the East stands after two of three legs. Rick Roso
