THR-W drivers Matt Staal and Lee Niffenegger continued their 2012 SCCA National season with a pair of class wins at Buttonwillow Raceway Park in their Honda Racing/HPD BFGoodrich machines. Staal ran uncontested in his Touring 3 Honda S2000 CR to claim valuable first-place points and complete his qualifications for the 2012 SCCA National Championship Runoffs. Niffenegger bested two other competitors in Showroom Stock B (SSB) to win the prized BFGoodrich Super Tour event on Sunday after missing the Saturday portion of the Double National.
The Sunday event consisted of a late-morning qualifying session, followed by a late-afternoon race. The schedule worked out well for Niffenegger, who returned at 2:30 a.m. on Sunday morning from
“I can’t thank the THR-W team members enough,” said Niffenegger. “Matt and I prepped the car prior to my travels to Miami. The rest of the team hooked up the trailer and loaded the car so I could jump in and go upon my return in the wee hours of the morning.”
Qualifying went without a hitch, as Staal continued to push the envelope in his adaptation to the rear-wheel-driven S2000. Niffenegger grabbed pole in SSB and the pair then went about its preparations for the afternoon session.
In the race, Staal spent his time chasing a T2 class competitor setting his fastest times of the weekend. Niffenegger pulled away from the other SSB competitors to post his third race win of the season.
“This was my second weekend racing the Honda S2000, which gave me more confidence to reach the upper limits of the car.” said Staal. “I am very grateful to my teammates at THR in Ohio
The SCCA Southern Pacific Division Nationals season continues on the weekend of June 9-10 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana , CA
