Final Race Winners of 2023 and Champions Crowned in Formula Race Promotions Finale
It was a trip to Summit Point Motorsports Park for the final event on the 2023 Formula Race Promotions (FRP) calendar. With race wins and podium results on the line and champions to be crowned, the final event weekend of any season is always bittersweet. When the dust had finally settled and the results were official, a season-ending celebration saw champions awarded their hardware for a hard-fought season.
“We completed another season, our 18th,” explained Bob Wright. “It is a good feeling to know that we made it through another successful season and crowned another batch of FRP champions. The good news is, we plan to have a 19th season starting next March. While I am happy to see this season come to an end, I know I and some others wish it could go a bit longer.”
Wright continued, “Congratulations to all our 2023 race winners and champions. Also, a huge thank you to the teams, mechanics, drivers, families, and partners, especially our tire partner Hoosier Tire, for their continued support. We may organize the FRP program, but you all are the ones that make it happen. Thank you!”
Atlantic
Qualifying #1
1. Mathew Butson – 1:06.113 - (016 Class)
2. Richard Zober – 1:07.097 - (016 Class)
3. Bruce Hamilton – 1:07.461 – (Open Class)
4. Everett Stack – 1:11.111 – (Open Class)
F2000
Qualifying #1
1. Tim Minor – 1:10.232
2. JT Novosielski – 1:11.795
3. Gabriel Jasper – 1:12.452
4. Rick Silver – 1:12.816
5. Trevor Russell – 1:13.497
Race #1
In the combined Atlantic 016, Atlantic Open, and F2000 classes, Mathew Butson topped the results sheets in race one to earn the 016 Class victory ahead of Zober in second. The Atlantic Open Class was won by Bruce Hamilton as he managed to beat Everett Stack to climb to the top step of the podium. In the F2000 category, Tim Minor, a veteran driver and multi-time national champion, showed his expertise with his race win beating JT Novosielski by about 10 seconds and the rest of the F2000 field by a larger margin over the twenty-lap race. JT suffered a DQ in post-race inspection which left Gabriele Jasper in the second position as he beat Robert Wright in third. Theo Peppes crossed the stripe in the fifth position but was promoted to fourth while Andrew Gamble was sixth on the track and fifth in the record book.
Atlantic
Qualifying #2
1. Mattew Butson – 1:04.927 - (016 Class)
2. Richard Zober – 1:05.439 - (016 Class)
3. Bruce Hamilton – 1:08.308 – (Open Class)
4. Everett Stack – 1:09.938 – (Open Class)
F2000
Qualifying #2
1. Tim Minor – 1:10.175
2. JT Novosielski – 1:10.495
3. Gabriel Jasper – 1:11.250
4. Robert Wright – 1:12.140
5. Theo Peppes – 1:12.245
Race #2
Race two saw Butson, Hamilton, and Minor double up on their victories from the day before as each competitor was back on top in their respective class. Mathew Butson took the win in the Atlantic 016 class with Richard Zober in second. The Atlantic Open class saw Bruce Hamilton back in victory lane ahead of Everett Stack. Tim Minor once again dominated the F2000 ranks, but this time JT Novosielski, showing lap times on par with Minor was able to cross the line in the second position, just ahead of Gabriele Jasper in third. Consistent from race one to race two, Theo Peppes added his second fourth-place result in two days as Robert Wright rounded out the top five in the final wheel-to-wheel action of the season.
Fun Podium banter between 15-year-old JT Novosielski and the slightly older Tim Minor, who exclaimed “I’ve got racing shoes older than you!”, highlights the extraordinary breadth of the FRP program, and the comradery that exists among its participants.
The Atlantic Open Champion is: Austin Hill
The Atlantic 016 Champion is: Jimmy Simpson
The F2000 Champion is: JT Novosielski
F1600
Qualifying
1. Porter Aiken – 1:15.665
2. Theodore Burns – 1:15.841
3. Ayrton Houk - - 1:15.88
4. Sebastian Mateo Naranjo – 1:15.900
5. Trevor Russell – 1:15.941
F1600 Masters
Qualifying
1. Scott Rubenzer – 1:16.602
2. Mike Scanlan – 1:17.150
3. Dave Petzko – 1:17.469
4. Bob Reid – 1:17.484
5. Phil Kingham – 1:17.495
Race #1
Race one for the F1600 competitors rolled off the grid on Saturday afternoon, and in the full course yellow shortened ten-lap race, the second-place qualifier of Theodore Burns made his way to the top of the results sheet. Piloting the #8 entry, Burns scored the third fastest lap of the race which lined him up on the inside of row two for race two. Race one pole position winner Porter Aiken crossed the stripe second but won the pole position again for race two courtesy of his fastest race lap. Team Pelfrey’s Sebastian Mateo Naranjo stood on the podium in the third position ahead of Houk in fourth as the top 4 all continually swapped positions during the final 5 laps of the race. Trevor Russell crossed the line fifth with the second fastest race lap and accompanying front row starting spot for race two. In the F1600 Master class, Scott Rubenzer took the top spot and added another win to his historic resume of results as he dominated the class. Left to fight for second behind him, Steve Oseth beat Bob Reid to the line for the second step of the podium while Dave Petzko and John Dole rounded out the top five.
Race #2
A fixture at the front of the F1600 field in 2023, Porter Aiken managed to win again in the second race of the weekend. Scoring the fastest race lap over the fourteen-lap affair, Aiken beat Scott Rubenzer as the F1600 Masters driver was on a tear and claimed the second step on the podium, the Masters win and his 2nd place Masters Season Championship in the process. Timothy Steele crossed the line in the third position ahead of Charles Anti who made his first appearance in the top five this weekend in the fourth position while Cooper Shipman advanced forward to finish fifth. With Rubenzer taking the Master win, Mike Scanlan and Dave Petzko joined him on the podium in second and third while John Dole and Bob Reid rounded out the top five on the results sheet. On lap ten, Pelfrey Team member #80 Sebastian Mateo Naranjo fell victim to a three-way squeeze entering turn one. Despite some masterful driving to avoid a potentially serious multi-car wreck, he was knocked back from third to 20th, derailing his race and his chance for the 3rd Overall Championship spot in his season long battle. He has vowed to return next season for another shot at the F1600 title.
Race #3
Having clinched the 2023 championship in race two, Porter Aiken elected not to compete in race three ceding the pole to Houk. Ayrton returned to the top step of the podium as he completed the final race of the season victorious. Scoring his fastest lap on lap three, Houk opened a gap of 1.346 over the fifteen-lap race to add to his 2023-win total. Theodore Burns stood on the podium in the second position closing his strongest weekend of the season, while Sebastian Mateo Naranjo joined Houk and Burns on the podium in third. Scott Rubenzer continued to prove that he can fight with the young guns in the series as he had another solid drive to finish fourth overall and the F1600 Masters win, while newcomer Ethan Tovo made his first appearance in the top five this weekend in the final session finishing in the fifth position. With Rubenzer taking the win in the Masters class, Bob Reid and Mike Scanlan would once again join him on the podium in second and third while David Petzko and John Dole finished fourth and fifth respectively. Highlighting the close and competitive nature of FRP’s F1600 class, within R3’s top 5 competitors is an astonishing 60 year age span.
The F1600 Champion is: Porter Aiken
The F1600M Champion is: Joe Colasacco
Challenge Cup
Qualifying
1. Trevor Carmody – 1:27.644
2. Jeff Filipowski – 1:28.127
3. Matt Clark – 1:28.256
4. Samuel Ryan – 1:28.452
5. Smith Jackson Ragsdale – 1:28.557
Race #1
Continuing on from his pole position on Saturday morning, Trevor Carmody was the man to beat in the first Challenge Cup wheel-to-wheel race of the weekend. Despite not being the fastest driver on track Carmody was able to hold his own at the front of the field to score another victory in 2023 with Matt Clark in second, improving from his P3 effort in qualifying. Samuel Ryan also leveled up one position when the wheel-to-wheel racing began moving from fourth to third over the fourteen-lap race while Raymond Carmody and front row starter Jeff Filipowski finished fourth and fifth respectively.
Race #2
Sweeping the weekends' festivities was the Carmody last name, but not Trevor. Raymond Carmody rose to the occasion in the fourteen-lap race two to put his 1992 Mygale on top and score the victory. Samuel Ryan scored the fastest lap of the race and crossed the stripe in the second position earning his second podium result of the finale weekend while Matt Clark followed suit climbing to the podium for the second time in two days, this time in the third position. Smith Jackson Ragsdale was just off the podium in P4 but held Emily Ryan behind him who eventually finished fifth.
With the 2023 Formula Race Promotions season now complete, series officials are hard at work confirming the schedule for the 2024 campaign, expected to be released in the coming weeks. With the goal to continue the growth of the program and provide an affordable place for teams and competitors in a family-friendly environment that offers a ton of green flag racing, we encourage you to send us your thoughts on the past season and what we can do to improve in the future. Please email ideas to Media@RaceFRP.com.
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For questions, comments or concerns, please feel free to reach out to Bob Wright RobertW@RaceFRP.com or Clay Hutchison ClayH@RaceFRP.com. For media inquiries, please contact us via email at Media@RaceFRP.com