Spring Mountain Motor Resort and Country Club waved the green flag on its first race of the 2024-2025 season last month on September 13th and 14th. Races one and two of the race season featured Radical Cup Challenge and Sports Car Series drivers competing on the 3.23-mile full-track configuration of the Charleson Peak circuit.
IndyCar veteran and Toyota Atlantic Champion Richie Hearn is back by popular demand for race director duties. A lead driving instructor at Spring Mountain, Hearn’s racer perspective is embraced by the series participants as they relish hearing him remind folks to “just drive better!”
After a day of practice on Thursday, members were ready to start the season with the first race on Friday and first up was the Radical Cup Challenge presented by Dakine and Vertra. Fifteen racers from three classes set the tone for the season.
The competition was elevated in the Gold Class, with familiar faces returning to the track. Miguel Grillo and Mel Johnson, who hadn’t raced in a while, made impressive comebacks in the middle of the pack. Joining them was last year’s Silver Class Champion, Sean Mason, moving up to the Gold Class for the first time.
But it was Mark Rohrwasser who came out on top, securing first place for the weekend. Doug Ramirez and Gregg Gorski had a spirited battle, ending in a tie for second place. According to the tie-break rule, Ramirez settled for third, as Gorski’s finishing position in the second race edged him out.
In the Silver Class, Rahul Patel made a strong return after having raced only one weekend last year, claiming P1. Hot on his heels was the returning Iron Man, Brian Reynolds, followed by newly graduated rookie, Chris Hinojosa.
A special shoutout goes to Hinojosa, whose lap times are quickly improving. His pace was approaching that of seasoned veteran Brian Reynolds, setting the stage for exciting competition ahead.
Two new drivers made their debuts in the rookie class this weekend, with Sohaib Kureshi finishing ahead of Jason Horwitz.
Thirteen drivers took part in the opening round of the Sports Car Series presented by Safe Life Defense.
In the GTU class, it was nothing but clean and fast racing. Mark Ramsey found himself on the top of the box, setting a new track record for the GTU class in the process. Right behind him Michael Reynolds and Brian Reynolds rounded out the podium, showcasing their consistent pace.
In the GT4 class, Teddy Landau took first place, while Roc Capobianco followed closely in second. Both drivers delivered exceptional performances, but Capobianco’s standout moment came as he raced even faster than his qualifying pace in both races!
In the packed GTL class, it was quite a family affair with three Wonnenbergs on the track. Karen Wonnenberg took the lead among them, finishing third in her new Miata. Ahead of her was Gabriel Giannatassio, also in a new Miata, who finished second. But it was Blake Olsen who stole the show, charging from the back of the pack in both races to claim first place—an impressive performance from the reigning class champion.
Championship Standings
| Radical Cup Challenge | ||
| Gold | PTS. | |
| 1 | Mark Rohrwasser | 55 |
| 2 | Doug Ramirez | 54 |
| 3 | Gregg Gorski | 54 |
| 4 | Mel Johnson | 38 |
| 5 | Brandon Rambo | 36 |
| 6 | Sean Mason | 35 |
| 7 | Nick Groat | 31 |
| 8 | Jon Hirshberg | 27 |
| 9 | Miguel Grillo | 19 |
| Silver | PTS. | |
| 1 | Rahul Patel | 74 |
| 2 | Brian Reynolds | 62 |
| 3 | Chris Hinojosa | 54 |
| Rookie | PTS. | |
| 1 | Sohaib Kureshi | 73 |
| 2 | Jason Horwitz | 63 |
| Sports Car Series | ||
| GTU | PTS. | |
| 1 | Mark Ramsey | 74 |
| 2 | Michael Reynolds | 62 |
| 3 | Brian Reynolds | 54 |
| GTL | PTS. | |
| 1 | Blake Olsen | 72 |
| 2 | Gabriel Giannatassio | 55 |
| 3 | Karen Wonnenberg | 42 |
| 4 | Chad Lancaster | 40 |
| 5 | John Saroyan | 38 |
| 6 | Michael Wonnenberg | 33 |
| 7 | Randy Wonnenberg | 32 |
| 8 | Mark Soroyan | 27 |
| 9 | Tony Grillo | 17 |
| GT4 | PTS. | |
| 1 | Teddy Landau | 74 |
| 2 | Roc Capobianco | 62 |