Sonoma, CA Brett Smrz, by winning round 15 with Nic LeDuc finishing 3rd, clinches the series title with one race remaining.
2007 Jim Russell Champion Nic LeDuc and 2008 scholarship winner Brett Smrz arrived for the final round of the Jim Russell Championship with LeDuc 1 point ahead in the overall points standings but all was tied when only the best eight results are counted. A Friday win by either would be critical.
Former Jim Russell Grand Masters Champion Chuck Hulse returned to the series for the final event having spent time this year winning the Pro Mazda Masters title, running some Mazda Challenge and F2000 races as well as a previous run this year in the Jim Russell Championship. Others attending the final event included 4-time winner Nick Galante, Caleb Kenney for third straight event, regular Thomas Asseo and veteran Jim Russell racer but a rookie to the FJR -50, Wayne Yurtin.
Friday practice began with some heavy fog covering Infineon Raceway which thankfully cleared by the first practice. The 2-litre turbo 4cyl motors definitely respond in the cool dense air conditions as the first practice times dropped under the existing lap record for this layout which used the Indy Turn 7 and the second gear version of turn 9.
Smrz dropped quickly into the low 1:37’s and considered that good for the session. Galante was in for some detail adjustments then posted a time within a tenth just after half-way. LeDuc needed some changes to the cockpit area which kept him off the track until the final 5 minutes. This did not pose a problem as LeDuc dropped Smrz’s time by 2/10ths at the checker flag with a 1:37.1.
For Qualifying LeDuc and Smrz found each other on track with LeDuc chasing 2-3 seconds back. Smrz quickly posted a 1:37.2 with LeDuc following it up with a 1:37.6. LeDuc got 2 wheels off at the exit of turn chasing Smrz and backed off the remainder of the lap. LeDuc came back to post a 1:37.4 a couple of laps later. Both drivers pitted and called it good and saved their tires for the remainder of the weekend.
Meanwhile Galante jumped to 2nd for a while at 1:37.637 and Hulse followed very close at 1:37.696. This was a full 1.2 seconds quicker than his earlier practice. Kenney, Asseo and Yurtin rounded out the grid.
The start went off well with Smrz getting the jump and all competitors raced clean through the first lap. Smrz, LeDuc, Hulse, Galante crossed the line with Asseo getting a good start over Kenney. The start lap of lap 3 had Galante making a run on Hulse on the front straight. Side-by-side through turns 1& 2 went Galante and Hulse but Hulse lost it on the exit and did a quick spin. For the first few laps LeDuc was keeping the pressure on Smrz. LeDuc got too much curb in 7 and also did a quick spin. This allowed Galante into second.
About this time Kenney had re-grouped and caught Asseo and was beginning a challenge for fourth until he spun in turn 2 at about the half-way point. The only race left after these 3 spins was to see if LeDuc could catch back to Galante for second. He did not, but did set the fastest race lap in the effort to end up just a few car lengths short at the checker.
If LeDuc had made the pass for second it would have extended the championship between Smrz and LeDuc until the final race. With the possibility of rain Saturday Smrz is more than thrilled to have clinched before that scenario could be played out.
