This weekend was the Rocky Mountain Divisional opener and we went yesterday to watch the first National race at Pueblo Motorsports Park (PMI). The ex-TC Kline 350Z (the bright yellow one that took so much damage at last years' Runoffs) has been sold to Boulder, CO racer Bob Schader. Schader, who has extensive experience in both the pro and amateur ranks, won from pole over a small field in a flag-to-flag drive. He had some competition from a Phoenix Motorsports prepped F-body that closed mid-race. But the Z's better brakes and handling (plus some astute traffic management by Schader) saw the gap stabilize and the first T2 win by a Z go down in RMDiv history.

Bob's car is being sponsored by Boulder Nissan and Hoosier tires. His efforts are always well-prepared and the Z looks to be a contender come Runoffs time!

 

Thanks David. I believe TC was running at Buttonwillow this weekend too. There could be 5 or 6 Z's in T2 at the Runoffs this year.

 

You're welcome Mark! Glad to hear that TC is back out in the Z as well. As you say, there should be several strong T2 Zs in the field this year. The PMI win was also significant from the standpoint that high altitude and high speed were matched up (which could favor a prepared V-8 vs. the VQ35) and the Z passed the test.

Looks like RMDiv T2 fields will have some diversity this year, with an M3 and SRT-4s in the works for other teams later in the season.

 

David - I believe that race was a double. Any word on who won the 2nd race? I heard it got ugly. I raced Chris (Firebird) at Rd.Atlanta over Easter. He can scoot that F-body around. He showed up at RA not able to do the test day, never driven the track and was on Pole for the race.

Bob's a great driver. Glad to see him in the Z camp. Look forward to racing with him at the Runoffs.

Regards,
J

 

Yea Jason it sounds like Bob & Chris didn't play well together! Jason when's your next race?

 

CenDiv National May 13-15 @ Grattan (near Grand Rapids, MI)
Fun track if you haven't been there b4. Has a long straight and a FAST turn leading onto the straight, but the back half of the track is twists and turns so hopefully the Z will do well. I did well last year so we'll see.

 

Guys, I wasn't there on Sunday, but I have my spies. They said there was smoke, flames and tortured metal. From what I've heard, the Z managed another T2 win but it came at a cost: the entire right side of the car was PEELED away from the headlight back to the rear bumper. Hard to imagine and harder to foot the bill at the body shop! Between Hal Brown (who got caught up in the fracus at the '03 Runoffs), TC (at the '04 Runoffs!) and now Bob, there might not be a straight piece left on that yellow Z!

There were still protests pending as of last evening, so it's unknown whether this will actually be the first back-to-back National wins for a T2 Z...

 

TC won one & finished second in the other at the Buttowillow Double this weekend.