Darryl Wills Repeats as Champion
By Sandy MagrathThe 7th year of the Southwest Formula Mazda Series concluded at No Problem Raceway on Saturday, Nov. 13th. On Friday, November 12, Formula Mazda drivers started arriving at the track and found a racer’s dream. There was a Ferrari event being held and Ferrari’s were everywhere. The best Ferrari of all was a 1997 Michael Shumacher Formula 1 car. The Formula 1 car took the track on Friday afternoon and set the No Problem track record at 1:10:154. The next day, the SWFM Series Drivers beat the F1 record. The No Problem track record is now held by David Stover in a Standard Formula Mazda at 1:09:20. Others who beat the F1 lap time over the weekend were Darryl Wills at 1:09:43, Russell Walker at a 1:09:62, and Ross Smith with a 1:09:92. Stover took the pole in Qualifying with Wills and Walker in 2nd and 3rd. Ross Smith, back from running the Star Mazda Pro Series, qualified 4th. At the start of the 40 minute race, Darryl Wills was out in front with Stover in 2nd and Ross Smith in 3rd. Walker, who qualified 3rd, found himself in 5th behind Ben McCrackin. By the end of Lap 3, Stover had taken back the lead. Walker made his way around McCrackin on Lap 5 and set his sights on Smith. Smith and Walker battled it out for many laps. Walker finally overtook Smith in Lap 17. David Stover captured his 8th “win” in the 2004 Series. Wills finished 2nd, but won the Championship. The Awards Presentation was held in the No Problem Sports Bar following Saturday’s event. Ben McCrackin was crowned the Masters Champion. Russell Walker was awarded Rookie of the Year and received a full set of BBS wheels. Darryl Wills was crowned the Champion for the 2nd year in a row. David Stover finished 2nd in the Series and was also selected to represent the Southwest Formula Mazda Series in the 2004 Star Mazda Talent Search Shootout. Stover will be testing the Pro Formula Mazda along with representatives from 6 other regional Formula Mazda series. The winner of the “Shootout”, will receive one race weekend in the Pro car during the 2005 Star Mazda Series North American Championship. Additional awards were presented as follows:
1. Darryl Wills - $6,000. Cash, $750 Taylor Race Eng Certificate, 8 Sessions at Motorsport Ranch, 1 Case Royal Purple, Ringer Driver Gloves, 2 Pair Ringer Mechanic Gloves, SWFM Series Jacket
2. David Stover - $4,500. Cash, Test In Pro Formula Mazda, SWFM Series Jacket
3. Ben McCrackin - $3,400. Cash, $750. Racetech Certificate, 1 Case Royal Purple, SWFM Series Jacket
4. William Daniel - $2,500. Cash, $750. Panoz Racing School Certificate, 8 Sessions at Motorsport Ranch, SWFM Series Jacket
5. Walter Gragert - $2,000. Cash, $500 Taylor Race Eng. Certificate, 8 Sessions at Motorsport Ranch, SWFM Series Jacket
6. Russell Walker - $1,700. Cash, $500 Racetech Certificate, 1 Case Royal Purple, SWFM Series Jacket
7. Greg Labadie - $1,500. Cash, $500 Panoz Racing School Certificate, 1 Case Royal Purple, SWFM Series Jacket
8. Michael Tari - $1,300. Cash, $250 Ractech Certificate, 1 Case Royal Purple, SWFM Series Jacket
9. Frank Tomlinson - $1,100. Cash, $250. Panoz Racing School Certificate, SWFM Series Jacket
10. Steve Davison - $1,000. Cash, 1 Case Royal Purple, SWFM Series JacketRookie of the Year – Russell Walker – Full Set BBS Wheels ($2236. Value)
Masters Champion – Ben McCrackin - $250 Taylor Race Eng CertificateAwarded throughout the Season:
Goodyear Tires ($4,160. Value)
Ringer Gloves ($390. Value)
Panoz School Graduates $950. Cash
11/13/2004
Round 13 (No Problem)
Qualifying
Race
Driver Race Time