Pobst makes history, sweeps Three Speed World Challenge race at Watkins Glen
Randy Pobst, of Gainesville, Ga., said SCCA Pro Racing SPEED World Challenge has made history by winning his third race of the weekend Sunday, snags fifth round of the SCCA SPEED Touring Car Championship after winning the first half of the series' doubleheader on Saturday and Sunday morning SCCA SPEED GT race at Watkins Glen International, part of six hours, the Sahlén of the Glen Weekend.
Pobst's victory set some record Watkins Glen International with three professional victories on the same weekend.
Pobst had earlier dropped to third from his pole position in his No. 73 Mazdaspeed Motorsports Development Mazda 6, after obtaining a launch low speed on the standing start. James Sofronas, Newport Beach, California, won the jump from his third starting spot to lead, with Jeff Altenburg Pobst's teammate in second.
For the first 10 laps, Sofronas (No. 29 Global Motorsports Group BMW 325Ci) led a train of four cars that included Altenburg, Pobst and Pierre Kleinubing's No. 1 Acura Certified Pre-Owned/RealTime Racing Acura TSX. Pobst was able to grab the lead after Pobst pressure Altenburg, with the point leader running wide at Turn 10 on lap 12.
In what could prove a turning point in the championship, Altenburg returned to the track with Kleinubing outside in Turn 11. With Altenburg on the sidewalk apex, the two cars touched, then with the third in the points Kleinubing spinning into the tire wall and contests.
Once Pobst was able to squeeze the head of the second, it took only two rounds Pobst Safronas further pressure in a bobble on lap seven, when the coup led Mazda to take his second straight SCCA SPEED Touring Car series win and third victory weekend. Pobst won the 20 laps, 68-mile event by 1.009 seconds, an average of 96,406 mph.
"I waited my time, waiting for an opportunity, and working with Jeff to see if we can get by James [Sofronas] and stay ahead of [Pierre] Kleinubing, who was right on us, "said Pobst early stages of the race today. "Sofronas started to fade a bit and I started to get some pressure of Peter behind me. Then, Jeff hit a barrier at turn nine and it bounced wide. I went down under him because I wanted out of there. I hung Sofronas and ran with him for a while and saw that I had. I just waited for my opportunity and put pressure on him. He entered the tip of the boot and it is cowardly. Then I drove my Mazda 6 Right by him and it was bye-bye after. "
Sofronas earned a bonus point for leading the most laps and won his fourth Cup Toyo Tires law for drivers not to make life behind the wheel of a race car but had little, earning his second runner-up finish in the last three races.
"We had a bit of a blow inch, "said Sofronas his car in the closing stages of the race." I just tried to keep my tires under me. I knew where I was apparent strengths of fast sweepers. I was really strong. So I thought I could keep my distance. Then, once I was thrust He raised a little under and when I'm on the throttle snapped it up on me and Randy capitalized. It is obviously a good driver and I did everything I can to keep him off. Then I put my head and tried to take second place. It was a good finish for Tecmark and GMG. We are so happy for a second place today. "
Altenburg recovered from his trip cap off and contact with Kleinubing to finish third in his No. 72 Mazdaspeed Motorsports Development Mazda 6.
"Randy had in me and I ran a little wide," Altenburg said of his lap 12 incident. "I I felt bad for Peter because I'm out in the grass, because there is only room for one Mazda through that turn. Then Peter was run over me. He had not completed the pass yet. So we went into the next turn and he just fell a little too low and we made contact. I think if stayed out wide, he would have completed the pass and we did it that way. My car was not good enough grip there, but I suppose maybe he [Kleinubing] thought I was going to go back to it [the throttle] or maybe he thought he had made the pass.
Canadian Kuno Wittmer, who ran strong in Saturday's race before breaking an axle, earned his career best finish in the No. 44 Acura Certified Pre-Owned/RealTime Acura RSX in the fourth. Charles Espenlaub, of Lutz, Fla., completed the top five in his No. 97 Mazdaspeed / ivy gourd / Oakley / Sparco Mazda 6.
Roberto Santos, Monterrey, Mexico, scored a third Tri-Point Motorsports Mazda in the first six of his career best result, Winning the honor of Piloti Rookie of the race in the process.
Payton Wilson, of Chantilly, Va., won its second consecutive year B & M Shifters Holeshot Award in the No. 6 King Rat Motorsports Dodge SRT-4, eight of progress in the first round.
About Mazda Motorsports
Mazda (also maker of top party-line Mazda OEM) First in line for its racing cars in 1960. Since then, the Japanese automaker boasted a strong global presence in the world Race cars in an effort to support its products. From inception in international competition of the 1968 Mazda 84-Hour Marathon de la Route endurance competition at Nürburgring, Germany (with the Cosmo Sport 110S, the company's first rotary engine sports car) to victory at Le Mans with the four-rotor 787B Sports Racer, the company continues to test its sports car prowess in various motorsports initiatives.
About the Author
Kraig Johanssen is a native of Connecticut and holds a degree in Software Engineering. He now works at a software development firm in Alabama. His love for writing and great interest on cars makes him a proficient contributing author to various automotive magazines.
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