MAXXIS TIRES SPEEDSF CHALLENGE (ROUND 5) AT BUTTONWILLOW RACEWAY - JUNE 27, 2021
INTRODUCTION
WOW was it a hot day! With temperatures hitting upwards of 106 degrees, it surely was going to be an interesting day at the track, coupled with a small group of drivers this round. Though the day started fast and ended just as fast, it was great to see some new faces on the podium! Buttonwillow is always a time for good fun!
CLASS S1
Gary Wong switched it up yet again for this round of the Challenge, this time bringing back the GR Supra and decimating the other drivers in his class thanks to a 1:52.746 lap time. Meanwhile, 2nd place podium was taken up by Kenton King in a 2016 Porsche GT4 Clubsport and a 1:54.488 for his efforts. Thomas Lee took 3rd place on the podium, though he was VERY close to getting 2nd place. However, a 1:54.654 is still good for a 2019 Porsche 718 GT4 Clubsport. More seat time = shaving down the tenths!
CLASS S2
Two drivers, two podium placers - easy peasy! It was Gary Yeung in the Dirty Mango S2000 who tore it up and just eeked by to get 1st place on the podium. A 1:53.289, literally just a gust of wind in the right direction, helped push the Mango faster over the line against 2nd place driver Kevin Schweigert who took his 2021 Supra to a 1:53.330. Mega battle between these two drivers at the top of their game!
CLASS S3
A little mistake after the fact here! At the time, it appeared Joe McGuigan was the only S3 participant on the grid so 1st place was ALL his with a 1:59.660 behind the wheel of his MR-S… HOWEVER, we had 2nd place driver Max Paolozzi join the fun. He took his 2013 Subaru over the line with a 1:59.727! Great work from Max and Joe here!
CLASS S4
Alex Shen done did it again! A 2:02.334 lap time all but guaranteed top step on the podium. He’s been putting in the work behind the wheel of his 2002 Honda S2000 and it shows! This is the 2nd time he’s won a round this season and it’s been great to see his progress improve immensely. Keep up the great work, Alex!
In a not-so-distant 2nd, Artem Rakhov’s efforts behind the wheel of his 1998 BMW M3 were rewarded thanks to a 2:02.891 lap time, a great show!
Justin Sacbibit, our 3rd place driver, threw in a 2:04.889 lap time for good measure in some kind of 2000 Honda (probably an S2000).
CLASS S5
Another winner winner chicken dinner all alone on the podium! Patryk Skowronski-Stec took his 1997 Miata around the hot asphalt of Buttonwillow and cruised to a 2:07.995 lap time, unbothered by anyone else!
CONCLUSION
Excellent work by the drivers who took their places on the podium! THANK YOU to everyone who participated on a FLAMING HOT Sunday at Buttonwillow! There will be many opportunities to chase podium finishes. This can be achieved with more seat time, coaching, and watching videos of how to attack the track!
Round 6 will be held at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca on July 2. We look forward to more close finishes among the drivers! It won’t be as hot as Buttonwillow, but be prepared anyways! We truly appreciate our sponsors and participants and we are forever thankful as all of this would not be possible without them.
Thank you to our sponsors Maxxis Tires, Wine Country Motorsports, Titan7 Wheels, and Charles Schwab for their continued and valued support. Please visit their respective websites to show your support and let them know SpeedSF sent you!
