SBRS: Grand Rapids Race Results

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (July 26)-It was a move that went against convention and his own pre-race plans. But it was successful, and it put Will Langhorne in victory lane.

Langhorne made a daring inside move at the start of the Barber Dodge Pro Series race Sunday, moving from third to first as the field entered treacherous turn 1. Once in front, Langhorne was uncatchable.

Despite a late caution, Langhorne pulled away to convincing victory in the West Michigan Grand Prix. It was Langhorne's first victory in 18 Barber Dodge Pro Series starts.

Jeff Simmons, who followed Langhorne and took second at the start, was second and Nicholas Rondet was third. Simmons' fourth consecutive top-three finish put him into the points lead midway through the 12-race series championship. He leads Thomas Schie and Todd Snyder, who are tied at 73, by five points.

Langhorne admitted that he didn't want to take any chances at the start, but when the opportunity presented itself, he took advantage.

"I wasn't even plan to do it. I didn't want to take any risks," Langhorne said. "I was confident with the speed I was running through the weekend that I could get by them in a couple of laps. But (pole sitter Victor Gonzalez)left a gap and I was able to get by. I was fortunate the start happened the way it did."

Langhorne established a three-second lead in the first seven laps and maintained a comfortable cushion until the only full-course caution came out on lap 19. But he quickly re-established control on the restart.

"Will was much better on cold tires," Simmons said. "By that time my right-front tire was totally gone and I knew I had no chance to get Will."

Grand Rapids, Mich. - Results Sunday from the 40-minute Barber Dodge Pro Series race at the Scott Brayton Memorial Street Circuit with finishing position, starting position, driver, hometown or country, laps, reason out if any, and prize money. All cars are identical Reynard Dodge V-6, open-wheel, single-seat race cars on Michelin racing tires.

1 (3) Will Langhorne, Washington, D.C., 70.290 mph, 30, $12,000 2 (5) Jeff Simmons, Granby, Conn., 30, $8,000 3 (2) Nicolas Rondet, France, 30, $6,000 4 (9) Giovanni Anapoli, Italy, 30, $4,000 5 (12) Nilton Rossoni, Brazil, 30, $2,500 6 (13) Alex Gurney, Newport Beach, Calif., 30, $2,000 7 (6) Todd Snyder, Sheffield, Mass., 30, $1,800 8 (15) John McCaig, Vancouver, B.C., Canada, 30, $1,700 9 (22) Jamie Menninga, Pella, Iowa, 30, $2,100 10 (16) Samer Hindi, Los Angeles, 30, $1,500 11 (14) Jon Fogarty, Portola Valley, Calif., 30, $1,400 12 (18) Charles Willis, Germantown, Tenn., 30, $1,300 13 (23) Gregg Borland, Elkhart Lake, Wis., 30, $1,200 14 (10) Shane Donley, Las Vegas, 30, $1,100 15 (20) Brian Pelke, Lansing, Ill., 30, $1,000 16 (19) Peter Boss, Narragansett, R.I., 29, $500 17 (24) Scott Mayer, Franklin, Wis., 29, $500 18 (17) Jarrett Boon, Phoenix, 28, $500 19 (7) Thomas Schie, Norway, 24, contact, $500 20 (4) Sepp Koster, The Netherlands, 24, contact,$500 21 (1) Victor Gonzalez, Jr., Puerto Rico, 19, contact, $500 22 (11) Rocky Moran, Jr., Coto de Caza, Calif., 16, contact, $500 23 (8) Eric Tresslar, Denver, 15, mech., $500 24 (21) Tom Woods, Rancho Cordova, Calif., 6, contact, $500

Length of Race: 30 laps on a 1.58-mile circuit for 47.400 miles Time: 40 minutes, 27.670 seconds Average speed: 70.290 mph Margin of victory: 2.910 seconds Lap leaders: Will Langhorne, 1-30 Fastest race lap: Jeff Simmons, 1:15.355 (75.841 mph on lap 15) Fastest qualifier: Victor Gonzalez, 1:14.999, 75.841 mph Progressive Driver Award: Jamie Menninga (22 to 9) Purse: $52,100

Points after 6 of 12 rounds:

1. Jeff Simmons, 78 2. Thomas Schie, 73 3. Todd Snyder, 73 4. Will Langhorne, 63 5. Giovanni Anapoli, 40 6. Nicholas Rondet, 39 7. Sepp Koster, 36 8. Shane Donley, 34 9. John McCaig, 34 10. Rino Mastronardi, 28 Nilton Rossoni, 28 Next race: Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Lexington, Ohio, Aug. 9