1998 Results -- Mumm Brothers SRF #10

Note: This is strictly our spin.  If you want the unbiased version visit the SCCA Pro Racing Spec Racer Ford Pro Series site.

ENGLEWOOD, Colo - The SCCA Spec Racer Ford Pro Series will kick off its fifth season May 15-17 at Kansas’ Heartland Park Topeka. The six race schedule wraps up Sept. 25-27 at Colorado’s Pikes Peak Int’l Raceway.

The opening date at Heartland Part will be part of a bill that will include NASCAR Wintston West and SCCA World Challenge Series racing. The second date on the schedule, to be held at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course June 12-14, will share the track with the Trans-AM and USRRC Can-Am and GT series.

The third show on the slate will take place July 24-26 on the streets of Grand Rapids, Mich. as part of the West Michigan Grand Prix that will be headlined by the Trans-Am series. The series’ first oval race will follow at Pikes Peak, as part of the Indy Racing League weekend Aug. 15-16.

The series then heads to Watkins Glen Int’l as part of the USRRC First Union Six Hours of The Glen weekend on Aug. 22-23.

“The Spec Racer Ford Pro Series is an important element in offering a well-rounded package to our promoters,” said SCCA Pro Racing and USRRC President K.C. Van Niman. “The Spec Racer series consistently produces an excellent show and the drivers enjoy their close racing. The Spec Racer Ford Pro Series is a true drivers’ series, and the fans really appreciate the intense level of competition.”

Additional dates may be added to the schedule and certain events may be double race weekends. These changes will be announced when information comes available.

Heartland Park, Topeka

Sorry, No race video for this one.
 

Mumm, who won this race last year, led from lap six to the finish of the 23-lap, 48.3 mile contest. Johnny Santo-Spirito finished second, while Keith Scharf just pipped Chris Funk at the line for the final podium spot. All drivers were in identical 1.9 liter Spec Racer Fords.

Chris Funk took the lead from the pole, but held it only until lap two, when Johnny Santo-Spirito took over. Four laps later Keith Scharf and Mumm drafted past into the top two spots.

“I was just minding my time in fifth,” said Mumm, “when Keith motioned to me to help him draft. I got right behind him, nudged him a few times, and we shot past a couple cars like they were standing still.  All of a sudden I was second!”

On lap seven Scharf made a mistake, went off course at turn three, losing four positions.

With but two laps left, Scharf got serious.  “I was all over Chris Funk,” said Scharf.  “I got by him into third, but he got me back half way through the last lap.  He had a good head of steam and passed me.  I got back on his tail going into the final two turns and got under him going into the last right hander.  I pinched him into the last corner, he went wide, and I got a run on him.  I got by just before the finish line!”

Video Link Click Here!

Warren Stilwell took another checkered flag at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, scoring his second-straight Spec Racer Ford Pro Series victory on his home track with a 0.093 second victory over Neil Tilbor.

Stilwell, driving the No. 28 Stilwell Racing Spec Racer Ford, started on the pole for the 22-lap, 49.5 mile race.

Stilwell led the first 13 laps, but Johnny Santo Spirito was on the move.  Santo Spirito used a straight-line speed advantage on lap 14 to dive to the inside into the first turn to take over the top position. Stilwell, however, fought back and the pair traded the lead three times during the next two laps until Santo Spirito spun after contact with Stilwell.

“The engine overheating was all my fault,” said Stilwell. “Johnny braked a bit early and I hit him. It didn’t hurt him, and when he spun off it was a lap later all on his own. But then I was watching my temperature gauge, as it was going up steadily. This is my best motor, so I didn’t want to damage it. I mentally figured the cost of an engine versus the prize money and thought about stopping, but I was able to drive by my mirrors and slowed down just enough to be able to keep the lead.”

With Santo Spirito out of the contest the fight behind Stilwell intensified as Tilbor and Keith Scharf traded the runner-up position at least a half dozen times. On the final lap Scharf went wide at turn seven on the 13-turn 2.5-mile circuit, giving Tilbor all the room he needed and he was by for second. John Strickler also made a final-lap bid past Scharf, capturing the final podium position.

Video Link Click Here!
 

John Strickler took home his first career Spec Racer Ford Pro Series victory at the inaugural West Michigan Grand Prix with a 1.667-second margin over Neil Tilbor.

Strickler started the 50-minute, 27.544-second race second and had the jump over polesitter Warren Stilwell, taking an early lead going into turn one.  On lap four, however, Strickler’s No. 22 Mattress City Racing Spec Racer Ford was passed by the No. 6 Valvoline Spec Racer of Keith Scharf.

Scharf held the lead comfortably for over half of the race while the field battled behind, while SRFPS veterans Neil Tilbor and Leo Capaldi were charging hard from their sixth-and eight-place respective starts .

A ferocious battle between Scharf, Stilwell, Strickler, Tilbor and Capaldi ensued that included seven lead changes in the 32 lap, 50.56 mile race, with Stilwell and Scharf tangling on lap 23.  Heading into turn one, leader Scharf was hit from behind by Stilwell, sending Scharf spinning into the wall, bringing out the only full course caution.  Stilwell would be called in with a stop-and-go penalty for the incident two laps later, but managed to work his way back through the field to finish eighth.

Strickler, Tilbor and Capaldi then battled for the checkered flag.  Capaldi took the lead from Strickler on lap 27, only to be repassed by Strickler one lap later.  Tilbor, who also passed Capaldi on lap 27, momentarily passed Strickler for the lead, on lap 30.  But the day belonged to Strickler as he passed Tilbor on the same lap after Tilbor locked his brakes at the end of the back straight.

But Tilbor and Capaldi hadn’t had enough of each other yet, going door to door, fender to fender to the finish with Tilbor edging Capaldi on the last lap for the runner-up position.  Johnny Santo-Spirito and Robert Mumm rounded out the top five.

Video Link Click Here!

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. – Warren Stilwell earned his fourth Spec Racer Ford Pro Series victory of the season Saturday at Watkins Glen Int’l, edging runner-up John Strickler by 0.661 seconds. Bob Boudinot earned the final podium position.

MISSES A SHIFT
Stilwell, in the No. 28 Stilwell Racing Spec Racer Ford, started the 16-lap, 50.32-mile race from the pole but dropped to sixth on the first lap after missing a shift.

“I got a good start but missed a shift from fourth to fifth and a whole train of cars passed me,” said Stilwell. “Once I recovered I could still see John (Strickler) and Bob (Boudinot) ahead of me and I knew I’d just have to take my time and work my way back to the front.”

As Stilwell progressed to the front, Strickler, Boudinot and Leo Capaldi were locked in a tight three-way battle for the lead. Strickler led the first four laps, and Boudinot held the top spot for laps five and six, with Capaldi running in second until lap six, when Stilwell broke back into the top three.

“Certain tracks suit different people, and I really like Watkins Glen,” added Stilwell. “Here we really did the car right and had a perfect set-up. Right from the first session we were ready to go.”

Once Stilwell was in the top three, he wasted little time returning to the front, and on lap eight he was in the lead once again, this time for good.

Behind Stilwell, both Strickler and Boudinot settled into a rhythm, keeping in sight of Stilwell but never able to catch him.

“This was my first race here, so I was a little tentative,” said Strickler. “I tried to use the draft to keep up with Warren, but he had just enough to always keep out front.”

Boudinot’s third-place finish came in his first start of the year.

“This is my home track,” said Boudinot. “I haven’t been able to race the series this season but I wanted to come out to my home-track race. I was raised just 8 miles from here.”

Rev. 8/27/16