Two drastically different races air on Wednesday, Dec. 1, when Formula 500 and Touring 3 continue SPEED’s coverage of the 2007 SCCA National Championship Runoffs.
Starting at noon (EST), Jason Knuteson leads the F500 field to the green is his Scorpion, followed by Brian Novak in a Novakar and defending F500 Champion Bryan Golay in an Invader. Knuteson gets swallowed by the pack behind him, falling back to fifth at the start, while Novak charges ahead into the lead. A full-course caution comes out on lap two, regrouping the field. On the restart, Knuteson is able to make up the ground he lost earlier, but Novak is slowly pulling away. After a handful of disappointing DNFs at the Runoffs could this finally be Novak’s year, or will Knuteson mount the ultimate comeback? Tune into SPEED to find out. If you miss it the first time, catch the rebroadcast at 3 a. m. on Thursday, Dec. 6.
The Touring 3 race at 1 p. m. isn’t just a change from open-wheel to sedans, but from dry racing conditions to wet. Ten-time SCCA Champion John Heinricy puts his Chevrolet Cobalt on pole, followed by the Cobalt of Kevin Fandozzi and the Mazda RX-8 of Robert Huffmaster. Defending Champion Rick Gilhart starts his RX-8 in fourth. Heinricy breaks away early, stretching out the gap to second-place Huffmaster with each lap. When a sound level violation brings Heinricy into the pits, the T3 Championship becomes an RX-8 showdown between Huffmaster and Gilhart. Just when you think the race is won, a missed gear in the final corners changes everything. If you need to relive it all a second time, watch the rebroadcast at 4 a. m. on Thursday, Dec. 6.
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