2022 Round 16 Cup Results
Hobson dominates in the desert with Sonoma win!
Despite featuring both left and right turns, there is something quintessentially American about the Sonoma Raceway. Located in the California desert with a drag strip piercing its centre, Sonoma (or Sears Point or even Infineon Raceway depending on your age) forms a part of the rich tradition of American road racing.
Loved and loathed in equal measure by stock car racers, with opinion usually based on how far out of (or into) their comfort zones the drivers are pushed.
It was no surprise then that it was noted road course racer Brenton Hobson who would take pole in his Camaro. Also unsurprising was Michael Scurlock lining up next to him, the Bandit Camry always runs well at Sonoma. The surprise of qualifying was Andrew Dyson, the dominant figure of ANZCAR road course racing, lining up not on the front row or even the second. He would roll off inside the third row with everyone expecting him to move forward.
The start saw Hobson jump into an immediate lead while the tail of the field were still sorting themselves out exiting the hairpin. Scurlock would hold on to second while catching a big slide heading up the hill for the first time. Dyson quickly dispatched Foster at the green flag and tucked up behind teammate Pearson.
The ability of ANZCAR drivers to negotiate an opening lap at such a track continues to impress, with the only incident of note in the opening turns being slight contact between Lobb and Neale. Apologies were forthcoming and both continued on. Williams and Malone would both solo spin later in the lap, with neither car sustaining damage.
Lap 3 would see Michelmore lose it in the chute and Tompkins come to grief in the esses. The 80 SRM car having to head to the pits for repairs after collecting the tyre barrier.
While all this was going on Dyson and Pearson dispatched Scurlock to move into second and third, however Hobson had moved into a sizeable lead. Would Dyson be able to close the gap?
One oddity of the race appeared to be tyre wear. Rather than times becoming slower as the rubber wore out, the cars just continued to lap faster and faster. Most front running drivers electing not to bother changing tyres at the pit stop, taking fuel only. This is where the race would turn sour for Dyson, having a lengthy stop and then incurring a speeding penalty, dropping him out of contention.
The day would belong to the 88 of Hobson however, taking a flag to flag victory in which he was never challenged. Pearson would run home a solid second ahead of Scurlock, with Foster and Trahair rounding out the top five.
The series moves on to Music City on June 16 for 140 laps of the Nashville Superspeedway, a track which has proven popular with drivers and spectators since its introduction to the schedule last year.
Stewards Report
Notes
With the rear of the grid still negotiating the hairpin at race start and the field becoming strung out, no action will be taken over multiple lane changes toward the rear of the grid as no advantages appeared to be gained and no reckless behaviour was noted.
No protests have been received
Despite featuring both left and right turns, there is something quintessentially American about the Sonoma Raceway. Located in the California desert with a drag strip piercing its centre, Sonoma (or Sears Point or even Infineon Raceway depending on your age) forms a part of the rich tradition of American road racing.
Loved and loathed in equal measure by stock car racers, with opinion usually based on how far out of (or into) their comfort zones the drivers are pushed.
It was no surprise then that it was noted road course racer Brenton Hobson who would take pole in his Camaro. Also unsurprising was Michael Scurlock lining up next to him, the Bandit Camry always runs well at Sonoma. The surprise of qualifying was Andrew Dyson, the dominant figure of ANZCAR road course racing, lining up not on the front row or even the second. He would roll off inside the third row with everyone expecting him to move forward.
The start saw Hobson jump into an immediate lead while the tail of the field were still sorting themselves out exiting the hairpin. Scurlock would hold on to second while catching a big slide heading up the hill for the first time. Dyson quickly dispatched Foster at the green flag and tucked up behind teammate Pearson.
The ability of ANZCAR drivers to negotiate an opening lap at such a track continues to impress, with the only incident of note in the opening turns being slight contact between Lobb and Neale. Apologies were forthcoming and both continued on. Williams and Malone would both solo spin later in the lap, with neither car sustaining damage.
Lap 3 would see Michelmore lose it in the chute and Tompkins come to grief in the esses. The 80 SRM car having to head to the pits for repairs after collecting the tyre barrier.
While all this was going on Dyson and Pearson dispatched Scurlock to move into second and third, however Hobson had moved into a sizeable lead. Would Dyson be able to close the gap?
One oddity of the race appeared to be tyre wear. Rather than times becoming slower as the rubber wore out, the cars just continued to lap faster and faster. Most front running drivers electing not to bother changing tyres at the pit stop, taking fuel only. This is where the race would turn sour for Dyson, having a lengthy stop and then incurring a speeding penalty, dropping him out of contention.
The day would belong to the 88 of Hobson however, taking a flag to flag victory in which he was never challenged. Pearson would run home a solid second ahead of Scurlock, with Foster and Trahair rounding out the top five.
The series moves on to Music City on June 16 for 140 laps of the Nashville Superspeedway, a track which has proven popular with drivers and spectators since its introduction to the schedule last year.
Stewards Report
Notes
With the rear of the grid still negotiating the hairpin at race start and the field becoming strung out, no action will be taken over multiple lane changes toward the rear of the grid as no advantages appeared to be gained and no reckless behaviour was noted.
No protests have been received
Race Broadcast
