Mike Kramer, of Franklin, Tennessee, piloted his Panasonic/Kumho/SPS/Carbotech Saturn SC2 to a flag-to-flag win in the Showroom Stock SSC class race at the Valvoline Runoffs at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. John Fernandez, of Rochester, MI and Tom Long, of Raleigh, NC rounded-out the top three.

Kramer, who started on the pole, took the lead into the first turn and never looked back winning by 3.387-seconds at an average speed of 67.262 mph for the 2.258-mile, 11-turn road course. "It was a great week," Kramer said. "We got the car straightened away on Sunday, so we just had to fine tune it during the week. I got a good tow in qualifying, and was able to take the pole. That set me up right for the race. Tires were a question today, but we chose right when we went to the shaved dry tires. I did not want to go off line during the race as the line was drying but off line it was slick. But, the track came back to us and it was just a great week."

Fernandez, driver of the No. 33 Hoosier Tire/Sky Tek Dodge Neon, started second on the grid, but fell to third early in the race before battling back to finish second. "My car was a little better in the wet," Fernandez said. "Tom Long was able to get around me and as we battled Mike Kramer got away. The track was drying and it was very tricky driving."

Long, piloting the No. 76 G3 systems/Kumho Carbotech Honda Civic, moved into second on lap four and tried to hold off a charging Fernandez for much of the race. But, on lap 12 Fernandez passed Long, who ultimately finished third. "The tires were working well, but when the track dried out Fernandez got around me," Long said. "I then tried to keep my tires cool, to find some water on the track and to hold onto third."

Joel Lipperini, of Pittston, PA, driving the No. 1 Hankook Tire/Carbotech Speedworkz Honda Civic, finished fourth, followed by Tom Start, of Caledonia, MI, driving the No. 06 Hoosier Tire Dodge Neon, who competed the top five.

Want more information?

Source: SCCA