Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Rounds 1&2: Sebring Skip Barber National Wrap Up Newey Leads Championship
The 14th season of the Skip Barber National Presented by Mazda kicked off last week at the legendary 12 Hours of Sebring at Sebring International Raceway. Nineteen year old Thomas McGregor and eighteen year old Brandon Newey took the first race wins of the season, as well as each earning an additional podium finish. Brandon Newey leads the championship heading into Round 3 with Thomas McGregor just two points behind. IZOD IndyCar driver and Skip Barber Racing School Alumni Ryan Hunter-Reay visited the drivers before the final race to speak to them regarding his time with the race series. “These instructors and this organization is what makes it happen,” he told them. “Take full advantage of it.” Offering advice to young drivers and continuing communications with Skip Barber Racing School, Hunter-Reay continues to remain dedicated to the organization that helped him climb the motorsports ladder.
Hunter-Reay giving advice to the Skip Barber National Competitors (Photo: Kelly Brouillet, Courtesy of Skip Barber Racing School)
Round 1 Starting in the sixth position, Sebastian Ordonez quickly worked his way up through the field to be in second in the first lap. Pole sitter Scott Anderson fought hard to maintain his lead, and remained in the top four for the entirety of the race, ultimately finishing fourth. Shelby Blackstock grabbed the lead in the same lap, Thomas McGregor and Ordonez close behind. Going three wide into seventeen, McGregor grabbed the lead and started to expand the gap between him and Anderson. Skip Barber Racing School Karting Scholarship Shootout winner and MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development Driver Trent Hindman started sixth and by lap two had worked his way up to third to contend for the lead position. Hindman locked up before the hairpin and McGregor took advantage of the situation, grabbing the lead. The race then went full course yellow as Karting Scholarship participant Remo Ruscitti’s machine went down on course near turn seventeen. As the race returned to green, Hindman made a successful pop for the lead down the front straight. With just a few laps remaining, Hindman and McGregor battled strong and close for the lead with Anderson, Blackstock and Brandon Newey close behind. McGregor grabbed the lead and started to expand the gap between him and Anderson. Skip Barber Racing School Karting Scholarship Shootout winner and MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development Driver Danilo Estrela, who at this time was mysteriously missing the nose of his car, had worked his way to fourth with just two laps to go. As the white flag flew, McGregor gained a slight lead from the rest of the pack. With Anderson, Estrela and Newey fighting hard for second position, nerves were at an all time high as the checker flew. McGregor grabbed the first win of the season with Newey 1.162 seconds behind and Estrela 0.044 seconds behind Newey. “Looking at where I was last year and where I am now,” said McGregor “I just want to thank my dad, Exclusive Management, Michael Duncalfe, everyone who stood behind me and gave me a huge opportunity to race in a great series like this.”
McGregor leads Blackstock into the Carousel at Sebring International Raceway (Photo: Kelly Brouillet, Courtesy of Skip Barber Racing School)
Round 2 MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development driver Trent Hindman started Round 2 on pole but by the time the field completed the first lap, fellow MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development driver Danilo Estrela lead the field down the front straight. Brandon Newey made a pop for the top position, only to have Thomas McGregor claim the lead. Starting sixth, Sebastian Ordonez worked his way up to lead lap two, and consistently remained in the top four for the rest of the race. McGregor and Newey battled close for the lead, but showed sportsmanship in still working together to remain upfront. At the halfway point, McGregor gained a car length lead, only to have Blackstock advance to the front. Blackstock’s lead was short lived as Newey passed on the inside, with McGregor following suit. With one lap to go, Newey held the lead with Ordonez five car lengths behind. Time sheets show four different race leaders passing the start/finish line, however, at least five drivers battled over the lead throughout the track, going three wide into corners and working the draft. Newey took home the checker flag with Ordonez 1.113 seconds behind and McGregor 3.487 seconds behind the leader. “It feels great, I can’t believe it,” said Newey. “I want to say thanks to my dad and thanks to all the Skip Barber guys…Everyone’s been really supportive, and it was just a great weekend.”
Ordonez pre-race (Photo: Kelly Brouillet, Courtesy of Skip Barber Racing School)
OFFICIAL Results for Round 1 of 16 at Sebring International Raceway 2011 BFGoodrich/Skip Barber National Presented by Mazda March 17, 2011 (Starting position in parenthesis) 1. (2) Thomas McGregor, 19, Saskastoon, Canada 2. (3) Brandon Newey, 18, Indianapolis, IN 3. (8) Danilo Estrela, 17, Goiania, Brazil 4. (1) Scott Anderson, 22, Fort Collins, CO 5. (5) Trent Hindman, 15, Wayside, NJ 6. (4) Shelby Blackstock, 21, Nashville, TN 7. (6) Sebastian Ordonez, 16, Deerfield Beach, FL 8. (11) Franco Aragones, 14, Cancun, Mexico 9. (9) Mukul Sud, 25, India 10. (12) Devin Jones, 17, Mooresville, NC 11. (7) Patrick Gallagher, 18, Thornville, OH 12. (10) Remo Ruscitti, 17, Burnaby, Canada California Scents Pole Award: Scott Anderson Cautions: One Track Conditions: Warm and sunny Race Length: 24:22.956, 9 Laps, 3.700 mile, 17 turn road course Margin of Victory: 1.162 seconds Lap Leaders: Shelby Blackstock 1; Thomas McGregor 2-5; Scott Anderson 6; Thomas McGregor 7-10 Fastest Lap: Trent Hindman (2:23.832/ 92.608) California Scents Most Progressive: Danilo Estrela, 5 positions
Round 1 Podium: Newey (P2), McGregor (P1) and Estrela (P3) (Photo: Kelly Brouillet, Courtesy of Skip Barber Racing School)
OFFICIAL Results for Round 2 of 16 at Sebring International Raceway 2011 BFGoodrich/Skip Barber National Presented by Mazda March 18, 2011 (Starting position in parenthesis) 1. (2) Brandon Newey, 18, Indianapolis, IN 2. (6) Sebastian Ordonez, 16, Deerfield Beach, FL 3. (7) Thomas McGregor, 19, Saskastoon, Canada 4. (5) Danilo Estrela, 17, Goiania, Brazil 5. (1) Trent Hindman, 15, Wayside, NJ 6. (10) Shelby Blackstock, 21, Nashville, TN 7. (4) Remo Ruscitti, 17, Burnaby, Canada 8. (9) Mukul Sud, 25, India 9. (3) Scott Anderson, 22, Fort Collins, CO 10. (11) Patrick Gallagher, 18, Thornville, OH 11. (8) Franco Aragones, 14, Cancun, Mexico 12. (12) Devin Jones, 17, Mooresville, NC California Scents Pole Award: Trent Hindman Fastest Lap: Shelby Blackstock (2:23.844/ 92.600) Cautions: None Track Conditions: Warm and sunny Race Length: 24:18.571 Margin of Victory: 1.113 seconds Lap Leaders: Danilo Estrela 1; Sebastian Ordonez 2; Brandon Newey 3; Estrela 4; Thomas McGregor 5; Ordonez 6; McGregor 7; Newey 8-10 Fastest Lap: Shelby Blackstock (2:23.844/ 92.600) California Scents Most Progressive: Shelby Blackstock, 4 Positions
Round 2 Podium: Ordonez (P2), Newey (P1) and McGregor (P3) (Photo: Kelly Brouillet, Courtesy of Skip Barber Racing School)
Parathyroid.com Most Cumulative Points Awards: 1. Brandon Newey 2. Thomas McGregor 3. Sebastian Ordonez Championship Point Standings after 2 of 16 Rounds 2011 BFGoodrich/Skip Barber National Presented by Mazda 1. 67 pts. Brandon Newey (1 Win, 2 Podiums) Bryan Herta Autosport/Sparco/Bell 2. 65 Thomas McGregor (1 Win, 2 Podiums) Exclusive Management, Inc./Dairy Queen 3. 56 Sebastian Ordonez (1 Podium) RDD Motorsports/John Pew/Micheal Auriema/Auto Craze/Oakley 4. 54 Danilo Estrela (1 Podium) MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development 5. 53 Trent Hindman (1 Pole) MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development/Sparco/Racelite Protection/Premier Woodcraft 6. 51 Scott Anderson (1 Pole) Laser Nail Centers/Neuropathy Testing Centers 7. 50 Shelby Blackstock Starstruck Entertainment 8. 45 Mukul Sud 9. 43 Remo Ruscitti 10. 43 Franco Aragones 11. 41 Patrick Gallagher CTL Engineering/Promotion Driver Development 12. 40 Devin Jones Social Distortion/Impact Racing/Racing Electronics Click here to view more photos. Click here to view time sheets.
Remaining Schedule 2011 BFGoodrich/Skip Barber National Presented by Mazda scheduleRounds 3 & 4: April 29-May 1 at Virginia International Raceway with Skip Barber Regional Series
Rounds 5 & 6: May 27-30 at Lime Rock Park with GRAND-AM
Rounds 7 & 8: July 1-3 at Road America with Skip Barber Regional Series
Rounds 9 & 10: July 21-23 at Road Atlanta with Skip Barber Regional Series
Rounds 11 & 12: August 11-13 at Lime Rock Park with Skip Barber Regional Series Rounds 13 & 14: September 9-11 at Autobahn with Skip Barber Regional Series
Rounds 15 & 16: Oct 6-8 at Lime Rock Park with Skip Barber Regional Series
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