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JIM RUSSELL F3 RACING SERIES RACE 9 – 16th of August 2014

Race Report

 

Another hot sunny California day greeted the penultimate round of the 2014 Jim Russell F3 series at Simraceway Performance Driving Center’s home base of Sonoma raceway. A full grid of drivers were raring to go with arguably the fastest 2 drivers of the series Kevin Woods & Chase Murray ready to go toe to toe for top spot. Qualifying was a thriller as both Kevin & Chase bantered pole position back and forth lap after lap till finally Chase secured P1 on the board in the last throws of the session. Filing up in equally competitive runs were Doug Tuttle, John Jastremski , Brian Frank, Roy Block ,John Schauerman, Steve Campbell and crowd favorite and past victor Jim McGuire.

 

The tight field stayed well bunched as the pace car pulled off and stayed that way all the way into turn one, Woods & Murray running side by side all the way to turn 3 where Chase managed to get completely in front. But Kevin new an early pass on colder tires would be crucial to have a good chance of putting another 60 points in his pocket, and so it was that on the rundown through the esses he stayed closer than most dare to the back of the no.23 Texas Tiger. Chase covered the predictable inside pass but Kevin jinked to the outside and with Chase now off-line to the inside was able to brake a bit later and show his car to the outside. As they entered the turn in point with Kevin’s nose just an inch or two ahead Chase checked up his speed to allow a clean run for both through the Chicane, Woods was now the point man.

 

Things settled down through the field although Chase never let Kevin get any more than a shadow away. Working lap 7 saw some great passing action at turn 11 as the Hammer man Brian Frank got by Doug Tuttle and Argentinian Roy Block took Schauerman for 6th

 

The lead battle raged on till lap 10 when Chase tried to get close to Kevin going into turn 6 as this leads to the best passing opportunity in turn 7. But with a little less aero from following the lead car it proved just a little too difficult and Chase lost the rear end spinning to the middle of the track & although he was able to get back under way was never able to recover and ended up in 9th place at the finish line. The field then got separated from each other as they made their way past the stationary Murray car to end the race with no battles to speak of. Brian Frank claimed 2nd spot on the podium with Doug Tuttle making another appearance on the famed steps. As is always the case a nice bottle of bubbly greeted the top 3 but this time in acknowledgement of the start of the 2nd half of the F1 season at the famed Spa Francorchamps circuit with a fine Chimay Belgian Beer, what could be better!

 

 

 

 

Results

Driver Country Qualifying Lap TimeFinishing Position Championship Points
Kevin Woods1:38.726160
Brian Frank1:39.848255
Doug Tuttle1:39.690352
John Jastremski1:39.764448
Roy Block1:40.430546
John Schauerman1:40.906543
Steve Campbell1:40.915742
Jim McGuire1:41.313841
Chase Murray1:38.428940

Gallery

 

Media  Packs (Password Access Only) 

If you purchased a Media Pack for this race, you should have received a password to access the below galleries. If you have not received a password or didn’t purchase a media pack but would like too, please contact your racing consultant.

 

Kevin Woods

Images: http://simraceway.smugmug.com/PDC/Jim-Russell-F3-Racing-Series/Race-9/Kevin-Woods/n-5MKMQ

Practice and Qualifying: http://youtu.be/emsjiCSzppY

Race: http://youtu.be/OuzOi6yht1k

 

Brian Frank

Images: http://simraceway.smugmug.com/PDC/Jim-Russell-F3-Racing-Series/Race-9/Brian-Frank/n-b2rCn

Practice and Qualifying: http://youtu.be/oA-m-cvQid8

Race: http://youtu.be/pCUBdWM7Ejg

 

Doug Tuttle

Images: http://simraceway.smugmug.com/PDC/Jim-Russell-F3-Racing-Series/Race-9/Doug-Tuttle/n-F468J

Practice and Qualifying: http://youtu.be/yWPCwM8IIII

Race: http://youtu.be/I_YgrB8MooA

 

John Jastremski

Images: http://simraceway.smugmug.com/PDC/Jim-Russell-F3-Racing-Series/Race-9/John-Jastremski/n-7VCsh

Practice and Qualifying: http://youtu.be/ljvLJjyeszs

Race: http://youtu.be/bvFH29IpDAo

 

Roy Block

Images: http://simraceway.smugmug.com/PDC/Jim-Russell-F3-Racing-Series/Race-9/Roy-Block/n-DCjZ4

Practice and Qualifying: http://youtu.be/pkjizM8DjXc

Race: http://youtu.be/tTb1DQ3TdQo

 

John Schauerman

Images: http://simraceway.smugmug.com/PDC/Jim-Russell-F3-Racing-Series/Race-9/John-Schauerman/n-pZp7t

Practice and Qualifying: http://youtu.be/2gDnPnVZc8w

Race: http://youtu.be/wsCn3w-aG5g

 

Steve Campbell

Images: http://simraceway.smugmug.com/PDC/Jim-Russell-F3-Racing-Series/Race-9/Steve-Campbell/n-f7qDD

Practice and Qualifying: http://youtu.be/t968yRiTO5E

Race: http://youtu.be/MUpboUMbC_c