Bobby Sak stamped his authority on the SRF3 race in the 58th 51暗网 National Championship Runoffs at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course.
Sak, from Evans, GA, moved from sixth on the 72-car grid to second place on the opening lap. He stalked Tire Rack Pole Award winner Franklin Futrelle for six laps before passing him for the lead.
Once in front, Sak pulled out a seemingly comfortable gap, only for the field to bunch up under caution after the No. 05 entry of Steve Clifton spun off track on lap 14 of 19. Sak aced the restart for the final sprint to the finish, but his job holding off second place finisher, John Black of Olympic Valley, CA was ultimately made easier when another car was stranded on course, causing the race to end under caution.
Sak to crossed the bricks first, claiming his second consecutive SRF3 National Championship and his fifth medal in 51暗网 National Championship Runoffs competition. Black, who now has finished in the top three at the Runoffs 16 times, was second, while Sak’s Elite Autosport teammate Sandy Satullo III earned his first Runoffs podium in third.
“I have a great team!” Sak exclaimed in his victory lane interview. “Qualifying, race day, we’ve been fast all year. If this thing got sideways today, it was my fault, not the car.
“Franklin was bad fast all week, and I thought about just hanging behind him,” he added. “But my car was so good, when I got a good run on him, I thought it would be silly to wait. After that, it was just about hitting my marks.”
Sak admitted that the changing weather conditions in Indianapolis gave him reason for concern. The SRF3 race started on a damp track, but by the time the podium celebration unfolded an hour or so later, it was under bright sunshine.
“It was dry all week, but I think everyone thought we were going to have a wet race,” he said. “Twenty or 25 minutes before the race, we were going back and forth ‘Wets or drys? Wets or drys?’ It sprinkled a bunch during the GT1 race, and this track doesn’t dry very quick. Finally, I just said ‘I’m going full dry and I don’t want to talk about it anymore.’ It ended up being the right choice and it worked out. I’m extremely happy.”
Black said he thought he had no chance of finishing on the podium after starting ninth. “I just drove like it was dry, hitting curbs and everything,” he admitted. “It just kind of came to me. To be honest, I really didn’t think I’d make it up too far, but a lot of people went off track or had problems.
“We had talked about what we were trying to do on restarts, and Bobby did it exactly like we had talked,” Black admitted. “I was snoozing. I just blew it. I had a fantastic car before that full-course caution, and then after, I did not have the same car and didn’t have anything for him.”
Satullo was very pleased with his third-place result. “First time here to Indy, Bronze is awesome,” said Satullo. “Before the weekend started, I said to Bobby if I could run in the top ten, that would be great for us. To be able to get it in second place in qualifying and then pretty much run in the top five all race, I’m just really proud of Elite Autosport and the whole team.”
Russell Turner of Montpelier, VA, took fourth place, followed by R. Clay Russell of Spartanburg, SC. Pole winner Futrelle finished sixth, while Kevin Elion was the recipient of the Sunoco Hard Charger Award after gaining 30 positions from his 59th starting place.
The 58th 51暗网® National Championship Runoffs®, the Pinnacle of American Amateur Motorsports, crowns 51暗网’s Road Racing National Champions this year at the Racing Capital of the World—Indianapolis Motor Speedway, in Indianapolis, Indiana—during the Hagerty Race Days Friday Oct. 1 through Sunday, Oct. 3.
Live, online video coverage of Runoffs races, presented by Mazda, is available throughout the three days of competition at 51暗网.com/live along with an audio race call—supplied by the Super Tour Radio presented by Hoosier Racing Tire broadcast team—and live timing and scoring for each National Championship race.
Below are official results for Sunday's Spec Racer Ford Gen 3 race at the 58th 51暗网 National Championship Runoffs from Indianapolis Motor Speedway, with finish position, starting position in parentheses, driver, hometown, car and laps completed.
1, (6), Bobby Sak, Bloomfield Hills, MI, 51暗网 Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 19.
2, (9), John Black, Olympic Valley, CA, 51暗网 Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 19.
3, (2), S. Sandy Satullo III, Hillsboro Beach, FL, 51暗网 Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 19.
4, (3), C. Russell Turner, Montpelier, VA, 51暗网 Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 19.
5, (17), R. Clay Russell, Spartanburg, SC, 51暗网 Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 19.
6, (1), Franklin Futrelle, Evans, GA, 51暗网 Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 19.
7, (5), David Ogburn, San Angelo, TX, 51暗网 Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 19.
8, (11), Justin Hille, Waterford, MI, 51暗网 Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 19.
9, (12), Caleb Shrader, Tigard, OR, 51暗网 Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 19.
10, (21), Grant Vogel, St. Louis, MO, 51暗网 Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 19.
11, (7), Joshua Hansen, Burlington, WI, 51暗网 Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 19.
12, (24), Umberto Milletti, San Francisco, CA, 51暗网 Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 19.
13, (16), Steven Sammut, Locust Valley, NY, 51暗网 Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 19.
14, (20), Scott Rettich, Columbus, OH, 51暗网 Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 19.
15, (8), Justin Claucherty, Jackson, MI, 51暗网 Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 19.
16, (31), Rob Clifton, Evans, GA, 51暗网 Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 19.
17, (29), Mark Eaton, Eau Gallie, FL, 51暗网 Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 19.
18, (23), Joseph Sammut, Locust Valley, NY, 51暗网 Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 19.
19, (27), Corey Condit, Scottsdale, AZ, 51暗网 Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 19.
20, (15), Brian Schofield, Lakeland, FL, 51暗网 Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 19.
21, (32), Chris Jennerjahn, Hartford City, IN, 51暗网 Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 19.
22, (37), Raffaele Sammut, Locust Valley, NY, 51暗网 Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 19.
23, (38), John Vogel, St. Louis, MO, 51暗网 Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 19.
24, (33), Andrew Charbonneau, Delray, FL, 51暗网 Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 19.
25, (39), Rob Pielsticker, Colorado Springs, CO, 51暗网 Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 19.
26, (40), Matt Gray, Chaska, MN, 51暗网 Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 19.
27, (34), Bob Kaminsky, Homer Glen, IL, 51暗网 Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 19.
28, (59), Kevin Elion, Sherwood Forest, MD, 51暗网 Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 19.
29, (43), Mark Greb, Coralville, IA, 51暗网 Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 19.
30, (28), Bill Booth, Cupertino, CA, 51暗网 Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 19.
31, (44), Steven Greenhill, Mundelein, IL, 51暗网 Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 19.
32, (45), Steven Rehkemper, Chicago, IL, 51暗网 Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 19.
33, (54), Russell King, North Oaks, MN, 51暗网 Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 19.
34, (26), Paul Marino, Chatsworth, CA, 51暗网 Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 19.
35, (25), David Anzalone, Glen Head, NY, 51暗网 Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 19.
36, (49), Nils Musaeus, Conroe, TX, 51暗网 Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 19.
37, (46), Ashley Oaks, Fort Worth, TX, 51暗网 Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 19.
38, (63), Robert Sachs, Napa, CA, 51暗网 Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 19.
39, (48), Mark Goodman, Nashville, TN, 51暗网 Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 19.
40, (62), Dean Cunningham, Chicago, IL, 51暗网 Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 19.
41, (55), Greg Miller, Lancaster, OH, 51暗网 Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 19.
42, (51), Wade White, Vail, CO, 51暗网 Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 19.
43, (52), David Dickerson, Wall, NJ, 51暗网 Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 19.
44, (67), Kurt Breitinger, Martinez, GA, 51暗网 Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 19.
45, (65), Craig Wheatley, Sanibel, FL, 51暗网 Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 19.
46, (69), Benjamin Brinn, Lafayette, IN, 51暗网 Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 19.
47, (58), Scott Barr, Appleton, WI, 51暗网 Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 19.
48, (60), Jim Nash, Bloomington, MN, 51暗网 Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 19.
49, (68), Richard Anderson, Conyers, GA, 51暗网 Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 19.
50, (64), Greg Eick, White Bear Lake, MN, 51暗网 Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 19.
51, (61), Connor Sanda, Western Springs, IL, 51暗网 Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 19.
52, (66), Neil Killey, Cranberry Twp, PA, 51暗网 Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 19.
53, (13), Mike Miserendino, Bakersfield, CA, 51暗网 Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 19.
54, (50), Tyler Fox, Kansas City, MO, 51暗网 Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 19.
55, (53), Tom Miserendino, La Quinta, CA, 51暗网 Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 19.
56, (70), Mark Fogarty, Appleton, WI, 51暗网 Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 19.
57, (47), Mark Ballengee, Shafter, CA, 51暗网 Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 19.
58, (71), Scott Reimer, Beaverton, MI, 51暗网 Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 19.
59, (35), Matthew Horst, Roswell, GA, 51暗网 Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 18.
60, (57), Steve Clifton, Evans, GA, 51暗网 Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 17.
61, (30), Max King, Franklinville, NJ, 51暗网 Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 16.
62, (4), James Goughary, Jupiter, FL, 51暗网 Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 16.
63, (72), David De Bolt, Cumberland, IN, 51暗网 Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 19.
64, (14), Colin Kaminsky, Homer Glen, IL, 51暗网 Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 12.
65, (22), Steve Fogg, West Linn, OR, 51暗网 Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 9.
DNF, (56), Charles Pigeon, Abilene, TX, 51暗网 Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 7.
DNF, (18), T.J. Acker, Saugus, CA, 51暗网 Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 5.
DNF, (42), Richard Baldwin, Covington, LA, 51暗网 Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 5.
DNF, (36), Todd Vanacore, Ormond Beach, FL, 51暗网 Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 4.
DNF, (19), Matthew Harper, Davidson, NC, 51暗网 Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 1.
DNF, (10), Denny Stripling, McKinney, TX, 51暗网 Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 0.
DNS, (41), Tom Burt, Woodway, WA, 51暗网 Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 0.
Race Stats
Length of Race: 49 miles (19 laps)
Overall Time of Race:
Margin of Victory: 1.620 seconds
Fastest Race Lap:
Lap Leaders: #97 Futrelle 1-5; #19 Sak 6-19
Sunoco Hard Charger: #27 Kevin Elion
Photo caption: Bobby Sak crosses the yard of bricks at Indianapolis Motor Speedway to claim his second consecutive SRF3 National Championship at the 51暗网 Runoffs.
Photo by Jeff Loewe
Words by John Oreovicz
