CalSpeedJuly2018

R ound #7 of the CalSpeed IronMan Series would look a little bit different, as the championship saw its first 2-hour test of the year, taking to the Sportivo layout for the second time in 2018. Some drivers would elect to go at it alone, those solo entries making up twelve of the total 28 teams in attendance. The other two-driver squads would be in both the Pro and Sport divisions, and while a bit of a hiccup and curve ball was thrown this event, the action on track was no less exciting… Each of the Pro Class teams would share driving duties in this two-hour contest, with season-long competitor Tony Wika bringing the field to the green to start things off. He would be joined in the first half of the race by fellow class regulars Charles Eichlin and Alexander Bermudez, with the latter two putting on an excellent show during the opening hour. While the pair would start 2nd and 3rd respectively, it would be Bermudez getting out to the lead on the opening circuit, with Eichlin following through for second by the end of lap two. Having seen that view before, Charles wasn’t about to let Alex lead things without a challenge, and stole away the lead as they caught traffic for the first time. Bermudez had no plans of playing follow the leader through traffic however, and the duo not only fought each other lap after lap, but also made things exciting as they scythed their way through traffic. Over the next 45 minutes or so they would trade the lead six more times, with pit stops playing a large role in the swapping of positions. Charles proved to be the quicker of the two in the pit lane, coming out on top on both occasions the duo came down for their stops, but Bermudez would fight back each time. At the end of the first half of the contest, it was Bermudez leading over Eichlin again, but it was clear that the first half of this bout was a draw. The second half of the event would see recent Super Series winner Jetson Lieser take over for Bermudez, Pro Class winner from earlier this year Diego Morales jump in for Eichlin, and SRF car racer Bryan Schubert take over for Tony Wika. Eyes would again be keen to watch the continuation of the battle for supremacy in the Pro Class, with Morales finding the lead on the first lap. Lieser was anything but content in the runner-up position, and after a few attempts, was able to steal away the top spot on the ninth lap in the second half of the event. The lead was short lived however, as karting veteran showed he had plenty of speed and tracks in his repertoire, taking over at the top after just a pair of laps. Lieser would be the first to blink for the pit stops, heading down pit lane on lap 19, but unlike the first half of the race, his rival was not quick to follow suite. Instead, Morales would continue to clock laps for about ten more minutes, maintaining the lead as he came out of the pits. Jetson was right there however, coincidentally cutting his fastest lap the same time Morales made his stop, and the two were again in a dead heat for the top spot. On the second stop however, it would Diego coming down pit lane first, and this time the advantage was clear as Jet exited a couple laps later. While the on track action had been fierce and exciting, this contest would unfortunately end at the scales. While Morales would cross the line first, he had lost more weight than anticipated -he had also run an hour in the Sport class prior to his Pro duties- and came up light at the post race weigh in. This turn of events awarded the win to Alexander Bermudez and Jetson Lieser, with Tony Wika and Bryan Schubert given second after the winners were relegated to third. While it wasn’t a win for Charles Eichlin or Diego Morales, they certainly put on one helluva show. Round 7 July 21 PRO RESULTS 1) Alexander Bermudez / Jetson Lieser 2) Tony Wika / Bryan Schubert 3) Charles Eichlin / Diego Morales PRO Winn Alexander Be PRO Winn Jetson Liese 2 HR