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Old 05-04-2011
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Re: Skip Barber National: Rnd 3&4 Virginia International Raceway

Rounds 3 & 4: Skip Barber National at VIR Wrap Up





Lakeville, CT. (May 4). With Rounds 3 and 4 completed at Virginia International Raceway, this was the first time on the 3.27 mile track for several of the young drivers. Heading into the weekend, 18-year old Brandon Newey held a two point lead over 19-year old Thomas McGregor, but by the end of the weekend, McGregor advanced to claim the top position with a two point lead. After a difficult race in Round 3, the drivers returned to put on another great race event in Round 4 of 16. The series next races May 27-30 in conjunction with Grand-Am at Lime Rock Park.



Oak Tree Corner: (l. to r.) Danilo Estrela (80), Brian Cook (76), and Franco Aragonez (75)

(Photo: Kelly Brouillet, Courtesy of Skip Barber Racing School)

Round 3

Round 3 got off to an uneasy start as the field was finishing the pace lap. In an effort to find the right speed to start the race, the front of the field unexpectedly slowed, forcing the back of the field to check up. This caused Skip Barber Cup drivers Greg Strelzoff and Pat Daly to have contact, resulting in Daly launching over the back of Strelzoff’s car, rolling, then landing right side up. The race was immediately black-flagged and all the cars came to a stop on the back straight. Both drivers involved in the incident were unable to continue and inspected and cleared by medical staff at Virginia International Raceway.

The race officially started with ten laps to go, and after exiting turn one, Scott Anderson grabbed the lead from California Scents pole sitter Sebastian Ordonez. Anderson quickly increased his lead with Brandon Newey and MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development driver Trent Hindman fighting to stay close behind. Newey stayed close and grabbed the lead, while further back, Skip Barber Cup driver Brian Cook spun, went four wheels off track, and continued.

Heading into turn four, Newey and Hindman had slight contact, but both continued. In the next turn, Newey went off course, but again was able to continue back on track. Just a few turns later in the esses at VIR, Remo Ruscitti and Shelby Blackstock became involved in some close racing, resulting in Ruscitti going off course and the race going back to yellow.

For the third time in the session, Sebastian Ordonez led the field to the green flag, gaining a two car length lead. Scott Anderson wasted no time in making a pop for the lead, and Thomas McGregor followed, with Ordonez back in third and MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development driver Danilo Estrela in fourth. McGregor’s day came to an unfortunate end when he went four wheels off course into the wall at turn fifteen. This course of events caused the officials to black flag the race, ending the session early. At the wave of the checker flag, Scott Anderson held first position, with Sebastian Ordonez and Danilo Estrela rounding out the top three.



Ordonez and Anderson, Pre-Race Grid, Round 3

(Photo: Kelly Brouillet, Courtesy of Skip Barber Racing School)

OFFICIAL Results for Round 3 at Virginia International Raceway

2011 BFGoodrich/Skip Barber National Presented by Mazda
1. (2) Scott Anderson, 22, Fort Collins, CO

2. (1) Sebastian Ordonez, 16, Deerfield Beach, FL

3. (7) Danilo Estrela, 17, Goiania, Brazil

4. (3) Trent Hindman, 15, Wayside, NJ

5. (11) Shelby Blackstock, 21, Nashville, TN

6. (10) Devin Jones, 16, Mooresville, NC

7. (6) Franco Aragones, 14, Cancun, Mexico

8. (5) Brandon Newey, 18, Indianapolis, IN

9. (9) Brian Cook, 41 Northampton, MA

10. (8) Thomas McGregor, 19, Saskastoon, Canada

11. (4) Remo Ruscitti, 17, Burnaby, Canada

12. (12) Greg Strelzoff, 41, Playa Vista, CA

13. (13) Pat Daly (late addition)

California Scents Pole Award: Sebastian Ordonez (2:06.462)

Fastest Lap: Shelby Blackstock (2:07.603/ 92.255)

Track Conditions: Warm and sunny

Race Length: 22:25.586

Margin of Victory: 0.028 seconds

Lap Leaders: Scott Anderson 1; Brandon Newey 2-3; Newey 4-6; Anderson 7-8

California Scents Most Progressive: Shelby Blackstock



Round 3 Podium: (l. to r.) Brian Cook - Master, P3 Estrela, P1 Anderson, P2 Ordonez

(Photo: Kelly Brouillet, Courtesy of Skip Barber Racing School)

Round 4

The second race of the weekend fared far better than the previous, starting with Round 3 race winner Scott Anderson leading the pack to the green flag. With the momentum of the previous day’s race win, Anderson swiftly created a five car length lead over Newey and the rest of the field. Starting third, MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development driver Trent Hindman worked his way up to battle side-by-side for second with Newey. Fellow MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development driver Danilo Estrela and Brian Cook both went four wheels off course but avoided contact and continued.

Meanwhile, Thomas McGregor and Shelby Blackstock also battled for third position, a battle McGregor won. These battles allowed for Anderson to continue extending his lead. McGregor then made a pop on the front straight for second position over Newey. With the side by side battles over, McGregor, with Newey, Blackstock, Ordonez and Remo Ruscitti in tow, were able to creep back up on the race leader. McGregor, Ordonez and Anderson went three wide for the lead in turn one, resulting in Ordonez grabbing the top position. His lead was short lived, as shortly after in the lap, Anderson quickly regained the lead. For the next several laps, Anderson and McGregor traded the lead back and forth, battling hard and close.

Meanwhile, Newey and Hindman fought over third position. The top seven cars raced nose-to-tail as the white flag waved, with McGregor leading. McGregor held the lead to the checker, earning his second win of the season with Anderson and Newey finishing second and third.



Round 4: McGregor (59) and Ordonez (49) fighting for position

(Photo: Kelly Brouillet, Courtesy of Skip Barber Racing School)

OFFICIAL Results for Round 4 at Virginia International Raceway

2011 BFGoodrich/Skip Barber National Presented by Mazda
1. (6) Thomas McGregor, 19, Saskastoon, Canada

2. (1) Scott Anderson, 22, Fort Collins, CO

3. (2) Brandon Newey, 18, Indianapolis, IN

4. (8) Remo Ruscitti, 17, Burnaby, Canada

5. (3) Trent Hindman, 15, Wayside, NJ

6. (10) Sebastian Ordonez, 16, Deerfield Beach, FL

7. (5) Shelby Blackstock, 21, Nashville, TN

8. (4) Franco Aragones, 14, Cancun, Mexico

9. (7) Devin Jones, 16, Mooresville, NC

10. (9) Danilo Estrela, 17, Goiania, Brazil

11. (12) Brian Cook, 41 Northampton, MA

12. (11) Greg Strelzoff, 41, Playa Vista, CA

California Scents Pole Award: Scott Anderson (2:06.147)

Fastest Lap: Franco Aragones (2:06.741/ 92.882)

Track Conditions: Warm, dry and cloudy

Race Length: 25:48.719

Margin of Victory: 0.025 seconds

Lap Leaders: Scott Anderson 1-5; Sebastian Ordonez 6; Anderson 7-9

California Scents Most Progressive: Thomas McGregor



Round 4 Podium: (l. to r.) Brian Cook - Master, P3 Anderson, P1 McGregor, P2 Newey

(Photo: Kelly Brouillet, Courtesy of Skip Barber Racing School)

Parathyroid.com Most Cumulative Points Winners:

1. Scott Anderson

2. Sebastian Ordonez

3. Thomas McGregor

Championship Point Standings after 4 of 16 Rounds

2011 BFGoodrich/Skip Barber National Presented by Mazda

1. 122 pts. Thomas McGregor
(2 Win, 3 Podiums) Exclusive Management, Inc./Dairy Queen

2. 120Brandon Newey (1 Win, 3 Podiums) Bryan Herta Autosport/Sparco/Bell

3. 119 Scott Anderson (1 Win, 2 Poles, 2 Podiums) Laser Nail Centers/Neuropathy Testing Centers

4. 114 Sebastian Ordonez (1 Pole, 2 Podiums) RDD Motorsports/John Pew/Micheal Auriema/Auto Craze/Oakley

5. 107 Trent Hindman (1 Pole) MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development/Sparco/Racelite Protection/Premier Woodcraft

6. 105 Danilo Estrela (2 Podiums) MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development

7. 100 Shelby Blackstock Starstruck Entertainment

8. 92 Remo Ruscitti9.90 Franco Aragones

10.87 Devin Jones Social Distortion/Impact Racing/Racing Electronics

11. 45 Mukul Sud

12. 41 Patrick Gallagher CTL Engineering/Promotion Driver Development

Skip Barber Cup

1. 70pts Brian Cook

2. 64 Greg Strelzoff

3. 30 Pat Daly





Remaining Schedule

2011 BFGoodrich/Skip Barber National Presented by Mazda
Rounds 5 & 6: May 27-30 at Lime Rock Park with GRAND-AM

Rounds 7 & 8: July 1-3 at Road America with Skip Barber Regional Series

Rounds 9 & 10: July 21-23 at Road Atlanta with Skip Barber Regional Series

Rounds 11 & 12: August 11-13 at Lime Rock Park with Skip Barber Regional Series

Rounds 13 & 14
: September 9-11 at Autobahn with Skip Barber Regional Series

Rounds 15 & 16: Oct 6-8 at Lime Rock Park with Skip Barber Regional Series






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