Thunderbolt Thunder: This weekend鈥檚 doubleheader at New Jersey Motorsports Park currently has 196 cars on the entry list. That list includes local drivers who call NJMP home, as well as racers from up and down the east coast competing in the U.S. Majors Tour.
Jason Rabe, running this weekend in Spec Racer Ford, got his start at the South Jersey circuit. Lee Brahin, in Formula Atlantic, is a track principal.
The NJMP site has a unique history. The Millville Army Air Field opened as a gunnery school for fighter pilots for the Republic P-47 鈥淭hunderbolt鈥� in 1941. NJMP has embraced this rich history by naming its marquee 2.25-mile circuit 鈥淭hunderbolt Raceway.鈥� The facility鈥檚 second 1.9-mile road course 鈥� Lightning Raceway 鈥� is named after the P-38 Lightning, another World War II fighter aircraft.
Green Flags: With just four rounds to go in the Eastern Conference Championship, points are at a premium. The season consists of this weekend鈥檚 doubleheader at New Jersey Motorsports Park, and the finale doubleheader at Watkins Glen International鈥� Chuck Moran has finished on the podium, including a sweep of Summit Point, in all six races that he鈥檚 participated in this season in Formula Continental. Two more strong finishes would put him in range of a championship鈥ichard Fohl can break his F Production tie with Curt Zitza this weekend, as Zitza is not on the entry list. Fohl has perfect attendance in the Eastern Conference this season鈥� Three wins, seven podiums, and just one DNF make up Stevan Davis鈥檚 linescore this season in Formula Vee. He holds a commanding point lead in the class鈥� Dillon Machavern celebrated his 18th birthday this week, and holds the GT-1 lead with three wins this season. The youngster drives a unique 1963 Ford Falcon in the class鈥� Steven Lustig has won half the races this season in GT-3. Two more wins aren鈥檛 out of the question this weekend for the point leader鈥� Four straight wins have Robert Lentz atop the GT-Lite standings鈥�. Despite running in one of the most competitive classes, Danny Steyn has seven finishes of second place or better, including three wins. The outlier? A fifth place finish at VIRginia International Raceway鈥ray Ayres has just a 10 point lead over defending National Champion Cliff White in Spec Racer Ford. Expect both to be in contention each day this weekend鈥� Raymond Philibert is the STL leader, supporting the program at every round this season鈥� Three wins in Touring 1 for George Winkler has his Ford Mustang at the top of his class鈥� Matthew Pullano missed the opener at Sebring in Touring 2, but has since rattled off six straight wins. He鈥檒l try to go eight for eight this weekend鈥� Brian Price has wins in five of the last six, with the lone blip a runner-up. That has elevated him to the Touring 4 lead.
Family Fun: New Jersey Motorsports Park is open for spectators at this weekend鈥檚 Eastern Conference Majors Tour. Tickets are available at the gate for $10 on Friday, $15 on Saturday and $20 on Sunday, and include access to the grandstands and paddock to get up close and personal with the race cars. Children 12 and under are free. Event/Circuit: U.S. Majors Tour Eastern Conference - Rounds Nine and 10 of 12 New Jersey Motorsports Park 14-turn, 2.25-mile road course
Qualifying: Seven Race Groups Friday, May 31 at 8:30 a.m. (25 minute sessions 鈥� morning for Saturday races, afternoon for Sunday races), Saturday, June 1 at 8:30 a.m. (15 minutes for Saturday鈥檚 races)
Races: Seven group races: Saturday, June 1 and Sunday, June 2, following qualifying Race Lengths: 20 Laps on Saturday, 22 laps on Sunday Timing/Scoring: Live Timing & Scoring, lap notes and streaming track PA audio via the SCCA庐 Pit Board are available for all sessions through . 聽
Jersey Devil National-US Majors Showcase 2013 U.S. Majors Tour