SBRS: RenoLaguna preview

Press Release Contact: Rick Roso

MASTRONARDI & HILL LOAD GUNS FOR RENO, LAGUNA SHOOT-OUT $150,000 On the Line as the Two Decide Barber Dodge Championship

LAKEVILLE, Conn. (Oct. 10) - Italian Rino Mastronardi and Derek Hill of California have been embroiled in a championship duel from the start of the 1997 SCCA Pro Racing Barber Dodge Pro Series season, and it all comes to a head in the next two weeks. First up is the street fight in Reno October 19, followed a week later by the Barber Dodge season finale at Laguna Seca Raceway Oct. 26. Mastronardi leads Hill by 15 points, with 42 up for grabs in these last two races. Both are desperate to win the championship and its $150,000 in bonuses: the $100,000 Career Enhancement Award, plus the $50,000 engine-lease package from the CART Indy Lights organizers. Hill has his work cut out for him; making up the 15 points on Mastronardi will be very difficult if Mastronardi runs in the top five in these last two races. Mastronardi can actually clinch the championship if he leaves Reno with a 21-point or greater margin. By the same token, a Mastronardi mistake in qualifying and/or the race swings the door wide open for Hill. Last year at Reno, Mastronardi started from pole and wound up fifth, thanks to executing a Danny Sullivan-style spin two laps from the end while in second place. Hill couldn’t come to grips with the 1.27-mile, 12-turn street course in qualifying, starting eighth, but he drove hard in the race to come home fourth. The Barber Dodge race at the Reno Grand Prix green flags at 10:30 a.m. local time Sunday, Oct. 19, with the first of three espn2 telecasts set for Sunday, Nov. 2 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern. The Laguna Seca Raceway Barber Dodge finale Oct. 26 starts at 10:30 a.m. local time. The first espn2 broadcast is Sunday, Nov. 9 at 2:00 p.m. Eastern. -end