{"id":1031690,"date":"2024-08-16T03:04:53","date_gmt":"2024-08-16T10:04:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bangshift.com\/?p=1031690"},"modified":"2024-08-15T20:33:08","modified_gmt":"2024-08-16T03:33:08","slug":"optimas-ultimate-street-car-at-portland-international-raceway-we-take-a-look-at-the-points-chase-with-two-qualifiers-to-go","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bangshift.com\/bangshiftapex\/optimas-ultimate-street-car-at-portland-international-raceway-we-take-a-look-at-the-points-chase-with-two-qualifiers-to-go\/","title":{"rendered":"OPTIMA\u2019s Ultimate Street Car at Portland International Raceway – We take a look at the points chase with two qualifiers to go!"},"content":{"rendered":"

(Words by Jim McIlvaine, Photos by Kaleb Kelley) <\/strong>Five of seven regular season events are in the book in OPTIMA\u2019s Ultimate Street Car series, presented by Advance Auto Parts. With the completion of the event at Portland, West coast qualifying events for the season have wrapped up and the final opportunities to qualify for a trip to the SEMA Show and the OPTIMA Ultimate Street Car Invitational (OUSCI) will come later this year at Summit Point and VIRginia International Raceway.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ll take a look at all the classes to see how the points chase for the class championships are going, as well as a closer look at who might receive points invitations to the OUSCI at the end of the regular season (and who might be on the wrong side of the points bubble). Keep in mind, these are all estimates and predictions! We\u2019ll start with the Nine Lives Racing Lucky 7 Outlaw Class.<\/p>\n

Outlaw<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Outlaw Class points battle is an absolute toss-up right now. Duke Langley\u2019s \u201902 Corvette took over the lead from Danny Weller\u2019s \u201919 Camaro at Portland by a single point, but Justin Peachey is scheduled to run on the final two events. Since a competitor\u2019s best two finishes count toward their season-long point totals, it\u2019s entirely possible that Peachey could capture the championship in those final two events.<\/p>\n

If there are no changes in registration and everyone runs as planned, the \u201cLucky 7\u201d competing for the Outlaw Class Cup in Las Vegas will be:<\/p>\n

Duke Langley 2002 Chevrolet Corvette<\/p>\n

Danny Weller 2019 Chevrolet Camaro<\/p>\n

Jon Bickford 2020 Tesla Model 3<\/p>\n

Frankie Trutanic 2017 Chevrolet Corvette<\/p>\n

Jeff Gordon 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt<\/p>\n

Justin Peachey 2007 Chevrolet Corvette<\/p>\n

Craig Staley 2021 Chevrolet Corvette<\/p>\n

As we move into the other classes in the series, it\u2019s important to remember that there are three ways to earn an invitation to the OUSCI- by winning a class at a qualifying event (or being the top finisher, who as not yet qualified), finishing in the top-3 in points for non-qualifiers and grabbing one of the ten at-large points entries. There\u2019s also a wildcard of the Summit Racing Spirit of the Event invitations, of which there are two remaining.<\/p>\n

GTV<\/strong><\/p>\n

Chris Smith\u2019s \u201970 Camaro has a commanding lead in the Speedtech GTV Class. While it is unlikely anyone will catch him, it could happen, but Smitty is scheduled to run the final two events, just to make sure. If they don\u2019t win their way in at these final events, Jason Bottenfield\u2019s \u201969 Camaro, Jason Smith\u2019s \u201987 Camaro and Chris King\u2019s \u201969 Camaro are likely to receive GTV class invitations.<\/p>\n

GTT<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dustin Reed\u2019s \u201972 C10 holds a scant four-point lead over David Carroll\u2019s \u201974 Blazer in the No-Limit Engineering GTT Class. Both of those trucks are based on the West Coast, so it seems unlikely either will make the final two events. The door is also open for the defending champion, Stephen Dorrick, to drive his \u201905 Nissan Frontier to a championship in the final two events. Depending on who wins their way in at the final events, the three GTT Class invitations could go to Jeff Glowniak\u2019s \u201972 Ford F100, Wes McFarland\u2019s \u201974 GMC C10 and Logan Melson\u2019s \u201900 Ford Ranger.<\/p>\n

GTS<\/strong><\/p>\n

Just as Chris Smith has a commanding lead in GTV, Bob Sobey\u2019s \u201913 Nissan GT-R has a similar lead in the After Dark Speed GTS Class. However, Sobey and Dave Schotz are both in dead-tie for the overall series Grand Championship. Will either make the trip from Arizona to try for a few more points? If not, the tie-breaker will take place at the OUSCI. Depending on who wins their way in at the final two qualifiers, we could see Scott Lezchuk\u2019s \u201920 Tesla Model 3, Jordan Cooke\u2019s \u201916 Corvette and Aimel Baron\u2019s \u201919 Corvette.<\/p>\n

GTL<\/strong><\/p>\n

With Lane Farka\u2019s win at Portland, he opened up a sizable lead in the Lingenfelter GTL Class in his \u201915 Porsche GT3. There are quite a few GTL entries that will run their first two events at the last two qualifiers, but we could see a potential scenario where Josh Cummings\u2019 \u201916 Porsche GT4, Al Radonski\u2019s \u201908 Corvette and Jason Zapol\u2019s \u201901 Corvette all earn GTL Class invitations.<\/p>\n

GTC<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dayton de la Houssaye\u2019s \u201916 Mazda MX-5 seems uncatchable in the Geaux Moto GTC class, although the one car that could do it would be an \u201909 MX-5, driven by his dad, Troy. If Troy locks up an invitation at Summit Point, Tony Phillips will earn an invitation at VIR, by virtue of being the only GTC entry at this point. That could lead to the three GTC class invitations being given to John McKissack\u2019s \u201971 MG BGT, Jordan Filip\u2019s \u201903 Toyota Corolla and Adam Perling\u2019s \u201906 Mazda Miata.<\/p>\n

GT<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dave Schotz\u2019s \u201922 Chevrolet Camaro seems likely repeat as champion in the Viking Performance GT Class, but Jonathan Blevins\u2019 \u201908 Ford Mustang could make a late season run to re-capture the GT Class crown Schotz snatched from him last season. James Thomas has a scheduling conflict that will prevent him from going to Las Vegas this year, so it\u2019s possible the three GT Class entries could go to Bryan Reilly\u2019s \u201918 Chevrolet Camaro, Jake Jackson\u2019s \u201918 Chevrolet Camaro and Chris Pokorny\u2019s \u201992 Ford Mustang.<\/p>\n

At-Large Entries<\/strong><\/p>\n

Once class invitations are handed out, ten additional at-large entries are awarded, based on point totals across all the classes. These projections are a bit of a crap shoot, because some cars haven\u2019t run a single event all season long and the point totals are a mixture of current points and estimates. It does help those involved to get a general understanding of where they might be in the standings and what their chances might be of making it to Las Vegas in November.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s how the ten point entries could shake out:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sean Aldinger 1969 Camaro GTV 850 points<\/p>\n

Tom Farrington 1966 Chevelle GTV 847 points<\/p>\n

Robert Foster 2012 Corvette GTS 842 points<\/p>\n

Scott Bowers 1984 Mustang GTV 842 points<\/p>\n

David Webb 1969 Camaro GTV 842 points<\/p>\n

Last Five In<\/strong><\/p>\n

Jason Trantham 2021 Corvette GTS 840 points<\/p>\n

John Lawrence 2017 Corvette GTS 835 points<\/p>\n

Garrett Randall 1970 Corvette GTV 829 points<\/p>\n

Steve Rivett 1968 Camaro GTV 812 points<\/p>\n

James Pierce 2017 Camaro GT 808 points<\/p>\n

First Five Out<\/strong><\/p>\n

Angela Payne 1969 Corvette GTV 808 points<\/p>\n

Ryan Jones 1966 Mustang GTV 795 points<\/p>\n

Darren Voges 1969 Camaro GTV 787 points<\/p>\n

Hector Curiel 2018 Camaro GT 781 points<\/p>\n

Kenny Ayers 1968 Camaro GTV 780 points<\/p>\n

Take a look at the top ten from the Portland qualifier and see a massive photo gallery from that event below. Be sure to check out “http:\/\/www.DriveOPTIMA.com”www.DriveOPTIMA.com if you\u2019d like to learn more about this series and how you can compete!<\/p>\n

Top Ten Overall at Portland<\/strong><\/p>\n

1. Lane Farka 2015 Porsche GT3 GTL 492 points<\/p>\n

2. Matt Ramirez 2004 Ford Mustang GT 488 points<\/p>\n

3. Bob Sobey 2013 Nissan GTR GTS 483 points<\/p>\n

4. Ryan Breezee 1969 Camaro GTV 475 points<\/p>\n

5. Brad Larsen 2016 Corvette GTS 468 points<\/p>\n

6. Koda Atwood 2022 Tesla Model 3 GTS 468 points<\/p>\n

7. Dustin Reed 1972 C10 GTT 465 points<\/p>\n

8. Brandon Hurst 2021 Tesla Model S GTS 464 points<\/p>\n

9. Rick Ray 1971 Camaro GT 463 points<\/p>\n

10. David Carroll 1974 Blazer GTV 454 points<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

2024 OPTIMA Ultimate Street Car Schedule<\/strong><\/p>\n

February 23-25th Sebring Raceway<\/p>\n

March 1-3rd Thunderhill Raceway<\/p>\n

May 3-5th Weathertech Raceway Laguna Seca<\/p>\n

June 28-30th Road America<\/p>\n

July 26-28th Portland International Raceway<\/p>\n

August 16-18th Summit Point Motorsports Park<\/p>\n

October 4-6th VIRginia International Raceway<\/p>\n

QA1 First Timer Award- Lan Truong, 2019 Audi TT RS<\/p>\n

Anderson Composites Competitor\u2019s Choice Award- Chris Pokorny, 1992 Ford Mustang<\/p>\n

Operational Speed Supply Most-Improved Driver- Deanne Komush, 2003 Corvette<\/p>\n

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