This past weekend’s USCA event brought some of Florida’s best street cars to historic Sebring International Raceway for the opportunity to compete against the clock as they competed to earn one of the remaining spots in OPTIMA’s Ultimate Street Car Invitational. Event participants pushed themselves and their vehicles to the limit in a number of driving challenges throughout the two day event that showcased their vehicles’ ride, handling, braking, and agility. Despite uncooperative weather, the USCA and its participants soldiered on in the true spirit of motorsport and at the end of the weekend added three more names to the growing list of invitees to this November’s OUSCI.
Though dark and ominous clouds lingered on the horizon, the rain stayed off of Sebring’s asphalt long enough on Saturday for participants to complete the Ridetech Autocross and the always exciting Willwood Disc Brakes Speed Stop. The competition was fierce and drivers left it all on the track for their opportunity to move up in the season points ladder. Following the Autocross, participants hopped in their rides for the Detroit Speed & Engineering Road Rally and completed the evening with the relaxing Holley Welcome Party. Sunday morning’s BF Goodrich Hot Lap Challenge got hit hard by the rain which brought the field to a halt while drivers waited for the course to dry. Thanks to Sebring’s amazing staff, drivers were back on the track before they knew it recording some amazing times on Sebring’s road course.
At the end of the day on Sunday, three drivers had shown the skill and spirit needed to earn the ticket to the big show and were awarded with invitations to OPTIMA’s Ultimate Street Car Invitational. Congratulations go out to Todd Rumpke, winner of the GT3K class in his 2006 Corvette, GT2K winner Douglas Wind in his SRT4 Neon, and of course K&N’s Sprit of the Event winner Matt Alcala in his GT500 Mustang.
Even though there is only one event left in our 2014 season, the series points championship is still anyone’s game thanks to the final event’s “Double Points” status. This event has the potential to seriously upset the leaderboard as anyone that has participated in at least one event this year can potentially earn enough points to propel themselves into the Top 20 drivers that haven’t already earned an invitation. So make sure to join us at Pittsburgh International Race Complex October 4-5 for the final event of the 2014 season and remember that it’s not over until it is over with the USCA, so go big or go home.
If you missed any of the action from USCA Gateway until now, you can relive all of the excitement from your living room by tuning into OPTIMA’s Search for The Ultimate Street Car on MAV TV Friday evenings at 8:00 pm ET.
