AIM Podiums In PortlandHinchcliffe Second, Wilkins Fourth, Thomas Robbed

Courtesy Phil Nelles

The Aim Autosport Star Mazda team placed two of it’s three drivers in the top five at Portland International Raceway during round eight of the 2006 Star Mazda Championship. Unfortunately, AIM driver Brandon Thomas had a certain top ten finish taken from him by a competitor’s poor judgment.

Throughout practice and qualifying the team prepared all three drivers and cars for what would be a hot humid event. James was leading the charge, with top three times in all practice sessions. Mark and Brandon made good progress throughout practice sessions with Mark solidly in the top ten and Brandon turning top fifteen times.

Qualifying was all about tire management for the AIM squad with series rules stating that cars must race on the same tires they qualify with. James and AIM engineer Yancy Diotalevi worked their magic during the session- managing second on the grid while only running seven laps in total, the fewest number of laps by any competitor. Mark qualified in seventh position struggling with traffic, while Brandon started fifteenth on the grid.

The race, originally scheduled for 35 laps, would ultimately cover 28 laps as a result of several caution flags, culminating in a two-lap shootout to the finish between Rahal, James and Pecorari. With James and Pecorari already recording victories at Infineon Raceway and Pikes Peak respectively, Rahal knew he would have to push hard for the win. "James and I went pretty deep into the Festival Chicane and I actually had to shift down to first gear but I was able to get a good run out of the corner and didn't make any other mistakes the rest of the way.", Rahal explained. James led the most laps and set the fastest race lap; unfortunately James could not hold back Rahal for the win and had to settle for second place.

Marks’ race began well, making up positions at the start and running very competitive times throughout the race. Trading positions with series point’s leader Matos for several laps before ultimately finishing fourth just ahead of Matos.

Brandons’ race started saw his best start of the season… from fifteenth to seventh- including passing several cars on the outside of the first corner. Unfortunately, his race was too short as a competitor unexpectedly drove into the rear of Brandon, severely damaging Brandons’ gearbox which would finish him for the day.

Championship point’s leader Matos, finished fifth surviving close calls on the opening laps of the event to protect his championship lead. With eight of twelve races complete Matos sits in first with 309 points while Pecorari inches closer with 278 points. James remains in third place with 274 points while Mark is in seventh place with 207 points and Brandon is in 21st with 112 points.

Ron VanEs Completes Successful Western Swing

Performance Helps Raise Position in Standings

By Ken Spencer

Smithville, Ontario’s Ron VanEs completed a successful trip west by running to an impressive tenth-place finish in Saturday’s 300-lap Super Series race at Sun Valley Speedway north of Vernon, BC.

The sophomore driver of the Star Van Systems/All Cover Systems Monte Carlo finished sixth in Friday’s 100-lap qualifier then worked his way into the top-ten in Saturday’s 300-lap feature by maintaining a steady pace throughout the marathon event. He started 11th in the 28-car field but went down a lap early when lapped cars created some problems and eventual dropped a second lap late in the race.

Coupled with his previous week’s performance in Calgary where he finished ninth in the MOPAR 300 and eighth in his 100-lap qualifier, the second year Super Series competitor has now climbed (unofficially) into 14th spot in the points’ standings. He was 21st in the points’ race when the Super Series headed west following race #5 in Toronto on July 10th.

Ron now returns to Ontario circles to finish the five remaining races on the CASCAR schedule and hopefully garner enough points to move up another spot or two in the tightening race for tenth spot in the national points. Action resumes this Saturday at Mosport Speedway north of Bowmanville.

DJ Kennington of St. Thomas won Saturday’s main event at Sun Valley passing Glencoe’s Brad Graham with just three laps remaining.

The victory for Kennington was his third in his last three starts beginning last week in Calgary and this past week’s qualifier at Sn Valley

Series point’s leader Don Thomson of Hamilton finished third with Peter Gibbons of Stouffville in fourth and Ron Beauchamp of Windsor fifth. Dave Whitlock, Doug Brown, JR Fitzpatrick and Kevin Dowler also finished ahead of VanEs in a race that was slowed five times (53 laps) for cautions.