Posted (06/18/2007) -
Rob Huffmaster entered the June 2nd Mid-Ohio Single National May 12th & 13th weekend with a Sports Car Club of America National and Regional events all on the same weekend. In the National, Rob was entered in the T3 class in the Huffmaster Racing #31 T3 Mazda RX-8.
The practice sessions provided Huffmaster Racing and Rob a chance to get familiar again to the sweeping Mid-Ohio course. If being familiar was the key, then Rob was really familiar with the track come qualifying, as he set the pole winning time in T3 on Saturday. Rob's time of 1:42.7 was a tenth of a second quicker than John Heinracy's time in a Chevrolet Cobalt.
In the Restricted Regional for Improved Touring S (ITS) Class cars on Saturday, Rob drove the Huffmaster Racing Mazda RX-7. Rob set a new track record in ITS. The Regional was a 20 lap event. Huffmaster Racing faced stiff competition, including Mid-Ohio ITS standout Brian Emer. Despite the heavy competition, Rob withstood the pressure and led green to checkered to claim victory.
"The ITS race was a lot of fun. It was good to get some heated wheel to wheel action on Saturday leading up to the Sunday National." -stated Rob Huffmaster
That evening the Huffmaster Team and Family headed out for dinner and some much needed relaxation. The Buttermore family joined the party at the local Roadhouse, where all had a good time, in preparation for the Sunday National event.
Come Sunday morning, and relaxing was far from the minds of all competitors. The Mid-Ohio skies could not make up their mind if it was going to rain or stay dry.
Huffmaster Racing took the roll of the dice and choose to start on slicks, instead of choosing rain tires. Also choosing slicks was John Heinracy. But the 3rd place starting T3 racer choose rains. And at the start of the race, it appeared that rains were the way to go, with rain coming down all around. But then the skies cleared on lap 3, and the track started to dry. Soon Rob Huffmaster and John Heinracy were reeling in the leading T3 racer stuck on rain tires. The slick conditions played into the favor of the front wheel drive Cobalt of Heinracy. Yet that didn't mean that Rob Huffmaster was going to concede the win to the senior Heinracy. Rob pushed and pushed every lap, even at one point going off in turn one. In the end, despite setting fastest race lap, Rob came up a bit short of victory, settling for a very fine 2nd place finish.
"Rob did a great job today in the rain and then drying conditions. He has had very limited exposure to racing in the rain and he reacted very well to the situation. Going against a multi time National Champion like John Heinracy is never easy. Rob held his own today and learned a lot." - stated Ray Huffmaster
Then next event for Huffmaster Racing will be the June Sprints National at Road America on June 23rd & 24th. Rob will again be driving the Huffmaster Racing #31 T3 Mazda RX-8.
Currently, Rob is now leading the T3 Class Great Lakes Division Points. The Goal for the season is to qualify both Huffmaster Drivers for the National Runnoffs; Ray in D Prepared and Rob for T3. For the 2nd straight year, the 2007 SCCA National Runnoffs will be held at Topeka, Kansas at Heartland Park on October 8-14.
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