Rush Motorsport scores Spec Miata double victory
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After a 3 month summer hiatus, 20+ spec miata drivers dusted off their rides and returned to our Buttonwillow home track for the Labor Day Double Regional. Under sizzling California sunshine, many of the regular participants and some new faces took to the track to test their skills against each other in the 2.74 miles configuration #14a (which uses the Sweeper turn instead of Star Mazda).
 

Saturday's qualifying saw the familiar name of Don Thibaut capturing Pole in his Rush Motorsport ride, followed closely behind by Turn7 Motorport Tim Weaver. Pro7 tranplant Sean Neilsen qualified 3rd to fill the 2nd row alongside Clement Lee in the other Rush Motorsport car. Following right behind with just tenths seperating each other were William Christian II, Grant Westmorland, Austin Christian, Chuck Matthews and Jonathan Christian in an all pink SM, presumably getting the car ready for his sister to debut later on.

With SM being the last run group, the race started late in the day as the sun was getting lower on the horizon. The SMs were tightly packed as they came around the front straight for the green flag. Tim Weaver had a good start to take the lead into Sunrise, the first left hander. But Clement Lee had an equally good start, who on the outside now had the line going into the Buttonhook, right hander. The group gave chase as they safely made their way through the first few corners. Clement Lee led the 5 car breakaway group with Tim Weaver, Don Thibaut, Sean Neilson and Austin Christian in tow. The battle was furious as Thibaut took over second spot from Weaver while Austin Christian swapped spots with Neilson. Weaver appeared to have handling problem as both Chrisitan and Neilson slip past him at the sweeper.

Lee was by no mean running away from the group but as least he had clear track in front of him. Meanwhile, just behind, Christian and Neilson continued to swapped spots back and forth allowing Weaver to get back into the mix. Lee leading Thibaut and Christian got a small break and opened up a gap as Weaver battled Neilson for fourth. Christian looked for every way around Thibaut but found none.

Clement Lee ended up leading flag to flag to finish 1st a couple car lengths ahead of his Rush Motorsport teammate Don Thibaut who came in 2nd while Austin Christian finsihed right behind in 3rd. Tim Weaver finished a distant 4th while Sean Neilson finishing further back rounded out the top 5.

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If qualifying results were any indication of how the afternoon race was going to be, Sunday qualifying result promised another exciting race as Tim Weaver snatched pole position with Sean Neilson and Don Thibaut just tenths behind. Clement Lee once again completed the 2nd row followed by Austin Christian, Chuck Matthews, Grant Westmorland and Austin's two older brothers, Jonathan and William.

Although SM was the last run group, the race started more or less on schedule as all Sundays' races were shortened by 5 minutes to 25 minutes. Tim Weaver once again had a great start and shot into the lead. Clement Lee followed suit with Sean Neilson and Don Thibaut side by side right behind. Neilson's SM lasted one corner before his ride gave up. The 2 Rush Motorsport cars were now in hot pursuit with Christian and Matthews trailing just behind nose to tail.

In lap 4, Lee made a pass on Weaver on Sunset coming onto the pit straight while his teammate Thibaut passed Weaver on Sunrise. The battle became more intense as Lee went wide going into Sunrise on the next lap. Thibaut, Weaver and Christian slipped through as Lee recovered quickly and rejoined in 4th just in front of Matthews. Before the lap was over Lee had closed the gap to the front trio. Austin Christian dove inside and tried to make a pass on Weaver going into Sunset but went wide on the exit. Instead of gaining a position, Christian lost one as Lee took the opportunity to slip past. They were definitely running as hard as they could as both Weaver and Lee went wide exiting Sunset the next time around. Tim Weaver recovered quickly, while Austin Christian managed to slip past Clement Lee. While the three were furiously battling each other nose to tail, Don Thibaut had a clear track ahead of him and opened up a small gap.

Clement lost ground as he slid momentarily in the Sweeper and kicked up a rooster tail of dust. Next time around, it was Austin's turn to run wide at the Sweeper. This gave Weaver a little bit of a breathing room. However Lee continued the hot pursuit and began to close the gap on Weaver. With 1 lap to go, Lee was just a couple car lengths behind Weaver. Closing the gap was one thing but make a pass was another problem as they rounded the Sweeper almost nose to tail. Lee took a long look on the inside coming towards Sunset but did not have enough speed.

Don Thibaut took 1st, with Tim Weaver crossing the line in 2nd several seconds behind while Clement Lee claimed 3rd, just tenths behind. John Stodt and Chuck Matthews rounding out the podium spots, finished in a distant 4th and 5th respectively.

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Congratulations to the Rush Motorsport team for their double victory. It was another exciting weekend of SM racing after a long summer break. See you all at the next race at Willowsprings at the end of the month.

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