Lopinsky Scores Maiden Win At Sprint Series Round #3

After 2 events in the three week period of time to kick off the season, the CalSpeed Sprint Series took its customary 6 week break between rounds #2 and #3, with the third event of the year taking to the Grande Counter Clockwise course. In a season that has already seen plenty of new faces at the front of the field, this past Saturday held onto that theme, with a completely new podium lineup the result…

Qualifying and Heat Races…

But while the end of the day would see fresh faces on the podium, things started out with some familiar names at the sharp end, although it would actually be Leo Ovtcharov’s first career pole position. Joining him with P1 starting spots for their respective heats would be early title contender Jeremy Aldridge, and Jacob Abrams. Once the heat races got underway it would be Denis Shakhovski scoring his first ever heat win, While Jeremy Aldridge kept his streak alive having won all three of his heats so far to start the season. Last but not least, Chris Fox added his second heat race win to his name, earning him a front row starting spot for the A-Main…

C-Main

Leading the field away for the first main of the day would be Teohua Recendez at the drop of the green, and would control the first half of the race with plenty of infighting happening behind him. Alexander Diakoumopolous would be the first to provide a challenge, reaching the leader on lap 6, and making the move to the front on lap seven of the ten lap contest. The driver on the move however was Sergio Gonzalez, working his way up from 7th to also be in the conversation in the final circuits, mounting his challenge for the top spot on the penultimate lap. All three aforementioned drivers were in the mix at the end, but when Teohua made the move on Alexander on the final lap to steal away 2nd, it gave Sergio the breathing room he need for a solid gap and C-Main victory..

B-Main

After a pair of podiums -including his first career win- to kick off the year, Joey Andrews found himself just missing out on the A-Main for round #3, leading the field away at the drop of the green. The driver to beat this time around however would be series veteran Robert Hernandez, looking to make the most of his last-second entry from the waitlist. He would do just that, getting to the lead on lap 1 from his third place starting spot, and never looking back – cruising to his first piece of hardware in 2022. For his part, Andrews would go unchallenged in second as well, and will look to get back into championship form at round #4. Speaking of bouncing back however, kudos to James Lieser who was the victim of contact in the open laps after starting sixth, only to work his way back up to snag third…

A-Main

As it was mentioned earlier, It would be Jeremy Aldridge and Chris Fox leading the field of 31 into turn #1 for the first time, with Denis Shakhovski, Brett Lopinsky, Ken Hackman, and reigning champ Evan Lawrence filling out the next two rows. Of the 6, only the book-ends of the group had ever scored a step on the podium, and what ensued was a very exciting 10 lap contest to decide round #3. Right away it was Lawrence showing why he was the champ and the one who had won the event the past two years, getting to the lead early and controlling most of the race. Aldridge would slot into second and stay there for the first half with Fox in tow, before Lopinsky, and then Hackman found their way by and made haste for the front. Lopinsky got there first, and after a couple of failed attempts, allowed Hackman his own shot at it, all the while bringing the former front row back in the fold. On the final lap it Hackman making the move stick into the first corner, and while there was plenty of infighting behind, he could get away, and entering the final complex it was all to play for. Hackman went defensive, Lawrence countered on the exit, but when the pair went side by side through the final corner, Lopinsky undercut the pair to steal away the win, with Hackman settling for 2nd, and Chris Fox sneaking by as well for 3rd.

The CalSpeed Sprint Series is already SOLD OUT for round #4, taking to the Classico Counterclockwise circuit on April 2nd!

Sprint Series A-Main Top 10-

  1. Brett Lopinsky
  2. Ken Kackman
  3. Chris Fox
  4. Jeremy Aldridge
  5. Evan Lawrence [2R]
  6. Leo Ovtcharov
  7. Mike Gonzales
  8. Lee Povey [SE]
  9. Jack McNeel
  10. Frank Chen

Overall Point Standings Top 10

  1. Ivan Martinez              585
  2. Joey Andrews              580
  3. Jeremy Aldridge          575     
  4. Brett Lopinsky             570
  5. Jack McNeel                532
  6. Ken Hackman              528
  7. Mike Gonzales             521
  8. Jacob Abrams             512
  9. Vince Azua                  503
  10. Chris Fox                     496

SE Sub-Championship Standings Top 5

  1. Nick Rajewski              441
  2. Lee Povey                    439
  3. Luca Zambello             410
  4. Camila Rubio               397
  5. Brian Vidales               386

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