The B2 Motorsports team wrapped up another great weekend at Road America, participating in the iconic SCCA Hoosier Super Tour June Sprints hosted by the Chicago Region SCCA. This event provided an excellent learning opportunity for our young driver Jack as part of our ongoing Driver Development Program, and it was a chance for me (Cliff) to join him on track in the #58 car.
Learn more about Road America: Road America official site
Thursday: Test Day
Jackson got up to speed at Road America faster than at any track so far. He felt that our recent race at Mid-Ohio (just two weeks prior) helped, and I think it’s also a sign that he’s growing more familiar with the Spec Racer Ford.
His best lap of the day was a 2:30.17 with minimal draft, which is impressive on older tires. We made an adjustment to the brake pedals by shortening the master cylinder rods, which eliminated pedal slop, resolved brake drag, and firmed up pedal feel.
Temps ranged from 65°F to 90°F, and the car stayed balanced through all three sessions.
That evening, Lil Wade, Jackson, and I grabbed dinner at Siebkens Resort, enjoying Wisconsin cheese curds and fish fry, while Jackson opted for the house chicken sandwich.
We also spent too much time trying (unsuccessfully) to get the pit bike started (turns out the spark plug was fouled and the wire was weak). We planned to grab a new plug for Friday.
Friday: Practice and Qualifying 1
I jumped into the #58 car to run alongside Jack for the weekend. In the morning practice, Jack was P16 and I was P24 after 9 laps. Jack felt the car was ready for qualifying.
In qualifying, drafting is everything at Road America, and unfortunately Jack got caught out without a pack. I advised him not to wait for me and to go find a faster group. We only managed 5 laps in Q1, with Jack qualifying P17 and me P21.
Qualifying 1 Results
Qualifying 1 video:
Friday night, Lil Wade and I went to Sweet Basil in Plymouth. We shared the chicken parmesan at the bar while playing with Hot Wheels monster trucks. Great food, great service; we’d definitely go back.
Saturday: Qualifying 2 and Prep
Jack and I planned to work together in Q2, but on-track incidents and differing driver plans meant it didn’t pan out. The session was cut short, and we only got 4 laps. Jack ended P18, I ended P19, so Jack’s Q1 time stood as his best.
Qualifying 2 Results
Qualifying 2 video:
In the afternoon, Jack learned how to set toe on the Spec Racer Ford, and we prepped both cars for race day. That evening, we had dinner at Antoinette’s with Jack’s grandparents and Josh, talking Indy 500 stories and quarter midget racing.
Sunday: Race Day
Race day: winner take all. Jack and I both got great starts. Jack jumped from P17 to P12 on lap 1, I moved from P21 to P15.
Jack closed the nose on lap 1, causing the temp to rise. The ECU’s protective programming pulled timing as temps climbed, so even though he was fast through corners, he didn’t have the straightaway speed to keep gaining positions. It became a valuable learning experience: managing equipment, pacing, and staying calm when things don’t go to plan is crucial for any young driver.
I worked my way up to finish P11.
Thank You to Our Partners
We couldn’t do this without support from our partners:
About B2 Motorsports
B2 Motorsports provides race car rentals, driver development, and full trackside support for Spec Racer Ford competitors at major events like the SCCA Hoosier Super Tour. Our program helps young drivers learn the craft, from managing a race weekend to mastering race craft and consistency.
Interested in joining us? Contact us today.
More from B2 Motorsports
Read more on the B2 Motorsports blog, see how an SRF3 weekend works on Race With Us, or learn about the Driver Development Program. Questions? Contact us, call or text 256-910-0658, or email info@b2motorsports.com.