MONTEREY, California — Bobby Runyan continued his superb run of form in SCCA Club Racing competition this past weekend (September 19-20), going a perfect three-for—three in San Francisco Region SCCA Formula Ford competition at Laguna Seca">Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. In sweeping the weekend, the Ron Sutton’s Winner’s Circle development driver extended his championship lead entering the October season-finale.
For Runyan and the rest of the Formula Ford competitors, the tripleheader weekend commenced with qualifying for Round 10. As has been the case since the opening race of the year, the Porter Racing/Raging Bull Motorsports Swift DB-6 Formula Ford race pilot was immediately up to speed and challenging for top honors. When the checkered flag waved, the Californian teenager had captured his seventh pole position of the year via a fast lap of 1:33.790 in unusually hot temperatures.
Racing action at the famed Northern California road course got underway one day later, with Runyan leading the large combined Formula Ford and Formula Vee field to the green flag. The RSWC driver enjoyed a good launch when the flag waved, holding off a brief challenge from his Porter Racing teammate, before establishing a multi-car advantage. Unfortunately the gap soon evaporated due to a multi-car incident at the renowned Corkscrew turn.
On the ensuing re-start, Runyan wasted no time re-establishing himself as the driver to beat. Turning the fastest times lap after lap, the lead over second place rapidly expanded. The end result was a commanding 25 second win by the talented young American.
Returning the cockpit of his Swift DB-6 after the lunch break, Runyan continued his perfect run at Laguna Seca, posting a fast lap of 1:32.956 in the second and final qualifying session. Runyan as a result earned the pole position for both Round 11 and the non-points annual Formula Ford Festival race.
Runyan, having extended his San Francisco Region SCCA win streak to three, once again timed the traditional rolling start to perfection in Round 11 on Sunday morning, holding the lead into and exiting the opening two turns. From that point forward the Ron Sutton’s Winner’s Circle race pilot put on a driving clinic, turning near perfect laps. While a brief full-course caution bunched the field back together, Runyan never came under any threat of note, scoring his second win of the weekend.
After the lunch break, both the Formula Ford drivers and the Club Ford drivers returned to the track for the non-points Formula Ford Festival race. While his Porter Racing teammate had the benefit of virtually new tires for the race, Runyan was not to be denied. The Californian teenager once again got a good launch when the starter waved the green flag, keeping his hard charging teammate behind him. Turning the fastest laps of the race, Runyan never relinquished the lead, completing the weekend sweep with his fifth consecutive Formula Ford win.
“Simply stated, we think Bobby Runyan is a star in the making,” commented Ron Sutton, head of driver development. “For 2010 we are advancing him to the USAC Ford Focus Midget Series … then NASCAR series after that.”
Runyan would like to thank his sponsors, Raging Bull Motorsports and City Tires of Modesto for their continued support.
Runyan concludes San Francisco Region SCCA Formula Ford season on October 25, with Round 12 at Thunderhill Raceway Park. The Ron Sutton’s Winner’s Circle development driver enters the season-finale at the Northern California road course leading the championship standings.
For direct contact, please email Bobby Runyan at bobyboy@fire2wire.com Additional information available at www.BobbyRunyan.com
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About Ron Sutton’s Winner’s Circle:
Ron Sutton's Winner's Circle is an established talent scout and development program, providing long term, comprehensive racing and career development for up and coming drivers focused on NASCAR careers. RSWC drivers are raced, coached, groomed, trained and molded, within a professional racing environment, into what top pro teams look for when hiring drivers. Drivers involved in the program race in a variety of cars, including USAC Junior Ford Focus Midgets, USAC Ford Focus Midgets, USAC Midgets, USAC Sprint cars, Skip Barber Race Series, SCCA Club Racing Formula Ford and F2000, NASCAR Grand American Modifieds, NASCAR Late Model Stock Cars and NASCAR Grand National cars.
