Thanksgiving is always a time of family final event of the NASA Arizona season is just more of the same.  10 944 spec cars took the green flag for the sprint race offering of the annual thanksgiving enduro weekend.

Back on his beloved RA-1s Darren Griffith took pole with a sub track record 1:12.630 in qualifying. Closely behind was Rich Geisler with Austin Newmark, Joe Paluch and Glenn Gormely rounding out the top 5.

The green flag fell and Rich and Darren started a fierce battle that pulled them well out front in the first couple laps.  Both drivers ran sub 1:13 race laps, but it was Darren Griffith who came out on top in his second straight win.  Rich Geisler finished 2nd and Austin Newmark finished 3rd.  Darren’s strong drive was supported by the largest cheering section of any 944 spec racer.  You see not only is Darren a racer, but a father of 4 happy children and the husband one very supportive wife.  Support like that can go a long way!

Despite a second place finish, Rich Geisler’s  hopes of achieving his first  944 spec regional championship were almost within reach by the end of Saturday.  His second place finish put him far enough in front of Joe Paluch and Austin Newmark leaving him only the need to start Sunday’s enduro.

Austin Newmark ran a strong race, but was never able to content with Griffith and Geisler.  Despite having the speed, a long early battle with Glenn Gormely for 3rd did not allowed him to match the early race pace of the lead pair.  Glenn Gormley in his first event back in months proved again why he is tough to beat running a very competitive 4th.   Paluch finished a somewhat distant 5th place hampered by old tires despite the best effort if the Paluch family cheering section which was outnumbered by team Griffith.

Sunday’s started with a threat of rain, but the skies held clear most of the day. The 3 hour enduro saw 8 944 spec cars take the green most with co-drivers.  Darren Griffith took the early class lead, but had plans of only running the first few minutes since he was not contenting for season poins.  He pulled in after 18 minutes enjoyable racing with a commanding class lead.  This left the race win up for grabs with the Geisler/Hamden pair , Ariano/Gormely team and Austin Newmark driving solo for second year in a row all leading the class at times.  

Foxx and Paluch teamed up for what also seemed like strong pairing, but were hampered by tire and front lock up problems.  The issues were so severe it caused Foxx to pit about 20 minutes in and change a left front tire and do so again more in an early fuel/driver change stop putting the car many laps down.  Paluch hoped in the car with just under 2 hours to end of the race still fighting lock up with no more tires in reserve.  Paluch was able to nurse the car to the finish with a no additional stops, but tortured left front had a flat spot down to the steel belts.  Rather than contending for a win the Foxx/Paluch pairing were relegated to just turning laps in hopes that the attrition of long race could improve the finishing position.

Up front the 3 way battle turned into a classic tortoise vs. hare match.  The Ariano/Gormley pair ran strong consistent laps that while not the fastest proved, most the most efficient.  The two fastest cars were the Geisler/Hamden car and the Austin Newmark #47.  However the race pace of the Geisler/Hamden car proved to be their undoing.  Despite two full course yellow periods the 17.4 gallon tank of Geisler’s 83 944 proved it Achilles heal requiring an second stop for a splash of fuel when it became clear the car would not make the finish with just 5 gallons added at the main fuel stop/driver change.  The larger 21 gallon fuel tank in Newmark’s 85.5 944 allowed the 15 year old run full bore the entire distance and add only 5 gallons at his one and only stop.  This not only netted him the class win, but an impressive 5th overall among many “faster” cars.  

The Ariano/Gormely paring came away with the slow and steady prize.  By running their 17.4 gallon fuel tank 924S with a little margin and some luck they were able to just make the finish on the lead lap with the Newmark 944.  However their running out of fuel on the cool down lap showed just how close they came.  Geisler/Hamden finished 3rd with Foxx/Paluch surviving the 3 hrs with a 4th in class.

Despite Geisler worst finish of 2009 he secured enough points to clearly claim the 2009 Az Region 944 spec  Championship.  His season was one strength and consistency with 10 of 11 races finishing first or second.   Austin Newmark made strong final push, but it was not enough to surpass Paluch who was able hold on to 2nd in the regional championship.

The 2010 championship season start in January 9th and 10th back at PIR.