Rettich Converts Pole into Round One Win at VIR
Scott Rettich has started the 2011 SCCA Pro Racing Formula Enterprises Series season with a trip to victory lane, capturing a convincing Round One win on Sunday morning (May 15) at VIRginia International Raceway. Joining the Alliance Autosport racer in the podium celebrations were JAY Motorsports rookies Patrick Gallagher and Jason Wolfe.
The chase for top FE Pro honors began in earnest on Sunday morning, with reigning SCCA National Champion Rettich leading the talented field to green flag. Getting a good launch when the flag waved, Gallagher jumped into the lead through the opening sequence of corners. The rookie’s run out front was however not to last, as before the first lap was completed Rettich used the draft down the long back straight to retake the top spot, ahead of Gallagher and his teammate Wolfe. With a clear dry track ahead, Rettich promptly wasted little time building a gap on his young pursuers. As a result, within a few laps the lead trio were evenly spaced apart. With JAY Motorsports’ Jim Libecco having separated himself from the cars behind as well, attention turned to fights for positions deeper in the field.
Keep those on hand entertained, the best battles for positions featured JAY Motorsports’ Matt Schneider and Rackley Motorsports’ Lee Rackley dueling for fifth place, not far ahead of PRL Motorsports’ Patrick Linn and Comprent Motor Sports’ Tilden Kinlaw running nose-to-tail in ninth and 10th.
Out front the story was all Rettich however. Never coming under any threat of note, last season’s championship runner-up steadily increased his advantage all the way to the checkered flag, eventually scoring a 20+ second win. In a strong debut outing, rookie teammates Gallagher and Wolfe earned places on the podium, finishing second and third. Completing the top-five in race one of the Virginia doubleheader were Libecco and Schneider.
“I was certainly pushing hard,” said Rettich. “But, my team, Alliance Autosport, gave me a great car. With the support of my parents, Hoosier, Redline, PDI Communications, we just had the package today to win this race. I knew that I should be the car to beat so I had a conservative start. When he [Patrick Gallagher] got around me, I was confident I could pass him back at some point. I took the lead back on the first lap and never really looked back. I hit my marks and kept pushing hard.”
The SCCA Pro Racing Formula Enterprises Series racers return to action on Sunday afternoon (May 15), with Round Two at VIRginia International Raceway.