englishtown weather N - NON-points and '07 Top 16
T - Includes Pro 10.0
P,E - Includes Pro 8 Shootout and 11.50
16 - Top16 - NON-points
'08 National, VA
Featured Drivers
2008 East Coast Supercharging Corvette Challenge Event 4 Winner Ralph Savarese 2008 American Racing Headers Pro 8 Shootout Race 1 Winner Could be you 2008 Cartek Racing Pro 10.0 Race 2 Winner Wayne Keegan
2008 Vette Doctors Pro 11.50 Race 1 Winner John Panuzzo
Artie Sabatino wins first career Corvette Challenge
In what was probably the most exciting East Coast
Supercharging Corvette Challenge in its five-year history finally had his day winning his first Challenge on the heels of winning his class in the Vette Magazine Show & Go last month. Although attendance was down and Corvette drivers were forced to start their event two hours later than expected due to the prior event running late, drivers still had a great night treated to some stiff competition for best reaction time, A Vette DoctorsQuick 4 race, a new points leader and a bizarre finish to the brackets.
Sabatino used saved his best reaction time of the eliminator for the final in the 6 round event. One the way to the final, Sabatino benefited from 2 red light win and used a consistent dial to win the other three rounds. Prior to the event starting, Sabatino commented that he was not hooking up his Navy Blue C5 so he was going to roll it out of the line. His strategy worked. Perez, on the other hand had no real trouble hooking up in only his third time out with his new engine and transmission combination. Perez took advantage of his reputation of a good driver when on the way to the final he was treated to four red light wins. The only race that was not a red light, Perez won, you guessed it, by treeing his opponent. Perez had a super day on the tree hitting and his worst light of the event was a .613 mixed in with some low-five lights. The final was set and Perez took the left lane and Sabatino the right. Perez dialed 11.68 would spot Sabatino the lead with his 12.18 dial. As stated before Sabatino hit the tree (.547) and when Perez's tree came done he started the chase. Perez caught Sabatino at the top and hit the brakes. As they crossed the finish line, Perez was ahead but the win light come on in the right lane for Sabatino. Perez had broken out by .03 seconds. Too much stripe as Perez ran 11.661 on the 11.68 at a brake stabbing 109.64 MPH and Sabatino wrapped up his super package running just .012 over with a 12.192 on his 12.18. What was bizarre about the finish was Perez cut a perfect .500 light. It takes both the top end and bottom of the track to win a race and Sabatino had both ends covered and that earned him the win. For a video the final click here.
Runner-up Edgar Perez
L to R, Rich, Nick Goldman, Winner Artie Sabatino, Runner-up Edgar Perez and John Mackey
Winner Artie Sabatino
Joe Blass retakes the lead and earns the Bracket Finals invitation
Today was also the event at which our points leader at the end of the night would be invited by Raceway Park to represent them and compete for team and individuals titles and prizes at the NHRA Summit Racing Bracket Finals. We came into the race with 5 racers contending for the position. Incoming points leader, Rob Farley went out first round at the hands of Jim Kovitch who cut a package that Farley could not over come. Third place racer Ralph Savarese also went out in the first round but at the hands of Tony Buonassisi who also cut a super package with a .523 light that Savarese could not overcome. Bob Hollingshead had a chance but could not gather enough points as Joe Blass came away with the lead by making it to the semi-finals. The other driver with an outside shot, John Panuzzo, did not get the help he needed so he was not a factor. So Blass gets the call. However, life needs to come ahead of the hobby as Blass' business has picked up to the point where he cannot take the time off needed to attend the event at Cecil County Dragway at the end of the month. Blass respectfully declined the invitation and wished second place points racer, Rob Farley, well in representing not only Raceway Park but also The Corvette Challenge.
John Panuzzo Jr. Memorial Trophy won by Chris Young was extra special
Team Panuzzo leader, John Panuzzo wrestled today with his emotions as today commemorated the seventh anniversary of the death of his son, John Jr. Panuzzo thought about not racing today but was convinced that John Jr. would have wanted him to race. The John Panuzzo Jr. Memorial Trophy rewards the driver with best winning reaction time in the first round with a trophy in John Jr.'s memory and a $50 cash award. Thanks to the input of other Team Panuzzo members and friends, today was extra special as additional funds were put in to raise the total prize for today to $300. This had many drivers gunning for the chance to honor John Jr. and take home the nice cash prize. Approximately one third of the first round races ended in red lights. For Chris Young it did not. He was the in the first pair and did what he had to do taking the win with a .509 light earning him this honor. Two to drivers had better RT's but did not win their rounds so could not earn the honor. One of the two, Bill Driber, suffered the same fate as event runner up Perez, when he cut a perfect .500 light but did not get the win light.
Mike Romain wins Vette Doctors Quick 4 Event 3 with a 9.98
The Quick 4 was back in action for its third race and it was Mike Romain from the third qualifying position taking out Bill Maloney in the final. Chris Coriell and Tommy Michalkowski were the other two qualifiers. Complete details click here.
Today's event featured 61 Corvettes making first round.
Summary of driver Dial-In times
Time
10
11
12
13
14
Total
#
1
7
18
26
9
61
%
1.6%
11.5%
29.5%
42.6%
14.8%
100%
Other Awards Handed Out at this Event
Event winner Artie Sabatino went home with $250 cash, a $100 gift certificate from Pro Torque and the winner trophy.
Runner-up Edgar Perez went home with $125 cash, a $50 gift certificate from Pro Torque and the runner-up trophy.
Semi-finalists included Joe Blass, Bob Hollingsheadwho won $60 cash.
Chris Young won the 'John Panuzzo Jr. Memorial' trophy and the special anniversary $300 cash prize presented by Team Panuzzo Racing for the best winning reaction time in the
1st round. Chris Young was quickest on the tree in the 1st round when his RT was
.009.
Eric Fisher won the 'Almost Perfect Award' presented by Marotta Racing when he took
himself out in the 1st round with the red light closest to .500. Eric Fisher's light was
0.00 and for that he earned a $25 Tech Card gift certificate usable on a future to
Raceway Park courtesy of Lenny Marotta and Marotta
Racing .
Joe Signore won the 'Closest to Dial Award' Trophy presented by Boweryboy Racing by only .001 off his dial.
Frank Schear won the 'Ohh so Close Award' presented by Zaino when he was edged out in the 1st
round by the smallest margin of victory of .0005. That number is the MOV number on your time
slip. Although he lost in the 1st round by the smallest Margin of Victory, Frank Schear earned a Zaino starter package that includes Z1, Z2, Z6, Z7 and a polish pad.
All winners of the first round were awarded a trophy sponsored by United Racing. With 83 cars making this event, United Racing gave out quite a few trophies or 1st Round Trophy Upgrade Program credits.
Next race
Saturday September 20th is the next Corvette Challenge. This date will again feature the Quick 4 class so don't miss it. The gates will open for us at 8 AM. Visit http://www.racewaypark.com to view the schedule.
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