Rettich Wins Race Two at Road Atlanta
Scott Rettich emerged with a surprise victory on Sunday (April 11), following a wild conclusion to Round Two of the Formula Enterprises Pro Series at Road Atlanta. The Hippi Racing winner was joined in the post-race celebrations by Jay Motorsports’ Matt Schneider and Performance MotorRace Car’s Paul Schneider.
Returning to their cockpits mere hours after a qualifying session determined the starting grid for race two of the Spec Racer Ford 25th Anniversary event doubleheader, Comprent Motorsports’ Sean Rayhall led the field to the green flag in Georgia. Rapidly showing the speed that helped him post the quickest time in each previous session, the talented 15 year-old soon had a multi-car advantage on the rest of the 16-car field. With race leader extending his advantage with each tour of the high-speed Road Atlanta road course, attention turned to the multiple fights for position behind.
Broken into pairs, Rettich and Robinson Motorsports’ Matthew Mair dueled for the runner-up position, ahead of Matt Schneider and Paul Schneider dicing for fifth place, and Mumm Brothers Racing’s Robert Mumm and Team Grinske’s Tilden Kinlaw battling for seventh. Running nose-to-tail for more than half of the 20-lap affair, the three battles kept all those on hand greatly entertaining.
Out front, Rayhall appeared headed for a comfortable win, when for a second race in a row a mechanical issue suddenly derailed his efforts, a mere three laps from the checkered lap. The order further shuffled a lap later, when Mair, who was now fighting for the race win, spun off-course. Rettich, avoiding the late race drama, ran mistake free laps to the checkered flag, scoring the Round Two win by over 30 seconds. Matt Schneider, having held off the advances of Paul Schneider, crossed the stripe in second place. Mair, fortunate to have not damaged his car with his late race spin, finished fourth, leading Mumm to the stripe.
The inaugural Formula Enterprises Pro Series resumes on May 8-9, with Rounds Three and Four taking place at New Jersey Motorsports Park.