2009-10 Round 4

SportClips Grand Prix - Quarry Heights Raceway

Round 4 of 14

November 5, 2009

FAST FACTS

The Sports Clips Grand Prix

2008 CHAMPION: Mike Fitzlaff

2008 POLESITTER: Dan Margetta

TRACK LAYOUT: Permanent road course

RACE LENGTH: 20 Minutes

TRACK RECORDS: Qualifying- 2009 - Dan Margetta, 53.000

Race- 2009 – Mike Fitzlaff – 235 Laps

Fast Lap- 2009 – Mark Walczak – 4.227

RACE ROUND: 4 of 16 in the 2009-2010 Indy Slot Car Series

INSTANT REPLAY

The series title was wrapped up for Mark Walczak when Larry Rotter failed to place his car on the pole. When that happened all Walczak had to do was qualify. With that in the bag all eyes turned toward the race event it’s self to see if Walczak could tie Rotter’s record for most wins in a season.

Dan Margetta placed his car on the pole for the second consecutive race. In The first heat race, Mike Fitzlaff and Ev Kamikawa waged a back and forth battle that that would see Fitzlaff advance to the finals by 3 laps when it was finished as Kamikawa had issues with car control in the second half.

Tom Spehert had the distinction of becoming the first driver to ever DNF at the new Quarry Heights facility while trying to take out Mike Lack allowing his brother Andy Spehert to extend his early lead. In the end it was Mike Lack pulling away to a thirteen lap lead at the final gun.

The third heat saw track owner Matt Hayek, Amy Butler, Chris Spehert, and Mike Kristof. Amy Butler would jump out to an early lead and hold it well into the second half of the race when she was collected in a three car accident with Spehert and Kristof. This and a stop and go penalty allowed Hayek to take the lead away in the final thirty seconds and advance to the finals to the delight of the Wauwatosa fans.

The final heat race of the night saw the three fastest cars in qualifying battle it out for the final spot in the final four. Newly crowned champion Mark Walczak would jump to a quick lead but Dean Strom would not let him get away to far taking the lead and for once making Walczak chase somebody down in a heat race. Half way through the race Walczak and teammate Dan Margetta were tied for the lead when the rest of the field put a bounty on Walczak’s head. Margetta would try to collect, but in the process would miss Walczak’s car and go over the wall for the second DNF of the night. Walczak would cruise in to the finals from there.

In the finals with the bounty still on his head Walczak tried to run and hide while drivers took attempts at collecting. Mike Lack tried and found himself with the third DNF of the night. Walczak held a three lap lead at the halfway point and extended it threw pit stops. Then while trying to avoid an accident Walczak would over rev his car causing a gearbox issue. He would limp around and try to hold on for the win. Mike Fitzlaff would get by for the win with Walczak second, just car lengths ahead of Matt Hayek.

The Sports Clips Grand Prix History (New Event for 2008-09 season)

Year Race Winner

2009 Spring Mike Fitzlaff

2009 Fall ????????????