Total Domination at New Jersey Motorsports Park
S2 COMPASS 360 TEAM SWEEPS THE PODIUM!
May 15th, 2009 // Article By: Skunk2 Staff // Photographer: Skunk2 Staff
Grand-Am KONI Challenge fans were treated to a rare sight May 2, 2009 as all three Skunk2-sponsored Compass 360 Racing Civic Sis cleaned house at New Jersey Motorsports Park’s Thunderbolt Raceway where the team cinched up the entire podium – a first in the Grand-Am Cup series’ 20-plus-year heritage. Arguably the most potent lineup of drivers in the paddock, the C360R S2 Civics are piloted by season-veterans Matt Pritiko and Travis Walker, who share the team’s #76 Si; Christian Miller and road racing legend Randy Pobst, who man the #74 Si and secured the team’s first 2009 win at Homestead Miami earlier this year; and team principal Karl Thomson and leading KONI driver Eric Curran, who paired up on the #75 Si. The three Skunk2-sponsored Civics passed corner one three-wide, diced it up amongst themselves, and prevailed across the finish line, Pobst, Walker, and Curran, respectively. Miller and Pobst now narrowly lead the points championship with Pritiko and Walker close behind.
Thunderbolt Raceway is a different place than what it was earlier last year. The track is new. It has grass surrounding it. And the dust bowls that were once pit areas are gone. But even the conditions that no one had control over have improved. Race day was cool with light drizzling, not 100 degrees F at 90-percent humidity. The track is now safe. Following Scott Pruitt’s Daytona car crash last year, the high-speed track became questionable during the race. A year makes all the difference.
After the Miami win, the C360R S2 team knew it would do well in New Jersey. Unlike some of their competition, the Sis thrive on high-speed tracks like Thunderbolt, and their engine and suspension programs prove as much. All was reassured when the C360R S2 Civics qualified in positions three, six, and nine. Pit stops were smooth, uneventful, and under the yellow, and opening stint drivers Miller, Pritiko, and Thomson stayed up front and out of trouble with Walker leading by eight seconds going in until he was hit by former Compass driver Billy Johnson in the closing laps. The runoff opened the door for Walker’s teammates to catch up and remain within two tenths of each other – three-wide at one point – a true Skunk2 three-way battle of the Civics.
The “dream result,” according to team technical director Ray Lee “is the culmination of years of work with the Hondas and Acuras we’ve built and run since 2005, and to have our cars all on the box is something we could only have wished for.” The team’s since returned to its Toronto base to prepare for the next Grand-Am Cup round at Laguna Seca on May 16.
Thunderbolt Raceway is a different place than what it was earlier last year. The track is new. It has grass surrounding it. And the dust bowls that were once pit areas are gone. But even the conditions that no one had control over have improved. Race day was cool with light drizzling, not 100 degrees F at 90-percent humidity. The track is now safe. Following Scott Pruitt’s Daytona car crash last year, the high-speed track became questionable during the race. A year makes all the difference.
After the Miami win, the C360R S2 team knew it would do well in New Jersey. Unlike some of their competition, the Sis thrive on high-speed tracks like Thunderbolt, and their engine and suspension programs prove as much. All was reassured when the C360R S2 Civics qualified in positions three, six, and nine. Pit stops were smooth, uneventful, and under the yellow, and opening stint drivers Miller, Pritiko, and Thomson stayed up front and out of trouble with Walker leading by eight seconds going in until he was hit by former Compass driver Billy Johnson in the closing laps. The runoff opened the door for Walker’s teammates to catch up and remain within two tenths of each other – three-wide at one point – a true Skunk2 three-way battle of the Civics.
The “dream result,” according to team technical director Ray Lee “is the culmination of years of work with the Hondas and Acuras we’ve built and run since 2005, and to have our cars all on the box is something we could only have wished for.” The team’s since returned to its Toronto base to prepare for the next Grand-Am Cup round at Laguna Seca on May 16.
