Wednesday, August 31, 2005 LAKEVILLE, Conn. - So here it is. The Skip Barber National's final two races of the year, at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, early next week. It's been an extremely close-fought battle already, between Gerardo Bonilla, Jordy Vorrath and Cole Nelson. Bonilla leads by 13 over Vorrath, and 19 over Nelson. Any of these three drivers can win the 2005 championship and its $100,000 bonus. So far, Bonilla has three victories and two poles. Vorrath has four wins and two poles. Nelson has a solo win at VIR, and is tied at seven with Bonilla for most podium finishes (and has the most P2s, four). Who would you pick?
Gerardo Bonilla can win the 2005 Skip Barber National Championship Presented by RACER and its massive $100,000 title bonus by scoring 30 points in the last two races at Mid-Ohio next Tuesday and Wednesday. If he did that, it wouldn't matter what Jordy Vorrath and Cole Nelson do.
Bonilla has 177 points, Vorrath 164 and Nelson 158. Because there are two races remaining and not just one, and poles are worth a point apiece, the various "clinch" scenarios would need to be figured out by a Cray Supercomputer. Nevertheless, regardless of what Vorrath and Nelson do, Bonilla can decide his own fate as long as he scores 30 or more points between the two races at Mid-Ohio. A win combined with a second, third, fourth, fifth or sixth would do it. So would two P2s. Or second and a third. How about two third places and two poles? You get the point… For Vorrath and Nelson, all they can do is try their gosh-darned-est to finish each race in front of Bonilla.
Jordy Vorrath has to go all-out at Mid-Ohio if he wants to unseat Bonilla.
Cole Nelson is third in points, just six behind Vorrath...
The bottom line for us is that we're going to witness some fantastic racing, for sure. Remember, it's not just these three guys who have the speed to win at Mid-Ohio. Matt Varsha has two poles and a win, Andy Rossetto is a two-timer in wins and poles, and Jonathan Goring has a victory notch. Garrett Zine and Paul Albert are frontrunners, too. Qualifying for Round 13 is Tuesday (the 6th) at 11:30 a.m. Eastern, with a scheduled green for the race at 1:30. Qualifying for the finale is set for Wednesday at 9:00 a.m., with the race at 11:00. I will be quick as I can with info and photos… Words and photos Rick Roso
