SOLO: ProSolo season finale preview

Junior Johnson among standouts in final National Tour stop

SEATTLE, Wa -- Mike "Junior" Johnson continues to make a name for himself in the Tire Rack SCCA National Series with his third National Tour win of the season. However this win is the most impressive yet as it came in an unfamiliar Corvette Z06 rather than the Camaro he is accustom to. Johnson edged out front runner Stacey Molleker by just over two-tenths of a second to claim the win. In Super Stock Ladies Laura Molleker stole the show with her win over Beth McClure and Jodi Fordahl. Molleker's 1.5 second win sets the stage for the Solo2 Nationals where the three will meet again.

Mitch Fagundes claimed his second Tour win of the season over Joe Goeke and Andy McKee in B-Stock. McKee struggled with a broken sway bar, yet posted times quick enough to remain in the top three. Kevin McCormick also posted his second Tour win of the year in D-Stock to go with his pair of ProSolo wins. McCormick placed just ahead of Ron Bauer who carried a cone on his fast Saturday run. In the same car as McCormick, Katie Elder took the win in D-Stock Ladies.

A-Street Prepared featured a collection of Porsches supported by Fordahl Motorsports and the Corvette Z06 of Scotty White. White needed all three runs on Saturday to get an official time in but did not have enough to catch the 911 of Geoff Newman. Corvette drivers faired better in B-Street Prepared where the two driver team of LJ Moffet and Bill Buetow took the top spots while LJ's wife, Angela took the win in the Ladies Class.

Glenn Hernandez saved his best E-Street Prepared finish for last with a win at the final Tour stop. Hernandez has built a reputation for autocrossing numerous cars over a single season but seemed to find a match with the Z-28 of Rick Smale. Wendover ProSolo winner Steve Eguina took the second spot with New Yorker Bruce Bellom borrowing Jeff Wenchell's Mustang to finish third.

Fastest times of the weekend were set by A-Modified Phantom drivers Gary Milligan and Joe Cheng. Milligan took the top spot after Cheng struggled with cones on Sunday. The Phantom has been considered the fastest autocross car in the world, and is currently scheduled to appear at the 2002 Solo2 National championships. Another Canadian Duo, Alex Chiu and Blake Wilson, got a Solo2 Nationals warm up with a one to finish in Seattle in C-Modified.

D-Modified was lightly attended but plenty fast. Ron Babb took the win with wife Karen claiming the ladies class together posting the fastest times of any production car at the event. Next fastest of the production based cars was the D-Prepared MG of Christopher Imbeau.

All totaled 259 drivers competed in the Seattle National Tour event hosted by the Northwest region. The courses, designed by Joe Goeke featured highly technical maneuvers on Saturday and open gut checks on Sunday. Drivers were treated to a social on Saturday night with Kevin Dietz providing the voice for the affair and Fordahl Motorsports providing door prizes.

The Tire Rack SCCA Solo 2 National Tour takes National Solo on the road to various locations around the country. These events average over 250 drivers from a wide geographical area though most of the competitors come from nearby states. The drivers come together to get a taste of the "Nationals" experience of competition and camaraderie found at the Championships. Each event is presented in a format similar to that found in Topeka during The Tire Rack Solo 2 National Championships.

The Sports Car Club of America Inc. is a 64,000-member motorsports organization, which incorporates all facets of autocross, rally, and both club and professional motorsports events. It annually sanctions nearly 2,000 events through its 109 regions and professional subsidiary. Landmark events for the Club include the Club Racing Valvoline Runoffs0x00ae National Championship races at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, the Tire Rack Solo 20x00ae Nationals and Tire Rack ProSolo0x00ae National Series at Topeka, the ProRally0x00ae Championship and the United States Road Rally Championship, in St Louis, Mo.

For additional information about SCCA Solo competition: SCCA Solo 2: www.scca.org/amateur/solo2 SCCA ProSolo: www.scca.org/amateur/solo2/prosoloThe Tire Rack SCCA National Solo Program: www.scca.org/amateur/solo2/nationalsolo.html

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