[F500] Runoffs results

[Jeff Blumenthal]

Congrats to Jonathan Dick for winning the Runoffs!  I viewed the race 
from the grandstands at the end of the straightaway, just before the 
esses.  What I'll report is what I saw, and what I learned from a few 
drivers after the race. I don't even know that things are official 
yet...let's hope there are no impound issues.

1. Jonathan Dick
2. Brian Novak
3. Rusty Cook

At the start of the race, Doug Marsh and Calvin Stewart pulled away 
cleanly,  although Mike Brent made it interesting at the first turn.  I 
think it was on lap 2 or three that Doug Marsh's right front hub broke 
at turn 1 and he went off into the tire wall.  He's OK. The car is a bit 
less fortunate, since it was a high speed corner.  For the next 5 or 6 
laps, Calvin pulled out to a 8-10 car lead over Brian.  Somewhere around 
lap 5-6 there was some contact in the esses and Mike Brent suffered for 
it.  His right front suspension was bent but he kept going until it 
finally broke later in the race.  Sometime before lap 10 Calvin's clutch 
belt broke and he was done. The battle was pretty much between Brian and 
Jonathan from that point. Jon seemed to have more speed in the straights 
but Brian's superior braking kept them battling nose to tail and side by 
side.  Jon got the benefit of coming up on some lapped traffice as they 
entered the esses and Brian got stuck behind a slower car. That was all 
it took and Jonathan pulled away and really wasn't threatened again.  On 
lap 18 (I think) Brian made a great save as he entered the esses.  His 
car spun but he kept it from going into the gravel and recovered before 
Rusty got to the esses. Sorry, but I don't recall the other finishing 
positions. I'm sure they're posted on the SCCA site.  Congrats to all 
who participated!  And major congrats to Jonathan Dick!  The only person 
I saw who I think was happier than Jonathan was Jeremy Swank, his 
teammate.  Jeremy got to drive the car from pit lane to impound and wow, 
what a grin he had.
 Thats' is from the scene..I'm sure some of the participants will post 
some better detail later.
 -Jeff Blumenthal