First Annual Eckler's National Corvette Challenge Race

Tracy Lewis, coordinator of the Eckler's Florida Corvette Challenge in Bradenton Florida, took the lead role in putting together this huge event. Those who braved the chance of rain were treated to beautiful sunny 70 degree weather. The temperature was a welcome relief to the 13 of 37 drivers from the East Coast Supercharging Corvette Challenge in New Jersey who left 30 degree weather back home for a chance to start their season early.

Many drivers, such as Rob Farley, NY and Dan Warren, FL arrived early to get in some extra time trials on Thurday night. About two dozen were at the track on Friday night for a private Corvette Challenge test and tune session. On Saturday, they started to arrive early and as the gates opened at 9 am and time trials began shortly thereafter. The drivers quickly found that the track hooks very consistently and many got in five or six runs before official qualifying runs began at 11:30 am. Qualifying runs were used to qualify the eight quickest drivers for the Quick 8 heads-up race that would be an added, free, bonus race that would follow the bracket eliminations.

Bracket Champ Larry Beutlich, Bassini Babe Deanna, Larry's friend	Bracket runner-up Emily Lewis, nephew Mateo (roof), father and organizer, Tracy Lewis and mom Karen Lewis	The first Vettes in the lanes for time trials

So on we go with the recap of the race. The first pair to hit the track were Oliver Mader, FL and Ron Kriegh, VA. Mader got the advantage at the tree with a .072 to .082 and both drivers broke out with Kriegh breaking out by more giving the big "W" to Mader. Jerry Land, PA, put together a great package with a .019 RT and 11.385 on 11.35 dial to defeat Craig Gingerich, FL. Those who did not make it through the first round were given the opportunity to "buy back" into the race and that they did with the exception of two drivers.

In the second round we saw Ernie King, MD, use a .010 light to defeat fellow Marylander, Chuck Schramm with King running 11.746 on 11.65 dial to Chuck's 12.466 on 12.25 dial. Local Kerry Jamison lost a tight race breaking out by .05 on a 12.25 dial to Frank Schear, NJ, as Frank ran just .016 over on his 13.10 dial

With a buy back available to those who lost in the second round who had not already bought back in, we were down to 22 Corvettes for round three. This round saw three of top drivers of the ECS Corvette Challenge from NJ go down. Ellis Gray, PA broke out on his 12.39 dial trying to catch Joe Gabella, SC. Rob Farley, NY suffered the same fate trying to run away from 9-second monster, Keith Valone, FL. Edgar Perez, NJ, had his race in his hands but broke out giving David Meads, GA the win. Other ECS CC drivers going out in this round included Danny Rotondo, Jerry Land and Ernie King.

Round four was now getting serious. Winners of this round would make it into the money round where they were garunteed $75 even if they lost. There were two local drivers in this round. Joe Gabella, SC, first time bracket racer, got the win over Florida regular, Craig Gingerich, FL, when Craig went red (Craig bought back in after his first round loss). The second local, Brett Long, broke out running under by .11 in a double breakout with Frank Schear but Schear was only .036 under. Charlie Geiss, MD, took himself out with a red light and Dan Warren, FL and Steven Oyer, VA lost close races to their opponents.

Round 5, and there are six drivers left. It was the lone NJ representative, Frank Schear, against the 2002 Florida Corvette Challenge champion, Emily Lewis, FL. Schear left first with the 13.06 dial but Lewis had the starting line advantage with a .094 light. Lewis rarely gives it back when she has the advantage and didn't in this case either. The rookie racer, Joe Gabella, came up against another seasoned Floridian and in Lewis' style, took the starting line advantage and did not give it back. Gabella did well getting this far in his first bracket race and had so much fun, is looking into getting a regular series started in SC. The final match-up finished the exact same way with yet another Floridian, Keith Valone, taking the starting line advantage over David Meads, GA, and not giving it up. So after five rounds and 37 drivers and two buybacks, it was down to three Floridians.

Larry Beutlich, FL had the bye and he used it for a nice time shot running 13.029 on a 13.02 dial on a .042 tree. Valone and Lewis, who faced each other once last year and gave the fans an exciting race with a margin of victory in the thousandths, promised to be another exciting race. Lewis left the line clean with a .070 tree. Valone knowing he had to push the tree, did, but missed by ten-thousandths of a second going red by -.0009.

The final was set for two of Florida's Tampa area best racers, not just with their Vettes but in all the vehicles they race... Beutilich would get the head start with a 13.01 dial over Lewis' 12.29. He left with a decent light at .048. At the top end he waited for Lewis to catch him but she never did. Though she ran "deadon" with a .004 (12.294 on the 12.29 dial), she fell victim to an uncharacteristic .168 tree. I guess Emily ran out of gas before her Vette did. Larry tapped the brakes to ensure there is no chance of a breakout and collected the the win as the first Eckler's National Corvette Challenge Champion.

Beutlich earned $1500 cash, Bassani Headers and BFG drag radials, while Lewis collected $750 and a Bassani catback exhaust. Valone as the lone semi-finalist earned $200. The quarter finalist, Schear, Gabella and Meads earned $75 each.

Eckler's National Quick 8 climax's with a double laundry display

The first round was under way with the first pair, #3 Bill Maloney with a Vette Doctors 422 cid nitrous fed C5 vs. #6 Jerry Land in his Cartek Stage 2 Heads and Cam package. Land, underpowered to Maloney both in cid and power adder, took the loss when Maloney not only cut the better light but also the better ET winning easily with a 10.24 to 11.47. The second pair was even more lopsided when #1 Keith Valone with the Corvette Connection big block with 2 stages of nitrous easily handled #8 Edgar Perez with the Vette Doctors cam only package. Valone kept the nitrous off and still beat Perez by almost two seconds with 9.904 to 11.487. The third pair saw a second Vette Doctors nitrous fed 422 cid owned by #2 qualifier Paul Major vs. #7 Seven Oyer in a 383 stroker set up for road racing. Oyer took the tree advantage but it was over quickly when Major crossed the finish line at 9.97 to Oyer's 11.57. The final first round match featured #4 David Meads in the beautiful 65 against local, #5 Phillip Kennedy in his Norris Motorsports Twin Turbo C5. In the closest race of first round, Kennedy pulled it out when Meads could not run as quick as his qualifier and Kennedy advanced with a 10.49 to 10.79.

The first pair out for round two was Keith Valone vs. Phillip Kennedy. Valone, after easily handling his first opponent without nitrous, turned on the first stage for the quicker competitor in round 2. Kennedy got off the tree quiker and ran a decent 10.43 run but was also almost two seconds behind to Valone's 8.78! The second pair, not only would decide who will face Valone in the final, but was the closet race of the Quick 8. Paul Major against his fellow Vette Doctor teammate, Bill Maloney. Maloney treed Major by .200 and gave it everything he had and then some and ran a very competitive 10.06 to Major's 9.763. This was the tightest race as Maloney came within .08 of pulling of the hole-shot win.

The final was what the final was supposed to be. #1 vs. #2. The only two Corvettes out there wearing parachutes ("laundry"). Major too a lesson from Maloney in the previous round banged the tree in effort to try for hole-shot win. The advanage .230 seconds to Major on the tree. Both drivers ran straight lines to the finish. With both drivers trapping 149 MPH, they each had to pull the "laundry" to help them stop. It was Valone first to the shoot and the finish line at 8.80 and Major just .48 behind at 9.52. It was the most exciting race of the entire event to see these two Corvettes looking like our Sunday Pro Stock heros. It was the last race of the event and everybody got the watch this extremely exciting race. If you missed the race, you are in luck. Let's go to the video tape!

Quick 8 Champ team Corevette Connections, Matt, driver Keith, Miguel	Quick 8 runner-up Vette Doctors team, Dennis, driver Paul, Carmen	The 8 second C4

The Eckler's National Corvette Challenge had come to a close with Larry Beutlich the bracket champ and Keith Valone the Quick 8 champ. Congratulations to all of the participants. Now all drivers head back to their regularly scheduled racing in the thier home tracks. To race in a Corvette Challenge near you, visit www.corvettechallenge.info/national/ for a complete schedule.

Pictures by Eddie | Photos by Tommy | Craig's Pictures | Video - Boweryboy 10.02 pass | Video - Boweryboy 10.02 pass IN CAR!