SCCA NEWS: Pobst Goes Two-For-Two in SPEED Touring Car Poles at the Glen

Photo by John Thawley WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. (June 9, 2007) – Less than15 hours after taking his first SCCA Pro Racing SPEED World Challenge Touring Car pole position of the season at Watkins Glen International, Randy Pobst earned another one—taking the pole for the back half of a doubleheader, part of the Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen weekend. Teammate Jeff Altenburg, of Ellicott City, Md., will start Sunday’s race in second.

Driving the No. 73 Mazdaspeed Motorsports Development Mazda 6, Pobst turned a blistering lap of 2:02.730 (99.731 mph) around the 3.4-mile circuit—nearly three seconds faster than his pole time for Saturday afternoon’s race set Friday evening. While other drivers also went faster than his pole time from Friday, Pobst was a full 1.392 seconds clear of the field.

“This reminds me of when we were in Washington, D.C. with 3R Racing in the SPEED GT car when we had one of those magical laps there and we were a second clear of the field,” Pobst said. “I had a really good gap then and that’s what we had today.

“The Mazda 6 has just been really good since we got here and I’m loving Watkins Glen. I got too aggressive with changes at Lime Rock and I lost my fundamental basis. We went back to the Utah setup and it has just been working since day one.

“When the air temperatures drop, the engines make a lot more power. It’s 30 degrees cooler than it was yesterday and that makes a big, big difference.”

The current point leader, Altenburg rebounded from a ninth-place qualifying effort for Saturday’s Round Four race with a second-place effort for Sunday’s Round Five race with a fastest time of 2:04.122 (98.612 mph) in his No. 72 Mazdaspeed Motorsports Development Mazda 6.

James Sofronas will start third in his No. 29 Global Motorsports Group/Tecmark BMW 325Ci with a time of 2:04.256 (98.506 mph). RealTime Racing teammates Pierre Kleinubing (2:04.366) and Peter Cunningham (2:04.371) completed the top five in their Acura Certified Pre-Owned Acura TSXs.

Sunday’s Round Five race makes its standing start at 11:45 a.m. The race will be broadcast on SPEED June 30 at 3 p.m. (EDT).

To follow the race via live timing and scoring and lap notes, please visit www.world-challenge.com.

1, (73), Randy Pobst, Gainesville, Ga., Mazda 6, 2:02.730, 99.731.

2, (72), Jeff Altenburg, Ellicott City, Md., Mazda 6, 2:04.122, 98.612.

3, (29), James Sofronas(T), Newport Beach, Calif., BMW 325Ci, 2:04.256, 98.506.

4, (1), Pierre Kleinubing, Coconut Creek, Fla., Acura TSX, 2:04.366, 98.419.

5, (42), Peter Cunningham, Grafton, Wis., Acura TSX, 2:04.371, 98.415.

6, (97), Charles Espenlaub, Lutz, Fla., Mazda 6, 2:04.373, 98.413.

7, (17), Chip Herr, Lititz, Pa., Audi A4, 2:04.454, 98.349.

8, (74), Roberto Santos(R), Monterrey Mexico, , Mazda 6, 2:04.456, 98.348.

9, (44), Kuno Wittmer, Montreal, Quebec, Acura RSX, 2:04.472, 98.335.

10, (38), Seth Thomas(T), Cumming, Ga., BMW 325i, 2:04.478, 98.330.

11, (95), Michael Galati, Olmsted, Ohio, Mazda 6, 2:04.716, 98.143.

12, (43), Brandon Davis, Denver, Colo., Acura TSX, 2:05.077, 97.859.

13, (18), Ian Baas, Noblesville, Ind., Audi A4, 2:05.101, 97.841.

14, (19), Adam Pecorari(R), Aspon, Pa., Audi A4, 2:05.278, 97.702.

15, (36), James Clay, Blacksburg, Va., BMW 325i, 2:05.526, 97.509.

16, (64), Andrew Wojteczko(T), Caledon, Ontario, Lexis IS 300, 2:06.046, 97.107.

17, (34), Nick Esayian, Encinitas, Calif., Acura TSX, 2:06.157, 97.022.

18, (6), Payton Wilson(R), Chantilly, Va., Dodge SRT-4, 2:06.548, 96.722.

19, (92), Stan Wilson(R), Mount Juliet, Tenn., Dodge SRT-4, 2:06.565, 96.709.

20, (11), Robb Holland, Denver, Colo., Dodge SRT-4, 2:07.433, 96.050.

21, (8), Jason Martinelli(R), Roxbury, Conn., BMW 325Ci, 2:07.438, 96.046.

22, (16), Phil Parlato(T), Commack, N.Y., BMW 325i, 2:08.683, 95.117.

23, (60), Fred Pignataro(T), East Northport, N.Y., BMW 325i, 2:09.145, 94.777.

24, (96), Charlie Putman(T), Denver, Colo., Mazda 6, 2:15.794, 90.136.

25, (31), Jameson Riley, Wilton, Conn., Volvo S40, no time.