2019 TrackBattle Round 1 Official Results
Abrin Schmucker - Competition Director
For 2019, drivers have choices on which events they want to run. Attending a minimum 3 of the 5 available events during the TrackBattle season is all that it takes to qualify for the championships. Drivers will take their best finishes to seed them for the bracket finale at Road America. Threat of late winter weather didn’t stop a field 68 drivers from taking to the track last weekend. #GRIDLIFE Round 1 at Mid-Ohio was off to a quick start with the help of warm temperatures and sunshine in early April. In Spec Fit, Matt Williams wheeled his Gen 1 fit to a new class record of 1:52.201 improving the record by more than 3 seconds. Chris Neuman also set a new record in Street class, and raised some eyebrows when managed to get the best of Austin Hertel. The Leazenby/Spear team took top honors in the inaugural Street GT event, with a best of 1:35.811. Based on the times, it looks like the new class fits perfectly between the Street and SM categories. In Street Mod, James Forbis put everyone on notice. Improving a respectable SM time by nearly 4 seconds, it’s clear that James has no trouble putting power down on the 285 “skinnys” with his Corvette. He’ll definitely be one to watch this year. Let’s hope someone else can find the time and keep up. Luke McGrew wasted no time shaking down a fresh rebuild on his Viper ACR, finishing the weekend with a blisteringly fast 1:28.953. Without evidence to the contrary, this appears to be the “street tire” record for Mid-Ohio. An elusive achievement that people have been chasing with GRIDLIFE since our first visit in 2017. James Houghton donned his custom watermelon helmet and wowed everyone in the unlimited class when he bested the previous record by more than 1.5 seconds, setting a new time attack record at Mid-Ohio with a 1:23.412. Congratulations to all the drivers setting records and putting down personal bests. We’re off to a great start for 2019.
Here are your victors in all classes:
TIME ATTACK CLASSES
POWERSTOP STREET
74 | Chris Neuman | STREET | 1:36.049 | M3 | 870
34 | Austin Hertel | STREET | 1:36.401 | 370z | 840
777 | Joshua Halka | STREET | 1:37.473 | WRX | 800
STREET GT
0 | Leazenby/Spear | STREET GT | 1:35.811 | Mustang | 890
123 | Chris Bickford | STREET GT | 1:36.951 | Corvette | 820
2 | Derek Roberts | STREET GT | 1:41.717 | M3 | 650
FCP EURO STREET MODIFIED
69 | James Forbis | STREET MODIFIED | 1:31.433 | Corvette Z06 | 990
21 | Matt DeReus | STREET MODIFIED | 1:34.069 | M3 | 940
77 | Alex Artayet | STREET MODIFIED | 1:34.141 | WRX STI | 930
TRACK MODIFIED
5 | Luke McGrew | TRACK MODIFIED | 1:28.953 | Viper ACR | 1000
45 | Paul Curley | TRACK MODIFIED | 1:32.775 | Corvette | 960
314 | Michael Puglisi | TRACK MODIFIED | 1:33.537 | Evolution | 950
UNLIMITED
41 | James Houghton | UNLIMITED | 1:23.412 | Integra | 1120
8 | Tony Calabrese | UNLIMITED | 1:28.821 | STI | 990
460 | Grant Walker | UNLIMITED | 1:36.917 | Miata | 830
CLUB CLASSES
ROADSTER MODIFIED
20 | Erik Meadows | ROADSTER MODIFIED | 1:45.860 | Miata
SUNDAE CUP/SPEC FIT
129 | Matt Williams | SUNDAE CUP / SPECFIT | 1:52.201 | Fit | 410
413 | Sally McNulty | SUNDAE CUP / SPECFIT | 1:53.660 | Fit | 380
15 | Mark Bucheit | SUNDAE CUP / SPECFIT 1:57.580 | Fit | 340