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T.C. McNett Takes West Coast Title at Season Finale!
This past weekend, the West Coast Challenge Series racers had their
final race for 2007 at Buttonwillow Raceway. With weather reports
varying from “cloudy” to “rain”, it was anybody’s guess to what to
expect. With only four drivers making the trip: Karen Salvaggio, Mike
Beeler, T.C. McNett, and Rick Anderson, it was the smallest turnout of
the year. As it was, it was possible that the season champion could be
determined at this race.
Saturday Race
With a good, but congested warm up and qualifying out of the way, it was
T.C.at pole followed by Karen, Rick, and Mike for the starting grid. At
the green, T.C. was off with Karen in hot pursuit trying to whittle away
at his points lead. Rick followed with Mike rounding up the rear. For
the whole race, Karen dogged T.C. but he never opened the door for Karen
to get by. In the end it was T.C. for the win, followed by Karen, Rick,
and Mike.
With that win, T.C. clinched the championship!! Karen clinched second
place and Rick took third place in the series.
Sunday Races
With all the drama for the championship out of the way, it was time for
some fun, or racing in the rain! We got both!! Our warm up was very wet
with nothing getting very warm. For our qualifying race, the track was
starting to dry out, but still had standing water. Based on finishing
order the field was inverted for the start. At the green, Karen and T.C.
got the jump on the sleeping Rick (must have been enjoying the
scenery!!). At turn one, Karen was ahead of T.C. and held him off for
most of the race. Finally, T.C. got a nose inside of Karen at turn one
and took the lead and kept it for the remainder of the race. Again, T.C.
came out on top at the checker with Karen pushing with everything she
had in second. Rounding out the finish was Rick followed by Mike.
For our last race of the year, it was T.C. at pole with Karen in the 2
spot and Rick at the back. Unfortunately, Mike was unable to make the
race. At the start, T.C. was off like he was being chased by the IRS!!
Karen and Rick stayed close for a while but were held up by slower
traffic. As the race progressed, Karen and Rick dueled for position but
every attempt by Rick to pass Karen did not last for very long. In the
end, T.C. passed the entire CMC field for the win!! Karen finished a
well deserved second and Rick was “last”.
Once again:
Congratulations to the 2007 West Coast Challenge Series Champion: T.C.
McNett!!!! Also, congratulations to our close second place series
finisher: Karen Salvaggio!! As a reminder to all: The National
Championship winner is a West Coast driver: Congratulations again to
Dave Standridge!!!!!
Overall, a good season. I wish to thank all who ran with us this year.
We all hope for an even better season next year with even more drivers
participating on the west coast.
--Rick Anderson |
