SCCA Pro Racing

The 2019 ProSRF Championship kicked off on Friday, July 26 at Virginia International Raceway with 13 contenders vying for the top spot on the podium. Denny Stripling of McKinney, Texas, piloted his Southeast Spec Racer/Lightspeed Motorsports Spec Racer Ford to the win on both days.

"VIR is an incredible track and facility and the SRF3 platform suits it extremely well,” Stripling said. “Few tracks are as challenging and simultaneously 'racy' which means a spec series should put on a great show, and that we did.”

The event was paired with the F4 U.S. Championship Powered by Honda, F3 Americas Championship Powered by Honda and Formula Race Promotions for an all-SCCA Pro Racing weekend. The drivers took the opportunity to step up to the professional plate and hit a home run.

“Without question, the SRF3 racers show a level of skill and competitiveness to be admired by younger, less mature drivers,” Race Director Fred Brinkel said. “They attack the course continuously while attempting to best their fellow racers whenever and wherever possible. Once in the paddock, like a family, even in the Pro world, they assist one another to insure all are ready for the next competition.”

The racing action on Saturday hit a bump as a full-course caution halted the action early, but after the restart, Stripling lead the battling Bobby Sak of Mattawan, Michigan, and Charles Russell Turner of Montpelier, Virginia, to the finish line.

“SRF3 racing is consistently close across the country and the ProSRF3 Challenge at VIR did not disappoint,” Race Director Fred Brinkel said. “Close racing on Sunday saw a full uninterrupted race with multiple leader changes occurring between the top three cars during each lap. You just couldn’t script a better event.”

Sak and his Elite Autosport/The Grotto Pita Pit machine set the fastest lap in Sunday’s qualifying to start from the pole. Sunday’s race saw the three swapping positions from start to finish with Turner taking second from Sak by .113 at the line.

Bruce Meyers of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, was close behind waiting to strike in his Seacoast Physiatry Spec Racer Ford should there be a slip-up by one of the leaders. The battles continued behind Meyers as KC Racing teammates Chris Funk of Kansas City MO, and Kelly Toombs of Prairie Village, Kansas, fought with each other throughout the race with Toombs taking the fifth place spot. Also during the race, Turner set a new track record in his Southeast Spec Racer/PCS Spec Racer Ford.

“The top 3 qualified within a few tenths and had an epic battle both days for the podium with multiple lead changes and some very fast lap times,” Stripling continued. “It was great racing with Russ (Charles) and Bobby, and I can't wait for rounds 2 and 3 at Sebring and COTA where we are going to continue to put on the best show of the weekend! Huge thanks to SCCA Pro Racing for putting on a great event."

“It was an exciting start for the ProSRF Championship at VIR,” Robey Clark, President of SCCA Enterprises, said. “The drivers will head to Sebring September 13-15 for the next event followed by the finale at Circuit of the Americas November 14-16. We are very much looking forward to both events.”

Registration for Sebring will open on Monday, August 5^th and spectator tickets are now on sale at: https://www.f4uschampionship.com/products?categories=sebring.