Preseason Thunder Results

This week, the GTRRL kicked off its long awaited return to racing with some Preseason Thunder racing at the high banked Daytona International Speedway. This was the first opportunity for all teams to hit the track in what was another chaotic oval race in the series. Teams used two preseason heats to dial in their cars and get accustom to racing in a tight pack before next weeks season opening race at Daytona. The average finish from the two heats was determined and these results was used to create the official results of the preseason thunder test. These results will also be used to set the lineup for next weeks race and the winner of the overall trophy will get credit for the pole!



For the first heat race, an official two lap qualifying session was held to determine the starting order. The result of this session had no implications besides setting the order for this heat. FastDaddy Racing teammates Thomas Fredericks and Ron Meier took the front row while only separated by .007 seconds but over a tenth faster than the rest of the field.

From there they went racing! Nearly every driver took a turn at the front as the lead was swapped many times. There was plenty of close calls but the drivers of the series did a great job of keeping the cars out of the garage. There was only one caution in the 20 lap shootout but the caution proved costly for GTRRL Legend Ron Meier as it resulted in terminal damage which sent him to the garage and out of the race.

The field was grouped back together and made one final push to the finish. Through out the race, young rookie Ian Isringhausen found him self in the top 3 and looked to be the one to beat. But a good run by Thomas Fredericks with help from Mike Best found Fredericks holding onto the top spot with 4 to go ahead of Isringhausen. The GTRRL's winningest oval driver, Fredericks, used his experience to hold the bottom line and force drivers to pass him on the high side.

On the white flag lap, Isringhausen took a run down the backstretch to challenge the 32 car, with help from Best, but this proved futile as Dark Horse Sport teammates Jonathon Bolling and Adam Yao both stayed with Fredericks on the bottom and Fredericks was able to hold off the DHS hard chargers to take the checkered for the first heat race!





As every double header will be this season, the second races starting order was determined by reverse order of the previous races finishing results. So Ron Meier found himself up front and the previous races winner started shotgun on the field. But as all drivers know about Daytona, it doesn't matter where you start.

Once the green flag dropped, nothing seemed different from the first race. All drivers took their shots at leading as Daytona gives everyone and equal chance to win. But once again, the young racers of the series like Dera and Isringhausen found themselves primarily in the top 3 as the league veterans had to figure away to one up these "young guns". Just like the first race there was only one caution, and like the first race, champion Ron Meier found himself in the garage, this time by a blown engine. The rest of the FDR drivers didn't fair well in this race as both were involved in incidents and found themselves losing the draft.

As the race dwindled down, a once 8 car pack was reduced to three with Jonathon Bolling, Ian Isringhausen, and Andrew Dera pulling away from the field. Taking the white flag was Isringhausen, looking to make up for the last races failed attempt at the win, but this time trying to hold off the field. Dera made a run down the back stretch on the high side and somehow made a strong pass from 3rd to the lead going into 3 with a bit of help from Jon Bolling. But coming to the checkered flag it was a free for all and as they crossed the line three wide it was Andrew "Conway" Dera holding off the two others to win the second heat race!





The average finish for each driver was taken between the two heat races and an overall result was determined. This result will be used to set the lineup for this weeks Daytona Season opening race.



Congrats to Jonathon Bolling and Dark Horse Sports for winning the Preseason Thunder and winning the pole for the season openning race!