F2000: Minor Wins at Summit Point over Miller and Searcy

Summit Point, WV – July 19 2009 : 2008 Masters Class champion Tim Minor passed three cars en route to winning round ten of the F2000 season at Summit Point. Minor sneaked past championship contenders Matthew Inge and Chris Miller on the start and then took leader Remy Audette on the outside going into turn one on a restart to take the lead. From there Minor set fastest lap, winning by a huge 11 second margin over Chris Miller and Benjamin Searcy.



Minor passed three cars and ran away from the field.

“I just had a great car, we made a significant change last night and it worked,” said Minor, who sun in race one yesterday while in the lead. “We also saved our extra two tires for the race today, we didn't even run them in qualifying this morning and that worked big time. Once I got past Audette for the lead I never looked back.”

JDC's Chris Miller extends his championship lead to 27 points over Matthew Inge, with another 22 back to Remy Audette, with two drops Miller's lead is 34 points over Inge, with another 34 back to Audette.

As the green flag flew on the field, Audette went by Miller on the outside going into turn one to take the lead. Tim Minor didn't waste much time either, starting fourth, the veteran got around both Inge and Miller to take second spot by turn four.

The first lap wasn't even finished when a full course caution came out for a turn five incident involving Jeff McCusker, Victor Carbone and current Masters Class points leader Tom Fatur. Fatur and McCusker retired while Carbone's Alegra team was able to change a cut rear tire on the #23. Carbone rejoined a lap down.

The first attempt at a restart was waived off as the middle of the field was a total mess, on the second attempt, with the field looking much better, Tim Minor pulled alongside Remy Audette on the outside going into turn one and made it stick, taking the lead. Minor pulled a huge gap out while Audette and Miller swapped second place back and forth multiple times.

Miller and Audette made contact in turn one, slashing Audette's right rear tire. Audette pitted for repairs while Minor ran away from Miller and Inge, who moved into second and third.

“The battle between the three of us for second was nuts,” said points leader Miller. “Eventually Remy (Audette) and I made slight contact and a few corners later it looked like his tire went down. By the time I got past him Minor was just gone.”

Audette, who finished 16th, said: “It was a tough race and something like this showcases the ups and downs of the sport. This morning we were so happy qualifying second, and now obviously it is a bit different. Minor passed me on the restart and then when Chris (Miller) and I were battling for second, he hit me going into turn one. I was ahead of him on the outside and went to turn in and we made contact. A few corners later the right rear tire went flat and that ended my race. There were so many laps left, he should have waited for a better opportunity instead of risking it like he did.”

Minor's lead stretched to over 10 seconds at one point, while Miller was able to hold second and keep Inge out of striking distance. Benjamin Searcy was able to reel in Inge and sneak past him, to round out the podium behind Tim Minor and Chris Miller.

“The car was absolutely great today,” said Searcy, who rebounds after being disqualified for being underweight yesterday. “I had a great battle with Inge, eventually got past him and then pulled out a bit of a gap.”

Keith McCrone rounded out the top five for R-Sport. Chris Gumprecht logged his career best finish in sixth with Brent Gilkes, Colin Alexander, Robert Wright and Scott Gesford rounding out the top ten.

Jonathan Scarallo was running sixth when a mechanical failure ended his day. “The brakes went,” commented Scarallo. “I went into turn five, which is a hard braking zone and the pedal just went to the floor. If it isn't someone hitting me it seems that something stupid happens, we need to start catching a break.”

The series heads to Mid-Ohio on August 13-16 to decide the championship at the season finale.