By Dane Simpson
Premier Series
Freshly punched ticket for the Core Premier Series in hand Thaddeus Marshall #89 brought his dirt skills to Volusia Speedway, getting his first win in the series. Adam Jones #46 and Jimmy Covert #14 would spend most of the race locked in a fierce battle, eventually falling into 5th and 3rd respectively. Carl Handwerk #18 would lead 60 of the 80 laps, finishing second. Finishing in 6th and 7th, Dane Simpson #96 and Patrick Shelton #04 finished the race separated by only 0.125 of a second.
GT3 Road to Rio Challenge
Sprint Race
The last race of the season for the Core GT3 Series would bring the drivers to the winding infield of Autódromo José Carlos Pace for the Grand Prix of Brazil. The opening lap would see Mason smith #6 climb from his starting position of 4th up to 1st, to lead all 13 laps. Nick Nickerson #2 who qualified on the pole would also turn the fastest lap of the race with a 1:32.193, settling for a 4th place finish. Gaining the most positions during the race, Jon Crain would make his way to 11th after not completing a qualifying lap and starting 16th.
Endurance Race
Under the pitch black Brazilian sky and with the field inverted it was time for the final endurance race of the season. After a messy lap one that would see many drivers taking a spin on cold tires, the field would get sorted out for some great racing. The opening laps would showcase some great battles between Nick Nickerson #2, Chris Hamilton #64, nick Brown #92 and Mason Smith #64. The 38 lap race would see 4 different leaders at the line including Carl Handwerk #18 who would lead 32 laps, Matthew Georing #07, Jimmy Covert #14 and race winner Nickerson.
Developmental Series
The Core Developmental Series has what some would consider the most exciting points battle in Core, with multiple ways to score bonus points it is often not the fastest driver who walks away with more points, but the safest. Carter Russo #021 would score the first win of the season, but it was Mark Keeteman #52 who would lead the points after race one with bonus points. Brian Shepherd Jr #012 turned a 7th place finish into a 4th in points for having a clean race, sitting only 7 points back of the points leader. Next week the Series trades in the short track racing for road course at Tsukuba in the beloved MX-5.