Sterling Doc

The 944 Spec Series enjoyed an extended weekend, starting with 5 entries & 10 racers in Friday nights endurance race. Outside of a dropped drain plug in the Agran/Graber entry, the rest of the cars successfully completed the 3 hour enduro. The Bennington Motorsports sponsored entry of Eric Kuhns and Ray Freundt had some early race excitement with a flat tire in the recon laps. Some quick pit work, and an impact gun borrwoed from a generous CMC team allowed this team to qucikly get back in the race, and move through the field from last place to an overall win. In celebration of this achievement, Nick Miller from Benninton Motorsports came up with a traveling "enduro spanker" award - an oversized paddle to be signed by each winning enduro team through the NASA Midwest endurance series. The challenge for future enduros has been laid down! Kudos to Jon and Ben Wilson for completing their first race with NASA Midwest in the BENMS rental car. The teams of Anhil Blazquez/Michael Palmer, and Micheal Dalton/Tim Blythe also finished in the top 1/2 of the field, rounding out an impressive display of racing for the 944 Spec gang.

All cars were back up running for the weekend's races. Kuhns moved out to an early lead in the rainy conditions, but Freundt moved through the field in traffic to take the win in the BEMNS rental car he took over for the weekend after it's successful enduro stint with the Wilsons. Anhil Blazquez was less than a second off the pace in changing conditions to take his first podium of the season. Series newcomers Neal Agran, Sudir Chhikara, and Michael Dalton enjoyed some clean, close racing further back in the pack to finish in that order. Despite the wet conditions, there were no incidents, and everyone finished smiling.

Sunday also dawned to some uncertain weather, but racetime arrived dry, and with the grid inverted Chikkara had the pole to start the race. With good starts Kuhns, Agran & Freundt were soon battling for the lead, Kuhns got by Agran, the went on to run down Freundt, making two passes on the open track, and Freundt getting back by in traffic. Lots of high speed, side by side racing, and tire-punishing out-braking maneuvers made for an exciting, but clean race between the two racers (video below). In the end, Kuhns prevailed this time. Neal Agran followed. Blazquez was on pace until he had to pit to put back up a loose window net - sometimes it's the little things! Dalton edged out Chikkara to round out the field, both with clean racing. Welcome also to Yuliang (Krystar on the forums) who came out for HPDE in his newly resurrected 944.

Video of the 1st 10" of the Sunday race here (some good racing) http://vimeo.com/11940639

The 944 Spec Drivers leave Putnam with each of the drivers taking a share of nearly $700 in contingencies for the weekend, as well as free food & beverages all weekend provided by series sponsor Bennington Motorsports. The series would also like to thank A Part Above, who provided the "hard luck" award to Neal Agran for the second weekend in a row - maybe he can get a more reliable drain plug among his winnings from the Porsche used parts specialist. Finally, 944 Spec welcomes new series sponsor Apex Performance, who is offerring a generous discount to 944 Spec racers starting this year.

944 Spec - "where you may be outdriven, but not outspent"

Any input/tips on the racing of yours truly in the video would be welcomed!
Good video action at:
-Start
-3:30 (Late braking outside pass - with side-by side action - watch the mirrors)
-5:40 (I get choose the wrong lane & get snookered)
-7:30-9:30 (close racing and another pass)
-Eric

krystar

not to mention some amazing pit crew work changing rear wheel bearing and swapping front suspensions between two cars inbetween sessions!

Sterling Doc

Yup, the benefit of having full trackside support from Bennington Motorsports for $100/weekend!

Nick had that rear wheel bearing changed, and the car out on track, in less than 45 minutes!

Jim Child

Great video! The outside passes going into turn one are very impressive!