FCS: Texas World Speedway weekend summary

Rain at Texas cancels Sunday race

COLLEGE STATION, TX, September 21. A rainstorm caused the cancellation of the second race at the Texas Festival of Speed's Ferrari Challenge race at Texas World Speedway, but even the rain couldn't dampen an exciting weekend.

Doug Peterson came into the event with only a four point lead over Jim Kenton for the Championship; Emmanuel Anassis was a further 12 points back. Kenton and Anassis had a full day of practice on the 1.8 mile track on Friday, while Peterson was racing elsewhere. Peterson still qualified second on Saturday morning. Kenton took Pole Position, and Anassis qualified third on the grid for the first race.

Kenton took an immediate lead in the 30 minute Saturday race, and Anassis ducked under Peterson in the first turn to take second. Those two pulled away from the field, as Kevin Crowder was also able to pass Peterson early in the race. Peterson briefly regained third, but couldn't hold the position and Crowder took the final spot on the podium.

The win moved Kenton past Peterson in the Championship, and Anassis even closer. The trio expected that the 45 minute race scheduled for Sunday would further intensify the championship, but a rainstorm which left water standing on the track caused cancellation of the race. Going into the final event of the 2003 season, at Ferrari's Mugello track in Italy, Kenton now holds a 20 point advantage over Peterson, with Anassis only three points back.

Two special presentations ended the event. Anassis had beaten Peterson at the previous event at Lime Rock Park, taking his first victory in the series. Peterson and his wife commissioned a painting of Anassis taking the win, and presented it to him in a special ceremony. Another award was given in memory of Ed Martinez, a Challenge driver who had passed away unexpectedly in 2002. Toni Martinez, Ed's widow, presented an engraved silver cup honoring Martinez' qualities as a racer and a gentleman. The cup went to Kenton, recognizing him as a driver possessing those same qualities.

-fcs/ds-