Round 7-8 of SWFM Series
by Sandy Magrath
  

The 2003 Southwest Formula Mazda Series ran Rounds 7 & 8 at Texas World Speedway on June 21-22 at the SCCA Armadillo Sprints.  On Saturday’s SCCA Regional, Darryl Wills qualified on the pole with Bill Daniel and Ben McCrackin in 2nd and 3rd.  Darryl Wills held on to first place for the entire race.  Bill Daniel retained 2nd for the entire race as well.  The big battle was for 3rd amongst Ben McCrackin, Frank Tomlinson, and Dave Defnet.  Tomlinson passed McCrackin on Lap 7 for the 3rd place position.  On Lap 8, Tomlinson and McCracken “got together” and McCrackin was finished for the day.  Tomlinson’s car was slightly damaged and he finished the race 2 laps short.  Dave Defnet finished the race in third. Congrats to Dave for his first podium finish!  Michael Bradshaw, who started in 7th, finished 4th  in his first FM race. 

Sundays National qualifying was a repeat of Saturday with Wills on the pole and Daniel and McCrackin in 2nd and 3rd.  At the completion of Lap 1 of the race, Bill Daniel had made his way around Darryl Wills.  He held the lead until Lap 9 when Wills recaptured the lead.  Wills, Daniel, and McCrackin had a tight race going until Lap 17 when McCrackin spun and created a gap.  Wills won the race with Daniel finishing in 2nd.  Ben McCrackin finished 3rd but was DQ’d by SCCA for not meeting minimum weight requirements.



Round 7 (Texas World Speedway SCCA Regional 5/24/03 )

Qualifiying Race
1. Darryl Wills (1:08:13) 1. Darryl Wills (1:08:23)
2. William Daniel  (1:08:54) 2. William Daniel (1:08:98)
3. Ben McCrackin  (1:08:79) 3. Dave Defnet (1:09:33)
4. Dave Defnet  (1:08:93) 4. Michael Bradshaw (1:09:75)

5. Walter Gragert  (1:09:36)

5. Walter Gragert (1:10:19)

6. Frank Tomlinson (1:09:59)

6. Ross Smith (1:11:12)
7. Michael Bradshaw  (1:10:06) 7. Keith Verges (1:10:85)
8. Keith Verges  (1:10:25) 8. R. David Jones (1:11:48)
9. R. David Jones  (1:10:45) 9. Greg Byrne (1:12:57)
10.Greg Byrne (1:11:55) 10. Greg Labadie (1:11:70)
11 Ross Smith (1:11:76)

11.Frank Tomlinson (1:09:49)             

12. Greg Labadie  (no time) 12. Ben McCrackin (1:09:34)

  

Round 8 ( Texas World Speedway SCCA National 5/25/03 )

Qualifiying Race
1.  Darryl Wills (1:07:96) 1.  Darryl Wills (1:08:55)
2.  William Daniel  (1:08:17) 2.  William Daniel  (1:08:37)
3.  Ben McCrackin  (1:08:41) 3.  Tim Magrath  (1:09:54)
4.  Tim Magrath  (1:08:68) 4.  Dave Defnet  (1:09:33)
5.  Dave Defnet  (1:08:89) 5.  Keith Verges  (1:10:15)
6.  R. David Jones  (1:09:34) 6.  R. David Jones  (1:09:70)
7.  Walter Gragert  (1:09:37) 7.  Walter Gragert  (1:09:94)
8.  Keith Verges  (1:09:37) 8.  Michael Bradshaw  (1:10:44)
9.  Greg Labadie  (1:10:23) 9.  Greg Labadie  (1:11:06)
10. Michael Bradshaw  (1:10:55) 10. Frank Tomlinson  (1:11:01)
11. Frank Tomlinson  (1:10:62) 11. Ben McCrackin  (1:08:53)

 

2003 Southwest Formula Mazda Series Point Standings
(Revised 6/27/03)

1. Darryl Wills 170 10. Greg Labadie ® (m) 92
2. William Daniel ® 145 11.Nur B. Ali 91
3. Keith Verges ® 127 12. Ross Smith   ® 58
4. Ben McCrackin ® (m) 124 13. Michael Tari ® 55
5. Frank Tomlinson   110 14. Tim Magrath 51
6. Greg Byrne  (m) 108 15. Michael Bradshaw ® 36
6. Walter Gragert ® 108 16. Doug Saylors 31
8. R. David Jones (m) 106 17. Charlie Brown ® (m) 18
9. Dave Defnet ® 103    

Note:  Drivers are scored on their best 11 out of 13 races.  Drivers that attend all races will drop 2 of their worse finishes.  Points shown above reflect the dropped finishes.
® = Rookie         (m) = Master