Championships up for grabs as Spring Mountain Race Series hits midpoint

The Spring Mountain Race Series concluded the first half of the season with its first race of 2025 on the 2.76-mile Charleston Peak North Course. Drivers faced chilly conditions during practice, creating challenging circumstances on the tight layout. With limited overtaking opportunities, the races challenged the drivers’ precision and strategic abilities over the weekend.

Despite slippery and windy conditions, 17 Sports Car Series racers showcased incredible skill, finishing the weekend without a single incident. Brian Reynolds secured third place in the GTU class with steady and consistent lap times, maintaining his P2 standing in the championship. Kha Phan’s racing has improved steadily throughout the season and was showcased over the weekend as he gained on the leader, earning a second-place finish. Mark Ramsey delivered a phenomenal performance, claiming first place despite having to rebuild the car’s engine overnight.

“This has been an interesting weekend, thanks to Simon and the Sigier Motorsports team. The wind was a bit interesting, but it was good fun,” said Ramsey.

An honorable mention goes to the new member Jeff Fraser, who finished fourth in GTU and shows promise as a contender for future podium finishes.

The GT4 class saw thrilling battles throughout. Mike Dean claimed third place and set a new class track record with a two-second improvement. Brian Schmidt earned second place, driving the only Porsche in the field, but Tom McMillan topped the podium and celebrated his first win of the season with a standout performance.

In the GTL class, Karen Wonnenberg drove with precision and consistency to secure second place, fending off Chad Lancaster.

“It was getting a little slippery, and I saw Chad coming, and I thought, ‘Oh man, I just have to finish,'” said Wonnenberg. “He passed me going into 10, and then I passed him back — it was a lot of fun!”

Michele Abbate had a strong season debut in race one, setting her up for a podium finish. Unfortunately, a mechanical issue in race two pushed her to the back of the pack, limiting her overall placement. Meanwhile, Blake Olsen clinched first place overall, showcasing his impressive skill by advancing from the back of the grid in race two.

The Radical Cup Challenge races featured numerous battles across all classes. In the Gold class, the competition for the top podium position culminated in a tie between Mark Rohrwasser and Brandon Rambo. Both drivers finished the weekend with equal points; however, due to the tie-breaking rule, Rambo secured first place. Rohrwasser finished second, demonstrating consistent improvement and getting closer to surpassing Rambo for the top position. Doug Ramirez completed the podium in third this weekend but remains in second place in the overall championship standings, feeling the pressure from Rohrwasser’s pursuit.

In the Silver class, Jim Mason once again delivered a remarkable performance, demonstrating his outstanding skill and racecraft by setting a new track record for his class. The first race began with Jim in a fierce competition against his son, Sean Mason, but he swiftly maneuvered past the pack, establishing a steady two-second lead over the competition to secure first place. Chris Souliotis made a strong return to the grid, finishing in second by successfully defending against Brian Reynolds, known as the series Iron Man, who ended up in third. Although Reynolds is still leading the overall points, Mason is gradually narrowing the gap, keeping the championship race competitive.

In the Rookie class, Jason Horwitz dominated, finding his rhythm and clinching first place, which gave him a solid lead in the championship standings. Meanwhile, Bruce Semler took second place, demonstrating consistent improvement in his speed and control as he grows more confident in the radical.

With the first half of the Spring Mountain race series officially completed, the stage is set for an exciting second half that is sure to see drivers charging hard for those championship points.