Summer Series and MAZDASPEED Challenge at Lime Rock Park:
Nunez Grabs Points Lead and Bloum Maintains Points Gap
(Braselton, GA. Aug. 23). Round eight of the 2011 Skip Barber Summer Series took place at Lime Rock Park in Lakeville, Connecticut. The weather was beautiful which created near perfect racing conditions. Scott Hargrove set a new track record on BFGoodrich R1 Slicks during qualifying with a 58.685 on the Formula side. Connor Bloum also set a new track record with MX-5�s during qualifying with a 1:07.466 on BFGoodrich All Season Supersport Tires. Everyone went well and the races were not lacking in excitement.
Group 1 Race 1 -
Skip Barber Formula Summer Series
Group one race one was a clustered start across the line. Shelby Blackstock made a move on the outside going into one. Scott Hargrove was the leader at that point. Tristan Nunez looked to pop going down the front straightaway. Tristan and Greg Strelzoff had a battle for second started on lap two. Harsha Sen engaged in the three wide battle for second going up the middle of the cars down the front straightaway on lap five. Scott Hargrove was still in the lead followed by Tristan Nunez and Greg Strelzoff. Michael Johnson was right there with the top three. Greg Strelzoff took a wider line going into three. Michael Johnson battled hard with Greg Strelzoff on lap seven. Tristan Nunez took the lead from Scott Hargrove on lap thirteen and Shelby Blackstock took fourth from Greg Strelzoff. On lap fourteen, Tristan got defensive down the front straightaway. Pat Daly slid down the downhill hitting the tires at pit in drivers side left. A full course caution came out which brought us a happy Greg Strelzoff who was clapping behind the pace car, glad to have caught up to Shelby Blackstock. The green flag came back out on lap sixteen where Greg Holloway and Ted Jewell got posted for passing under yellow. Ted Jewell collided with the tire wall on the downhill at lap twenty which brought out another full course caution. The green flag flew again on lap twenty-two. Scott Hargrove went four off, slid incredibly but held onto it and brought it back onto the track like a professional. The checkered flag flew on lap twenty-four to happy race winner Tristan Nunez.
Group 1 Race 2 Skip Barber Formula Summer Series
Group one, race two was a nice start after two wave offs. There was a traffic jam going into two. The top 5 had already broken away at this point. Greg Strelzoff made it three wide by going up the middle at the line. By lap three Tristan Nunez had quite a lead over Michael Johnson. Stefan Rzadzinski and Michael Johnson were side by side down the front straightaway for second on lap six. Hamilton Smith was down on course on lap fourteen which brought out a full course caution. The race restarted on lap nineteen where Gary Vizioli got into the back of Harsha Sen. Scott Hargrove and Tristan Nunez had car contact in turn one on lap twenty. The checkers came out on lap twenty- one where Shelby Blackstock took the win followed by Michael Johnson, Stefan Rzadzinski, Greg Strelzoff and Kenton Koch.
Group 1 Skip Barber Formula Summer Series, Lime Rock Park
Starting Position in Parenthesis
Group 1 Race 1 |
| Group 1 Race 2 |
1. (2) Tristan Nunez |
| 1. (21) Shelby Blackstock |
2. (19) Shelby Blackstock |
| 2. (2) Michael Johnosn |
3. (4) Michael Johnson |
| 3. (4) Stefan Rzadzinski |
4. (3) Greg Strelzoff � M |
| 4. (3) Greg Strelzoff � M |
5. (20) Stefan Rzadzinski |
| 5. (11) Kenton Koch |
6. (7) Andrew Hobbs |
| 6. (6) David Knight � GM |
7. (9) David Knight � GM |
| 7. (20) Pat Daly � GM |
8. (5) Hamilton Smith |
| 8. (13) Chris Brassard |
9. (12) Gary Vizioli � GM |
| 9. (5) Andrew Hobbs |
10.(11) Jim Craige � M |
| 10.(12) Brian Cook � M |
11.(13) Harsha Sen � GM |
| 11.(14) Alexander Peraza |
12.(8) Brian Cook � M |
| 12.(18) Bobby Eberle � M |
13.(14) Chris Brassard � GM | | 13.(15) Scott Hargrove |
14.(10) Alexander Peraza | | 14.(10) Harsha Sen � GM |
15.(1) Scott Hargrove | | 15.(8) Gary Vizioli � GM |
16.(15) Gus Doppes � GM | | 16.(1) Tristan Nunez |
17. (18) Greg Holloway | | 17.(9) Jim Craige � M |
18.(17) Bobby Eberle � M | | 18.(16) Gus Doppes �G M |
19. (16) Ted Jewell � GM | | 19. (17) Greg Holloway |
20. (6) Pat Daly � GM | | 20. (19) Ted Jewell � GM |
| | 21. (7) Hamilton Smith |
|
|
|
Top Master: Greg Strelzoff
Pole Position: Scott Hargrove
Fastest Lap: Tristan Nunez (59.074/93.848 mph)
Most Improved: Shelby Blackstock (17 Positions)
Laps Lead: Scott Hargrove 1-19
|
| Top Master: Greg Strelzoff
Pole Position: Tristan Nunez
Fastest Lap: Scott Hargrove (58.866/94.180 mph)
Most Improved: Shelby Blackstock (20 Positions)
Laps Lead: Stefan Rzadzinski 1; Tristan Nunez 2-19; Scott Hargrove 20; Shelby Blackstock 21 |
Group 2 Race 1 -
Skip Barber MAZDASPEED Challenge
Group two race one had a nice smooth start to the race. Shelby Blackstock picked up four spots on his way to the lead from the back of the pack. Elias Sakkal spun in the downhill, on lap four, which brought out a full course caution. Brian Ali passed John Cappabianca under yellow which resulted in black flags for Brian. Green flag came out on lap six. Shelby Blackstock was excited by the yellow and had gotten up to fourth place. Connor already had a five car lead by this point. On lap eight, Shelby Blackstock was all over the back of Pablo Cisilino for second. Pablo played hardball and didn�t let anyone in. Shelby had the run on lap thirteen, side by side and he takes second from Pablo. The checkers came out on lap twenty-four with Connor Bloum taking the win followed by Shelby Blackstock, Gar Robinson and Jim Craige.
Group 2 Race 2- Skip Barber MAZDASPEED Challenge
Group two, race two, was a no start the first time by with Pablo Cisilino trying to advance. The green flag flew with an awesome start by Connor Bloum who made his way from 12th to 5th in a flash. Connor then moved up to second reeling in the lead. Gar Robinson wasn�t as smooth as Connor in the downhill which lined Connor up for a pop. They crossed over the line and Connor had the lead going into lap two. Shelby had his head down on lap eight, trying pretty hard to catch up to the leaders. Connor was way out, and Gar had increased his lead over Steven Craige for second. By lap ten, Shelby was reeling them in slowly but surely. Reid Stewart had a small spin in the uphill and continued. Connor was looking for some blue flags to make his life easier on lap twelve. Shelby posted fast laps as he tried to catch up to Connor from second on lap sixteen. The checkered flag flew with Connor Bloum taking the win followed by Shelby Blackstock, Gar Robinson, Steven Craige and Jim Craige.
Group 2 Skip Barber MAZDASPEED Challenge, Road Atlanta
Starting Position in Parenthesis
Group 2 Race 1 |
| Group 2 Race 2 |
1. (1) Connor Bloum |
| 1. (12) Connor Bloum |
2. (13) Shelby Blackstock |
| 2. (13) Shelby Blackstock |
3. (6) Gar Robinson |
| 3. (1) Gar Robinson |
4.(4) Jim Craige � M |
| 4.(2) Steven Craige � GM |
5. (8) Steven Craige � GM |
| 5. (11) Jim Craige � M |
6. (3) Zoran Mitrovski � M |
| 6. (6) Reid Stewart |
7. (7) Felix Borodaty � M |
| 7. (4) Felix Borodaty � M |
8. (5) Juan Hinestrosa Jr. |
| 8. (8) Pablo Visilino � M |
9. (2) Reid Stewart |
| 9. (7) John Cappabianca |
10. (11) John Cappabiana | | 10. (10) Brian Ali |
11. (9) Pablo Visilino � M | | 11. (3) Zoran Mitrovski � M |
12. (12) Elias Sakkal � M | | 12. (9) Elias Skkal � M |
| | 13. (5) Juan Hinestrosa Jr. |
|
|
|
Top Master: Jim Craige
Pole Position: Connor Bloum
Fastest Lap: Connor Bloum (1:07.3744/81.838 mph)
Most Improved: Shelby Blackstock (11 Positions)
Laps Lead: Connor Bloum 1-24
|
| Top Master: Steven Craige
Pole Position: Gar Robinson
Fastest Lap: Shelby Blackstock (1:06.524/83.338)
Most Improved: Connor Bloum and Shelby Blackstock (11 Positions each)
Laps Lead: Gar Robinson 1-2; Connor Bloum 3-23 |
Group 3 Race 1
For Group three, race one, “they were fighting like the third monkey trying to get on the ark” at the start going into turn one. Scott Hargrove held an early lead but by lap four there was a four car breakaway. Sebastian Ordonez was in fifth while Tristan Nunez had the lead. Sebastian Ordonez was all over Greg Strelzoff for fourth on lap six. Grayson Strathman started to overheat and was called into the pits on lap sixteen. William Pagan was brought in on lap seventeen due to too many spins. The checkers came out on lap twenty-four with Tristan Nunez taking the win followed by Scott Hargrove, Franco Aragones, Shelby Blackstock and Greg Strelzoff.
Group 3 Race 2
In Group three, race two, the green flag flew and Leland Englebardt had a big spin in turn four and continued. The rest of the field went side by side going into one with Scott Anderson out front followed by Franco Aragones. Sebastian Ordonez had a real nice pass in the westbend for fifth on lap two. The lead changed, once again, on lap four with Tristan Nunez over Scott Anderson. Shelby Blackstock took over fifth position on lap five. Grayson Strathman and Peter Ludwig had contact in the uphill on lap eleven. Gary Vizioli tagged the wall in the chicane and was able to make it back to the pits on lap sixteen.Overal, Sebastian gained thirteen positions and took the win followed by Tristan Nunez, Franco Aragones, Shelby Blackstock and Kenton Koch.
Group 3 Skip Barber Formula Summer Series
Starting Position in Parenthesis
Group 3 Race 1 |
| | Group 3 Race 2 |
1. (3) Tristan Nunez |
| | 1. (14) Sebastian Ordonez |
2. (1) Scott Hargrove |
| | 2. (1) Tristan Nunez |
3. (2) Franco Aragones |
| | 3. (3) Franco Aragones |
4.(16) Shelby Blackstock |
| | 4.(15) Shelby Blackstock |
5. (6) Greg Strelzoff � M |
| | 5. (13) Kenton Koch |
6. (5) David Knight � GM |
| | 6. (2) Scott Hargrove |
7. (13) Pat Daly � GM |
| | 7. (4) Greg Strelzoff - M |
8. (14) Leland Englehardt � GM |
| | 8. (6) David Knight - GM |
9. (15) Gary Vizioli � GM |
| | 9. (7) Pat Daly - GM |
10. (9) Chris Brassard � GM |
| | 10. (5) Grayson Strathman |
11. (8) Brian Cook � M |
| | 11. (10) Chris Brassard - GM |
12. (7) Gus Doppes � GM |
| | 12. (11) Brian Cook - M |
13. (4) Grayson Strathman | | | 13. (17) Harsha Sen - GM |
14. (10) William Pagan � GM | | | 14. (8) Leland Englebardt - GM |
15. (12) Kenton Koch | | | 15. (12) Gus Doppes - GM |
16. (11) Sebastian Ordonez | | | 16. (9) Gary Vizioli - GM |
| | | 17. (16) Peter Ludwig - M |
|
| |
|
Top Master: Greg Strelzoff
Pole Position: Scott Hargrove
Fastest Lap: Sebastian Ordonez (58.782/94.315 mph)
Most Improved: Shelby Blackstock (12 Positions)
Laps Lead: Scott Hargrove 1; Tristan Nunez 2-24
|
| | Top Master: Greg Strelzoff
Pole Position: Tristan Nunez
Fastest Lap: Franco Aragones (58.721/94.413 mph)
Most Improved: Sebastian Ordonez (13 positions)
Laps Lead: Tristan Nunez 1-3; Scott Hargrove 4; Nunez 5-11; Sebastian Ordonez 12-24 |
----
2011 Top 10 Skip Barber Formula Summer Series
Championship Point Standings
1. 367 pts Tristan Nunez
2. 352 Michael Johnson
3. 351 Shelby Blackstock
4. 339 Scott Hargrove - R
5. 330 Stefan Rzadinski - R
6. 291 Kenton Koch
7. 291 Greg Strelzoff - M
8. 287 Franco Aragones
9. 284 David Knight - GM
10. 273 Chris Brassard - GM
2011 Top 10 Skip Barber MAZDASPEED Challenge Winter
Summer Series Championship Point Standings
1. 398 pts Connor Bloum - R
2. 302 Felix Borodaty - GM
3. 285 Shelby Blackstock
4. 215 Jim Craige - M
5. 164 Gar Robinson
6. 137 Pablo Cisilino - M
7. 107 Chip Howell - R
8. 106 Steven Craige - GM
9. 97 Zoran Mitrovski - M
10. 81 Aaron Fernandes
words by Diana Rice, Photos by Kelly Brouillet (
Article Page)