Three Wide Into Turn 1, a Win, and a DNF!
It was just Shaun Webster in the #38 E46 M3 (converted sedan) along with Matt Powers supporting and driving the EDGE-prepared Thicc Corgi Racing Honda S2000. Anthony was at Laguna Seca taking care of a Trackside customer who was racing Trans Am and it was a little strange not having him there. He really is the touchstone for everyone in the EDGE Family.
A great development for the weekend was that Matt and Shaun would finally be able to race against each other. They had been talking about it for a long time but the opportunity had never materialized. On Saturday, this would all change.
A wing and a prayer for the #38 best describes our attitude towards this weekend. It had been experiencing issues with throttle response at the previous race weekend in Sonoma. We could only guess and couldn’t be sure and with no time to diagnose/fix after the race at Sonoma, our fingers were crossed.
Saturday ST4 Qualifying
Because the car was not perfect, Shaun needed a little more confidence going into qualy and decided to run new tires. We think he was targeting Matt in the Honda S2000 and that was the real motivation for running brand new Hoosier R7s ;).
The car behaved and with the new tires, Shaun got P1 clocking a 1:54.545. Justin Sprugasci was in P2 at 1:56.008 and Matt Powers in the Thicc Korgi Racing S2000 grabbed 3rd with a 1:56.411. NEW TIRES!!!
Shaun Webster in ST4 practice sets a fast lap of 1:53.58 at Thunderhill.
Saturday ST4 Race
Starting on pole, Shaun’s start was not nearly as good as he needed. Justin in P2 was incredibly quick at the green flag and was already by Shaun into turn 1. Matt Powers in P3 also got a good start but had Scott Smith right behind him and was immediately in a hard battle for 3rd.
In 2nd place, Shaun kept within 1-2 car lengths of Justin for the first half of the race but unfortunately, all of EDGE fingers crossed in the pits didn’t keep the misfiring/fuel starvation from returning. The throttle issues and Justin driving beautifully were making it difficult and maybe impossible to get by him. As that battle for 1st was unfolding, Matt and Scott had their own intense fight going on with their gap to Shaun’s bumper fluctuating between 1-2 seconds.
The tight racing for the lead had allowed Matt to close the gap to within 1 second. Shaun had to keep Matt behind him so he upped the pressure on Justin into turn 14. They were both late on the brakes and a little wobbly through turns 14 and 15 and consequently, they both got less than desirable exits out of 15 onto the long front straight. Shaun’s exit was a little better than Justin’s and the EDGE #38 got a run on him which made it seem like he would finally move into 1st.
Matt Powers, Shaun Webster, Justin Sprugasci, and Scott Smith battle for 1st into T14 and out of T1. Watch the mirror.
Matt in 3rd place was watching this unfold and it allowed him to take advantage of the situation. With a perfect exit onto the front straight, he just about got by both of them before turn 1. With Matt not completely by Shaun and Justin, the 3 cars went into turn 1 three-wide, a first for Shaun. He would have backed out if he didn’t know and thoroughly trust the other 2 drivers. Matt got the better of the other two and grabbed the lead out of turn 1. Shaun was still in 2nd and he was fired up to race Matt but couldn’t disregard Justin who was on his bumper.
For the next lap and half, it was a train until Matt got a little impatient with lapped traffic into turn 3. He clipped the rear bumper of a Spec. Corvette which unfortunately caused him to spin. Shaun took advantage putting his head down and with a race shortened to 8 laps he only had to lead for 2 laps to grab the win.
It was an incredible race with Justin getting 2nd and Scott Smith in 3rd. Matt ended up in 4th and with the fastest lap (1:54.726) but if he hadn’t spun, Shaun would have been racing for 2nd.
Saturday TT
We ran the #38 in TT3 with Shaun winning with a 1:53.846.
Sunday ST4 Qualifying
Shaun was chasing Justin the whole session and driving brilliantly, Justin got P1. Shaun got P2 with Matt driving the EDGE #32 E36 BMW M3 getting P3. The top 3 qualified within 1/2 a second of each other. The race could be a burner.
The #38 and #424 battle some in qualifying
Sunday ST4 Race
Nothing much to report. It was a typical start with no places changed and after a full course yellow the throttle was back but this time the car went into limp mode. We were done.
Congratulations to Justin Sprugasci for the win, Matt Powers driving the #32 EDGE E36 in 2nd, and Scott Smith in 3rd.
Sunday TT
Shaun drove the first TT session and was able to clock a 1:55.246 to win TT3.
Wrapping Up
Nursing a car, aggressively racing friends and comrades, winning, breaking, losing, of course who wouldn’t choose winning? Not us. For EDGE, aggressively racing friends and comrades is the most desirable.
Winning is a bonus and always feels great but the hard work and racing with friends that you trust create the best memories. Plus, if we won all of the time, there wouldn’t be much to strive for.
#challenges #camaraderie #edgefamily
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