Last year’s race winner Galati earned his second-consecutive podium finish and set a new race lap record in the process, a 1:33.433 (97.867 mph). Galati made a quick escape from the winner’s circle ceremonies to jump in his SPEED GT Porsche awaiting him on pre-grid.
Finishing third in the No. 43 Acura/RealTime/Eibach/Red Line Oil Acura TSX, Kleinubing collected his eighth podium finish of the season.
“I couldn’t have asked for a better race,” Kleinubing said. “It went down to the very end. We just lack a little bit of straight-line speed. Unfortunately, that back straightaway is just a little bit too long and the Esses are not as tough as they used to be—you can do them pretty much flat-out every lap. The advantage that I seemed to have here in the past has pretty much evaporated the last few years.”
Though he had Galati in his sights throughout the race and missed out on the Championship by an agonizing four points, Kleinubing remained thankful for a strong season and a successful team.
“I can’t complain,” smiled Kleinubing. “We have a team that finished one-two-three in the Championship and won the Manufacturers’ Championship. I’m pretty happy to be a part of it. I’ve been in this series for 12 seasons now and I’ve only finished outside of the top two positions twice. What else could I ask for?”
Following Cunningham and Wittmer across the line was Nick Esayian in the No. 34 BimmerWorld/GearWrench BMW 325i. In addition to collecting his best career-finish, Esayian earned the Sunoco Hard Charger Award, advancing nine positions in the race. Esayian’s teammate, Clay, took home the Racing Electronics Holeshot Award for picking up two positions on the opening lap.
Eric Curran (Acura RSX), Charles Espenlaub (MAZDA6), Jim Daniels (MAZDA6) and Martin Ohlin (MAZDA6) completed the top 10.
Rookie of the Year Jason Saini finished the season fifth in the Drivers’ Championship, followed by Galati, Thomas, Espenlaub, Clay and Charlie Putman.
Acura had already clinched the SPEED Touring Car Manufacturers’ Championship Presented by RACER Magazine following Round Nine at Mosport.
Results from Friday’s 27-lap, 68.58-mile SCCA Pro Racing SPEED Touring Car Finale Presented by Toyo Tires, part of the 11th Annual Petit Le Mans Presented by the Totally New MAZDA6, with finishing position, starting position in parentheses, driver, hometown, car, laps and reason out (if any).
1. (1), Chip Herr, Lititz, Pa., MAZDA6, 27.
2. (3), Michael Galati, Olmsted, Ohio, MAZDA6, 27, -1.204.
3. (4), Pierre Kleinubing, Coconut Creek, Fla., Acura TSX, 27, -1.639.
4. (6), Peter Cunningham, Milwaukee, Wis., Acura TSX, 27, -4.860.
5. (11), Kuno Wittmer, Montreal, Quebec, Acura TSX, 27, -5.150.
6. (15), Nick Esayian, San Diego, Calif., BMW 325i, 27, -13.715.
7. (5), Eric Curran, East Hampton, Mass., Acura RSX, 27, -13.892.
8. (9), Charles Espenlaub, Lutz, Fla., MAZDA6, 27, -14.925.
9. (8), Jim Daniels(R), Germantown, Tenn., MAZDA6, 27, -15.318.
10. (16), Martin Ohlin, Sweeden, , Mazda6, 27, -17.537.
11. (13), Charlie Putman, Mills, Wyo., MAZDA6, 27, -30.374.
12. (17), Byron Smith, Salt lake City, Utah, BMW 330i, 26, -1 lap.
13. (18), Jim Osborn, Ooltewah, Tenn., Volkswagen Jetta TDI, 25, -2 laps.
14. (7), Seth Thomas, Cumming, Ga., BMW 325i, 23, Crash.
15. (10), James Clay, Blacksburg, Va., BMW 325i, 17, Crash.
16. (12), Jason Saini(R), Fort Worth, Texas, MAZDA6, 15, Crash.
17. (19), Carl Hober(R), Cape May, N.J., Acura TSX, 2, Mech.
18. (2), Patrick Lindsey(R), Santa Barbara, Calif., MAZDA6, 1, Mech.
19. (14), Glenn Bocchino, Delray Beach, Calif., Acura TSX, 1, Mech.
Final SCCA SPEED Touring Car Driver Point Standings
Pos., Driver, Car, Points (wins)
1, Peter Cunningham, Acura TSX, 939
2, Pierre Kleinubing, Acura TSX, 934 (1)
3, Kuno Wittmer, Acura TSX, 930 (3)
4, Chip Herr, MAZDA6, 885 (2)
5, Jason Saini(R), MAZDA6, 770 (1)
6, Michael Galati, MAZDA6, 711 (2)
7, Seth Thomas, BMW 325i, 693
8, Charles Espenlaub, MAZDA6, 685
9, James Clay, BMW 325i, 626 (1)
10, Charlie Putman, MAZDA6, 559
| 
|