Vesrah Suzuki closed out its second perfect Bridgestone/WERA National Endurance Championship season with a race win in the season-ending four-hour race Friday at Road Atlanta.
Tray Batey, John Jacobi and Chris Ulrich completed 153 laps of the 2.5-mile course on their Pirelli-shod GSX-R1000 and won by more than two laps.
Vesrah Suzuki clinched the 2008 Championship, the team’s seventh, earlier this season.
Team Maxxis Racing’s Tim Bemisderfer, Chris “Opie” Caylor and Billy Etheridge finished second overall and in the Heavyweight Superbike class on their GSX-R1000 Superbike.
Brand X Yamaha’s Ben Walters, Jr. and Brett Champagne did not have a smooth race but came through to score third overall and in the Heavyweight Superbike division on a Michelin-equipped YZF-R1.
Dalke Motorsports’ Dane Westby and Dustin Meador rode a Pirelli-fitted Yamaha YZF-R6 to fourth overall and a victory in the Mediumweight Superstock category. Dalke Motorsports clinched the Mediumweight Superstock Championship before coming to Road Atlanta.
TVR 131’s Zac Chapman, Chuck Ivey and Reuben Frankenfield topped the Heavyweight Superstock (HSS) class and finished fifth overall on a Pirelli-backed Yamaha YZF-R1. TVR 131 secured the HSS crown earlier in the year.
Velocity Crew Racing’s Paul Youngman and Kevin Perkins got seventh overall and won the Mediumweight Superbike (MSB) race on a Dunlop-tired Suzuki GSX-R600.
The Mediumweight Superbike class Championship was up for grabs between two teams, Zyvax and Wikle Racing, at the final round. Zyvax’s J.B. Layman, Scott Layman, Steve Green and David Anthony finished second in class in the race on their Pirelli-sponsored Yamaha YZF-R6 and took the title.
Wikle Racing’s Russell Wikle, Luther Wikle, Mark Junge and Michael Barnes were running fourth overall and leading the MSB class at the halfway point, but Barnes’ laps were disallowed when a competing team pointed out to officials that Wikle Racing had exceeded its allowable rider limit by adding Barnes. Wikle Racing ended up finishing 23rd overall, next to last.
Ghetto Customs’ Tim Birdsong, Chris Parrish, Russel Stoddard and Cale Swinger earned their fourth consecutive Lightweight Superbike Championships by winning the final round on a Dunlop-equipped Suzuki SV650.
The race was run without any red flag stoppages, but it was marred by a scary refueling accident during the first round of pit stops. TVR 136 (James Dellinger/Reuben Frankenfield/James Vanderhaar/Michael Wheelis) had a dump can malfunction that resulted in fuel spilling on its hot motorcycle. The fuel ignited, and the fire spread when the crew member using the dump can ran with it trailing fuel and fire. It took some effort, but the flames were eventually extinguished. One TVR 136 crew member and Frankenfield suffered relatively minor burns, but TVR 136 was able to continue in the race and finished 17th overall and seventh in the Mediumweight Superstock class.
Bridgestone/WERA National Endurance Championship 4-Hour Road Atlanta Braselton, Georgia October 10, 2008 Overall Race Results:
1. Vesrah Suzuki (Tray Batey/John Jacobi/Chris Ulrich), Suz GSX-R1000, Heavyweight Superbike, 153 laps
2. Team Maxxis Racing (Tim Bemisderfer/Chris “Opie” Caylor/Bill Etheridge), Suz GSX-R1000, Heavyweight Superbike, 151 laps
3. Brand X (Ben Walters, Jr./Brett Champagne), Yam YZF-R1, Heavyweight Superbike, 150 laps
4. Dalke Motorsports (Dane Westby/Dustin Meador), Yam YZF-R6, Mediumweight Superstock, 148 laps
5. TVR 131 (Zac Chapman/Chuck Ivey/Reuben Frankenfield), Yam YZF-R1, Heavyweight Superstock, 147 laps
6. Army of X/Ridersurance.com (Sam Fleming/Brandon Parrish/David Weber), Yam YZF-R1, Heavyweight Superbike, 147 laps
7. Velocity Crew Racing (Paul Youngman/Kevin Perkins), Suz GSX-R600, Mediumweight Superbike, 146 laps
8. Mouseboxracing.com (Tim Hunt/James Rispoli), Yam YZF-R6, Mediumweight Superstock, 145 laps
9. Zyvax (J.B. Layman/Scott Layman/Steve Green/David Anthony), Yam YZF-R6, Mediumweight Superbike, 145 laps
10. ARMotorsports.net (A.R. Hoshmandy/Keith Wilson), Suz GSX-R1000, Heavyweight Superstock, 144 laps