It’s another weekend of Formula Race Promotions (FRP) action in the books as teams and drivers completed the fourth event at the Pittsburgh International Race Complex in Wampum, Pennsylvania this past weekend. In dominating fashion, both Sebastian Mateo Naranjo and Scott Rubenzer swept their classes, while Gabriel Cahan and Dane McMahon won in F2000.
“We had some domination this week in F1600 which has opened up that championship points spread a little but all in all it was another great weekend of racing in Pittsburgh,” explained Bob Wright. “We are now more than halfway through the season and ready to finish the year strong. Thank you to all of our race teams, drivers, and supporters. On to the next one!”
With a practice day on Friday, the action heated up on Saturday with qualifying and wheel-to-wheel racing as the season crested the midway mark.
F1600 Qualifying
1.Sebastian Mateo Naranjo – 1:47.573
2.Timothy Steele – 1:48.165
3.Karsten Defonce – 1:48.615
4.Dillon Defonce – 1:48.917
5.Cooper Shipman – 1:48.993
F1600 Masters Qualifying
1.Scott Rubenzer – 1:49.479
2.David Livingston Jr. – 1:49.747
3.Bob Reid – 1:50.019
4.Phil Kingham – 1:50.095
5.Michael Scanlan – 1:50.507
Race 1
Starting from the pole position, Sebastian Mateo Naranjo was able to maintain his position at the front of the F1600 field to win the first ten-lap F1600 race of the weekend. Battling hard, Naranjo was able to keep Timothy Steele at bay to take the checkered flag with Steele joining him in the second position. Karsten Defonce crossed the line in the third position as a pair of Defonce drivers finished in the top-five with Dillon fourth, just ahead of Ethan Tovo in fourth. Scott Rubenzer went on to sweep the day in F1600 Masters, adding the victory to his pole position from earlier in the day and celebrated on the podium with David Livingston, Jr. and Phil Kingham, who rounded out the top-three.
Race 2
Mateo Naranjo kept his weekend perfect when the checkered flag flew on race two earning his second win in as many races, topping the results sheet at the end of the 11-lap race. Mateo Naranjo also earned the fastest lap of the race. Behind him, Karsten Defonce and Dillon Defonce were on the podium putting the family duo on the second and third steps ahead of the brother duo of Ethan and Jackson Tovo in fourth and fifth. Matching Mateo Naranjo results in F1600, F1600 Masters driver Scott Rubenzer scored his second win on the weekend with Phil Kingham and Michael Scanlan in second and third.
Race 3
Continuing his weekend dominance, Sebastian Mateo Naranjo completed perfection going three-for-three in F1600 to extend his championship point lead. Winning race three, Mateo Naranjo led all 12 laps to put Team Pelfrey on top yet again. Karsten Defonce added yet another podium, this time in third, just behind Cooper Shipman in the second position as Dillion Defonce finished just shy of the box in P4. Ethan Tovo beat his broth Jackson to round out the top-five in another epic F1600 affair. Rubenzer completed his weekend of success going three-for-three in F1600 Masters as Phil Kingham and Bob Reid joined him on the podium in second and third.
F2000 Qualifying
1.Gabriel Cahan – 1:42.794
2.Dane McMahon – 1:42.964
3.Robert Wright – 1:44.528
4.Vaughn Mishko – 1:45.049
5.Carter Sheets – 1:45.256
Race 1
Sweeping the F2000 class on the day, Gabriel Cahan was able to convert his pole position into another race win and solidify his intention to fight for the championship. Dane McMahon, who has been battling Cahan all season long, finished second with Vaughn Mishko improving on his qualifying result to finish third on the day and celebrate on the podium as he disposed of Robert Wright, who finished fourth. Carter Sheets was the best of the rest and rounded out the top-five.
Race 2
With Cahan taking the win in race one, McMahon was able to scrape some points back in race two as he took top honors in the F2000 class with Gabriel Cahan in the second position as the top two swapped positions from the day prior. Carter Sheets was able to make his way to the third step of the podium, his first podium result of the double race weekend with Saturday’s third-place finisher Vaughn Mishko and Dr. DJ Galiffa rounding out the top-five.
Atlantic 016 Qualifying
1.Keith Grant – 1:31.688
2.Matthew Butson – 1:32.107
3.Richard Zober – 1:32.993
4.John Mcaleer – 1:35.523
5.Bill Munholland – 1:38.377
Atlantic Open Qualifying
1.Nathan Byrd – 1:39.426
2.Jason Slahor 1:42.984
Race 1
In the combined Atlantic O16 and Atlantic Open class, it was the 016 contingent that swept the top-five positions on track. Second place qualifier Matthew Butson was able to score the win ahead of fast qualifier Keith Grant, who finished in the second position. Richard Zober joined Butson and Grant on the podium in third as Mcaleer and Munholland rounded out the top-five. In the Atlantic Open class, Nathan Byrd added another victory to his results resume as Jason Slahor finished second.
Race 2
Keith Grant bettered his on-track result Sunday from the day prior as his second-place finish Saturday turned into a win as he took the checkered flag in race two of the Atlantic 016 class. Behind him, Saturday's winner Matthew Butson and Richard Zober were able to claim podium results in second and third, while John Mcaleer and Bill Munholland slotted into fourth and fifth respectively. Nathan Byrd claimed top honors in the Atlantic Open class with Jason Slahor and Paulie Gatto joining him in the podium celebrations.
The next event in the 2024 Formula Race Promotions program will see teams and competitors travel to Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, and the famed 14-turn, 4.408-mile Road America over the June 27-30 weekend.
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