goto_racing
11-18-2004, 03:27 PM
11/15/2004 Willows, CA – The US Touring Cars finished their season with one of the closest lead battles to date, as veteran Tom Lepper duked it out with GOTO:Racing’s own rookie driver Brian Lock for supremacy of this 3 Mile Road course in Northern CA.
After a troubling test session, a mass-air-flow sensor glitch was corrected by the GOTO crew and the DMS/Subaru Santa Cruz WRX hit the track. Saturday qualifying saw Lepper skip his qualifying session, and Lock took the Pole unchallenged. Sunday’s Main Event included a rare rolling start for the USTCC field, one that had the Subaru at an uncharacteristic starting disadvantage. “Right from the start I knew this race was going to be different,” said Lock after the race, “the NA induction of the Accord really gave him a jump off the start, while I had to wait for my turbo to spool for full power.”
On lap two, Lock made the slingshot pass in Turn 7, but the race was far from over. In the following laps, the leaders came upon lap traffic drivers that were locked in their own battles, and no one was going to let anyone by without a fight, no matter what place they were in. “I went 4 off twice trying to avoid lap cars, and both times Lepper got by. Lucky for me he was having just as difficult a time as I was. He was forced to completely bypass Turn 7 to avoid hitting a slower car. I took advantage of course.”
Lepper was forced to overdrive turn 9 in an effort to stay ahead, giving Lock the lead again with half a lap to go. But an incredible late breaking manuver on the final turn was enough to give Lepper the checkered flag. When asked about the race Lepper replied with a smile, “He made 3 mistakes, I made 2. I won.” He went on to say, “Brian is a good guy, and he is learning fast.”
With three Poles and two podiums in just three races, Brian Lock is not only learning, but mastering US Touring Car. Next season his goals are clear: “The Championship. But with the new rule changes, I expect it will be nothing like this season at all. But that is why I came to USTCC in the first place, to learn by racing great drivers in tight fields. I can’t wait till next season!”
After a troubling test session, a mass-air-flow sensor glitch was corrected by the GOTO crew and the DMS/Subaru Santa Cruz WRX hit the track. Saturday qualifying saw Lepper skip his qualifying session, and Lock took the Pole unchallenged. Sunday’s Main Event included a rare rolling start for the USTCC field, one that had the Subaru at an uncharacteristic starting disadvantage. “Right from the start I knew this race was going to be different,” said Lock after the race, “the NA induction of the Accord really gave him a jump off the start, while I had to wait for my turbo to spool for full power.”
On lap two, Lock made the slingshot pass in Turn 7, but the race was far from over. In the following laps, the leaders came upon lap traffic drivers that were locked in their own battles, and no one was going to let anyone by without a fight, no matter what place they were in. “I went 4 off twice trying to avoid lap cars, and both times Lepper got by. Lucky for me he was having just as difficult a time as I was. He was forced to completely bypass Turn 7 to avoid hitting a slower car. I took advantage of course.”
Lepper was forced to overdrive turn 9 in an effort to stay ahead, giving Lock the lead again with half a lap to go. But an incredible late breaking manuver on the final turn was enough to give Lepper the checkered flag. When asked about the race Lepper replied with a smile, “He made 3 mistakes, I made 2. I won.” He went on to say, “Brian is a good guy, and he is learning fast.”
With three Poles and two podiums in just three races, Brian Lock is not only learning, but mastering US Touring Car. Next season his goals are clear: “The Championship. But with the new rule changes, I expect it will be nothing like this season at all. But that is why I came to USTCC in the first place, to learn by racing great drivers in tight fields. I can’t wait till next season!”