Source: ASC Staff Writer
Date: 03/31/2007

ROSAMOND, California -- Robert Davis and Kevin O'Connell added their names to the winner's list of 2007 winners in ASC Racing's premier division during weekend action at Willow Springs International Raceway.

The ASC veterans were the class of the field as the touring group of stock cars made their first appearance with the Sports Car Club of America. Davis set fast time during Saturday's qualifying with a lap of 1:24.922 over the 2.5-mile historical Southern California road course for an average speed of 105.980 miles per hour. O'Connell led the way on older tires on Sunday, setting the ASC pace with a lap 1:25.941 for an average speed of 104.723 MPH.

Davis chose not to practice during the track's open test day on Friday, and that appeared to be a bad idea after he went out in Saturday morning's only practice. The Atascadero, Calif., resident was nearly two seconds off the pace and was driving a car that just wouldn't handle well. "The car was just bad," Davis said following the morning session. "At these speeds you can't afford to have a car that doesn't handle well." So Davis, who won one of his two ASC events last season at WSIR, made a number of changes to correct his Chevrolet Monte Carlo prior to qualifying.

During the race, Davis broke free from the nine ASC, four ASC-U, and 15 other cars that started in their race group of GT and production-type cars. O'Connell, who qualified third, was able to clear outside pole-sitter Michael Arnheiter before turn one, but found himself behind a Dodge Viper driven by Gunter Schaldach who qualified fourth.

O'Connell was finally able to break free of Schaldach after a back-and-forth battle that lasted the first five laps. By this time Davis had built a 2.5-second lead which O'Connell was unable to overcome.

Michael Arnheiter was next across the line for an apparent third-place ASC finish, but his Pontiac Grand Prix was disqualified in post-race tech for coming in under weight. He was replaced on the podium by his brother Dave Arnheiter. Ed Ochylski, who won both races at the series first event at Phoenix International Raceway in February, was credited with a fourth-place finish, and Scott Ivie took fifth.

Dale Hartman, Michael Speakman, and Jeff Glowniak rounded out the ASC field. Speakman and Glowniak were forced to retire their cars from the event when they were involved in a lap five, turn two incident that also included Ivie.

Manuel Gil del Real who is teaming up with WOT Performance this season, was credited with the Unlimited victory in Saturday's event. Gil del Real, who had problems of his own at the series' first event at Phoenix, saw attrition take its toll on the other competitors in his class. First-time participant Fred Lind finished second but lost his transmission on lap 17 of the 21-lap race. Al Balding made his first appearance in the series in close to a year, but was forced to retire on lap five when he lost his driveline. Mike Kasser rounded out the ASC-U field, but had to retire to the pits on lap four with a right-rear wheel bearing problem.

On Sunday, Schaldach's Viper sat on the pole but O'Connell was able to get around him right off the start. In what appeared to be a reversal of roles, Davis now sat behind the Viper as O'Connell began to pull away. But Davis was able to clear the Viper before the end of lap one and now had to make up the 1.5-second deficit on O'Connell.

On lap two, Davis did just that. Davis cut eight-tenths off the lead when he recorded the fastest race lap of the weekend at 1:26.152 earning him the Ghaster Painting Superior Performance Award. The contingency award pays $200 for the fastest race lap of the weekend.

O'Connell maintained the slight lead over the next two laps until he was held up by lapped traffic on the front straight away. The slight hesitation was all Davis needed as he passed O'Connell on the left. Also taking advantage of the situation was Schaldach as he passed O'Connell on the right and used his horse power to try to overtake Davis.

With the Viper in the preferred spot to enter turn one, Davis was forced to alter his entry. Racing side-by-side, Davis found himself out of position as the cars went through turn two. Davis dropped two tires off the pavement sending himself spinning. After righting his car Davis found himself in a holding pattern as the rest of the field raced by.

With his main competition left fighting his way back through the field, O'Connell settled into a smooth rhythm of turning laps while the abrasive nature of Willow Springs racing surface wore down his tires. Unbeknownst to him, reports were also coming into the tower that he might be leaking fluids.

One or the other played a factor as the three-time winner from the 2006 season lost control of his Monte Carlo and did a quick spin and continue on lap 17. Gil del Real used that mishap to slip past O'Connell and go on to be the first ASC stockcar across the line, also winning the Unlimited class.

O'Connell finished two seconds behind Gil del Real for his first win of 2007 in the ASC class. The win paid $125. Davis rallied back to finish second in the ASC class, adding another $75 to his weekend earning.

Glowniak, who skipped qualifying to continue repairs to his damaged race car from the Saturday incident, was third, taking home $50. Ochylski, Dave Arnheiter, Hartman, Michael Arnheiter, and Ivie rounded out the field.

The next event for the ASC cars will be at Altamont Motorsports Park in Tracy, California on the weekend of May 5-6. For more information, please visit www.ASCRacing.com.

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