SCCA Spec Racer Ford Pro Series

SCCA Spec Racer Ford Pro Series

Field for the 2010 SCCA National Runoffs
Category Spec formula sports car racing
Country United States United States
Inaugural season 1994
Folded 2011
Constructors SCCA Enterprises
Engine suppliers Ford
Tyre suppliers Goodyear Eagle
Last Drivers' champion Scott Rettich (2011)
Last Teams' champion Alliance Autosport (2011)

The SCCA Spec Racer Ford Pro Series was a sports car racing series in the United States. The series existed between 1994 and 2002 the series was revived for 2010 and 2011.

History

Early years

The Spec Racer Ford was introduced in 1994 after Renault pulled out of the Spec Racer project. SCCA Pro Racing introduced the pro series soon after Ford wanted to support the Spec Racer. The first season saw fields of around 25 cars. David Tenney won the first ever Spec Racer Ford Pro Series race on July 2, 1994 at the Des Moines Street Circuit. Tenney won the race after a lengthy battle for the lead with Keith Scharf.[1] The second race at Watkins Glen International marked the first win of many for Warren Stillwell, who would win numerous races in Spec Racer Ford classes. Stillwell took the inaugural championship with one race left in the championship. Keith Scharf finished second in the championship followed by Bob Boudinot.[2]

Warrenn Stillwell repeated his championship in 1995 again taking the championship one race early.[3]

Golden Era

For the 1996 season the fields exploded, 55 cars were entered in the first race, only 45 could start.[4] The 1994 and 1995 seasons saw only 5 races on the calendar, two races were added for 1996. Many drivers were in fact amateur racers making their pro racing debut. The sheer number of cars in combination with a street circuit resulted in 18 cars crashing at the Grand Prix of Minnesota.[5] James Goughary Jr. won the race and went on to win the championship with Keith Scharf finishing second and Warren Stillwell finishing third in the championship.

The following season, 1997, saw nine races on the calendar including 2 double-headers. Stillwell retook the crown, winning four races. He was closely followed by Robert Mumm, only 2 points made the difference in the end. The races were not very tense, only 11 lead changes throughout the season with 6 races seeing no lead changes. The sixth round of the championship at Heartland Park was an exception with 7 lead changes. There were only 0,210 seconds between the winning driver (Robbert Mumm) and the number two (Leo Capaldi), with Stillwell finishing third.[6]

For 1998 the SCCA Pro Racing shortened the calendar to 7 races. The championship was decided in the final round. At the final round the Spec Racer Ford Pro Series supported the FIA GT World Schampionships at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Going in the final round John Strickler had scored 96 points and Stillwell 93. Qualifying was close with Strickler on pole position and Stillwell starting fourth. During the race Stillwell crashed in the 11th round and Strickler went on to win the race and the championship.[7]

1999 saw again large fields with an average of 36 cars per race. Jack Willes decided the championship in the prefinal round at Watkins Glen International. The battle for the second place in the championship was tight. This was decided during the final round at Sebring International Raceway. With Goughary, Jr. and Tilbor competing for second place. Goughary finished third, in front of Tilbor who was fourth, thus winning the second place in the championship.

With fields still as large as before and relative rookies competing for top honors the series was still going strong into the new millennium. Stillwell decided the championship, in his signature style, one race early.[8] New in the top three were second placed Bobby Sak and third placed John Black.

In its eighth season, in 2001, the series supported the Trans-Am Series, SCCA World Challenge and the NASCAR Winston Cup Series at Sears Point Raceway. Keith Scharf took the title after nine rounds of racing. Stillwell was on course to win his fifth title, but he lost valuable points when he had to sit out round five. Round five was the only oval racing event on the calendar. At Chicago Motor Speedway, supporting the ASA National Tour, only 17 cars started the race. Scharf started from pole and won the 50 lap race, thus gaining points on championship fore runners Stillwell and Goughary Jr. who did not start the race. Scharf did not finish outside the top six and took the his first title.[9]

Stillwell retook the title in 2002, winning three races and capturing seven podium finishes out of ten races.[10]

Cancellation

For the 2003 season the series was split up in an Atlantic Tour and an Pacific Tour.[11] But instead of creating a series where drivers from the whole country could compete for the title, fields were split in half. May 20, 2003 SCCA Pro Racing canceled the remainder of the Atlantic and Pacific Tours.[12] Shawn Morrison was the last driver to win a Pro Spec Racer event.

Revival

The Spec Racer Ford Pro Series was revived by the SCCA in 2010. The series was launched together with the SCCA Pro Formula Enterprises. In the new racing format every race-weekend features two races. 57 drivers entered the first race at Road Atlanta. Of the 52 drivers who started the race, Brian Schofield finished first with a margin of 0,145 seconds over Tray Ayres.[13] For the second raceweekend, at Thunderbolt Raceway, fields were drastically smaller with 18 cars on the grid. Scott Rettich took his first Pro Spec Racer win. A record low competitor count was achieved at Brainerd International Raceway, only 12 drivers joined the grid.[14] After ten races Rettich took the title with five point separating him from the number two Ayres.[15]

The series was renewed for a second season in 2011. The season would be a disappointing one from an organizer point of view. The largest field was at the Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières with 21 cars, the smallest however was just five cars at the season finale at Road Atlanta. Tray Ayres would win, what would be the last, Pro SRF race. Rettich won three races and won the championship. SRF veteran Richard Spicer won four races, but had less podium finishes, thus he finished second in the standings.

Five days after the last race of the season, SCCA Pro Racing announced that the Pro Spec Ford and the Pro Formula Enterprises would not return in 2012. The organisation stated that the series was not viable in the current economic environment.[16]

The car

See also: Spec Racer Ford

The Spec Racer Ford is an open cockpit sportsracer produced by SCCA Enterprises. The car features a 1,9L Ford Escort engine in the rear. The engine is a inline-4 SOHC with 8 valves with a Hemi head. The engine produces 105 horsepower.

The car as a tube frame chassis. The bodywork is made out of fiberglass. The gearbox is a transaxle type and features five forward speeds and one reverse.[17]

Champions

Year Driver Team Car Avg.
1994 Ohio Warren Stillwell Stillwell Racing 27,80
1995 Ohio Warren Stillwell Stillwell Racing 27,40
1996 FloridaJames Goughary Jr. 42,60
1997 Ohio Warren Stillwell Stillwell Racing 34,67
1998 Kansas John Strickler Mattress City Racing 23,28
1999 North Carolina Jack Willes Willes Racing 36,11
2000 Ohio Warren Stillwell Stillwell Racing 30,72
2001 Missouri Keith Scharf ??? 27,38
2002 Ohio Warren Stillwell Stillwell Racing 33,67
20031 California Lee Fleming (Pacific), ??? 15
Maryland Richard Spicer (Atlantic) ??? 4
2004-2009 no competition
2010 Ohio Scott Rettich Hippi Racing 22,50
2011 Ohio Scott Rettich Alliance Autosport ???

Notes

^1 This reflects the standings at the date of cancellation, these standings are not official.[18]

Venues

Track 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2010 2011
Iowa Des Moines Street Circuit
New York Watkins Glen
Canada Mosport (Atlantic)
Georgia (U.S. state) Road Atlanta
Texas Dallas Grand Prix
Arizona Phoenix International Raceway (Pacific)
Kansas Heartland Park
Florida Sebring International Raceway
Minnesota Minneapolis Street Circuit
Nevada Reno Hilton Street Circuit
Florida St. Petersburg Street Circuit
Ohio Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
Colorado Pikes Peak International Raceway
Michigan West Michigan Grand Prix
Florida Homestead-Miami Speedway
Oklahoma Hallett Motor Racing Circuit
Tennessee Memphis International Raceway
Canada Circuit St. Croix
Connecticut Lime Rock Park (Atlantic)1
Nevada Las Vegas Motor Speedway
California Sonoma Raceway (Pacific)1
Illinois Chicago Motor Speedway 2
Virginia Virginia International Raceway
Ohio Lunken Airport
Florida Daytona International Speedway 3
Iowa Mid America Motorplex
Pennsylvania BeaveRun Motorsports Complex (Atlantic)
South Carolina Carolina Motorsports Park (Atlantic)1
Michigan Gingerman Raceway (Atlantic)1
California Willow Springs International Raceway (Pacific)1
Washington (state) Pacific Raceways (Pacific)1
Canada Circuit Trois-Rivières
Minnesota Brainerd International Raceway
New Jersey New Jersey Motorsports Park
Utah Miller Motorsports Park
Legend
Red Permanent road course
Green Temporary circuit
Blank Oval

Notes

^1 These events were canceled after the series cancelation.
^2 Speedway chairman (Charles Bidwill) and president (Chip Ganassi) declared the races would not be financially feasible.[19]
^3 This event was canceled after the September 11 attacks.[20]

Records

References

  1. ↑ SCCA Pro Racing News (PDF). SCCA Pro Racing Media Relations. 1994. p. 1. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-01-04.
  2. ↑ SCCA Pro Racing News (PDF). SCCA Pro Racing Media Relations. 1994. p. 14. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-01-04.
  3. ↑ SCCA Pro Racing Results (PDF). SCCA Pro Racing Media Relations. 1995. p. 10. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-01-04.
  4. ↑ SCCA Pro Racing Results (PDF). SCCA Pro Racing Media Relations. 1996. p. 1. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-01-04.
  5. ↑ SCCA Pro Racing Results (PDF). SCCA Pro Racing Media Relations. 1996. p. 7. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-01-04.
  6. ↑ SCCA Pro Racing Results (PDF). SCCA Pro Racing Media Relations. 1997. pp. 10, 20. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-01-04.
  7. ↑ SCCA Pro Racing Results (PDF). SCCA Pro Racing Media Relations. 1998. p. 13. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-01-04.
  8. ↑ "SCCA Spec Racer Ford Pro Series 2000". DriverDB.com. Retrieved 21 June 2013.
  9. ↑ "Scharf reigns supreme in 2001 Pro Spec Racer". SCCA PRO SPEC RACER 2001 REVIEW. Archived from the original on 2003-07-10. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  10. ↑ "2002 Point Standings". SCCA Pro Racing. Archived from the original on 2003-12-30. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  11. ↑ "SCCA Pro Racing Announces 2003 Pro Spec Racer Schedule". SCCA Pro Spec Racer News. Archived from the original on 2003-07-08. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  12. ↑ "CHECKERED FLAG FALLS ON PRO SPEC RACER SERIES". SCCA PRO SPEC RACER NEWS. Archived from the original on 2003-10-13. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  13. ↑ "SCCA Pro Spec Racer Ford Round 1" (PDF). SCCA Pro Racing. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-06-21. Retrieved 25 June 2013.
  14. ↑ "SCCA Pro Spec Racer Ford Round 8" (PDF). SCCA Pro Racing. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-06-21. Retrieved 25 June 2013.
  15. ↑ "SCCA Spec Racer Ford Pro Series 2010". DriverDB.com. Retrieved 25 June 2013.
  16. ↑ "Pro SRF and Pro Formula Enterprises Will Not Return in 2012". SCCA Pro Racing. Retrieved 25 June 2013.
  17. ↑ "Spec Racer Ford". SCCA Enterprises. Retrieved 25 June 2013.
  18. ↑ "2003 points". SCCA Pro Racing. Archived from the original on 2003-06-29. Retrieved 25 June 2013.
  19. ↑ "CHICAGO DATE DROPPED FROM 2002 PRO SPEC RACER". SCCA Pro Racing. Archived from the original on January 16, 2005. Retrieved 21 October 2013.
  20. ↑ "THIS WEEKEND’S DAYTONA PRO SPEC RACER EVENT CANCELLED". SCCA Pro Racing. Archived from the original on November 4, 2004. Retrieved 21 October 2013.
  21. ↑ "SCCA PRO SPEC RACER CAREER DRIVER STATISTICS". SCCA Pro Racing. Archived from the original on 2003-09-26. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  22. ↑ "SCCA PRO SPEC RACER CIRCUIT WINNERS & TRACK RECORDS". SCCA Pro Racing. Archived from the original on 2003-10-25. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  23. ↑ "1997 Final Point Standings (Detailed)". SCCA Pro Racing. Archived from the original on 2003-07-10. Retrieved 25 June 2013.
  24. ↑ "SCCA PRO SPEC RACER 1999 FINAL STANDINGS". SCCA Pro Racing. Archived from the original on 2003-09-26. Retrieved 25 June 2013.
  25. ↑ "SCCA Spec Racer Ford Pro Series 2011 - statistics". DriverDB.com. Retrieved 25 June 2013.
  26. ↑ "SCCA PRO SPEC RACER 2002 SEASON ROUND SEVEN". Pro Spec Racer. Archived from the original on 2003-10-21. Retrieved 25 June 2013.
  27. ↑ "SCCA PRO SPEC RACER 2000 SEASON ROUND 8". Pro Spec Racer. Archived from the original on 2004-03-18. Retrieved 25 June 2013.
  28. ↑ "25th Anniversary of SRF at Road Atlanta on April 10 - 11 2010" (PDF). SCCA Pro Racing. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-06-21. Retrieved 25 June 2013.
  29. ↑ "Spicer Takes Sunday Morning Pro Spec Racer Ford Win At Atlanta". SCCA Pro Racing. Archived from the original on 2012-02-03. Retrieved 25 June 2013.

External links

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