By Jeremy Croiset
Published: August 11, 2006
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Round 6 of the NASA Socal region Honda Challenge race took place at famous Willow Springs International Raceway on August 5th, and 6th. It was a beautiful weekend with temps in the low to mid 90s, and sunny skies. It’s Saturday morning, and the sun has risen over the Mojave Desert to display another glorious Southern California day for racing. Morning practice goes well, and provides ample time for most to reacclimatize themselves to the “fastest road in the west”. Qualifying time rolls round, and the cars head out to track. When the session is over, Bernardo Martinez in the Hasport Acura Integra has captured pole with a 1:31.886 followed by Sam Higashi and John Thawley.
H4 is another story. People are stunned to see that Jeremy Croiset has taken pole with a blazingly fast time of 1:34.011 well under the current H4 class track record (1:35.397). Ryan Flaherty out qualified Edik Stepanyan with a time of 1:35.390 opposed to Edik’s 1:35.592 for the second starting position. It was pretty clear that we were all in store for an exciting race later that day. As the time of the race quickly approached, drivers and crew prepared and headed to grid. After the National Anthem, the cars headed to track to begin the formation lap. The cars rolled to the front straight where they were staged for another exciting standing start. Awaiting the drop of the green flag, the revs came up, the green flag dropped, and the cars shot off.
Into T1, Bernardo Martinez was able to get away with a great start followed by Sam Higashi and Jeremy Croiset. In H1, Martinez was able to lead from flag to flag unchallenged to take the win in H1. Sam Higashi and Michael Lee had a great battle for second that saw Lee emerge victorious taking the second spot followed by Higashi in the final podium position.
Jeremy Croiset leading in H4 was not as fortunate as Martinez. On the 3rd lap, he had some contact with a lapped car that did not see him coming through which left him with suspension damage. That left him lapping considerably slower which allowed his fellow H4 competitors to close up on him. Ryan Flaherty was able to catch, and complete the pass on Croiset to take the lead which he held until the end. Near the end of the race, Benny Pecqueur caught Croiset and battled with him until the checkered flag fell. In the end, Croiset was able to hold off the charging Pecqueur to take the second place finish.
As the sun rose on Sunday moring, it was clear that we would have the same type of conditions we had seen the previous day. Practice went without a hitch. Cars went out for qualifying and had a good session. When the times were posted, we had Bernardo Martinez on pole again in H1 with a time of 1:32.974 followed by Michael Lee and Sam Higashi. In H4, Jeremy Croiset had shown that his time from the previous day was not a fluke snatching pole again with a 1:34.692, followed by Edik Stepanyan and Benny Pecqueur. 
Again, the time for the race came, and the cars, drivers, and crew rolled to grid. The cars lined up on the front straight for another standing start and took off as the green flag fell. Martinez was able to get another great start and rocket off into the lead followed closely by Lee and Higashi. Croiset was also able to get a great start to hold off Stepanyan on the start. Near the end of the first lap, Lee went off track at the exit of Turn 9 at which point Higashi decided to follow. The ensuing dust cloud that followed made it a challenge for the drivers following to venture through. The rest of the field made it through, and continued with the race. Lee and Higashi were forced to pit to fix damage, but did head back out to try and make some laps.
When the checkered flag fell, Bernardo Martinez held out again unchallenged to take the second win of the weekend. The always inconspicuous John Thawley brought it home in 2nd followed by new comer RJ Martinez in 3rd.
Jeremy Croiset was able to lead from flag to flag and maintain the slim gap over Edik Stepanyan to take the victory in H4. Benny Pecqueur was able to finish in the 3rd spot and extend his 3rd place in the championship over his rivals.
Rivals Jeremy Croiset and Edik Stepanyan are separated by nearly a hair in the championship points race and it can go either way at this point. The next event on the schedule is the NASA National Championship event to be held at the famed Mid Ohio Sports complex on Sept. 11-17th, 2006. For more information, please visit www.nasachampionships.com With only 2 race weekends remaining in the NASA Socal Honda Challenge Championship, the championship excitement is heating up. The next event will be held at Buttonwillow Raceway on Oct. 14-15th. Come join us for the exciting action to see what happens. Photos by Casey Heerman!
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