Kamikawa's Brawls 2019

Kamikawa's Two Big Brawls!

Former Champ Sweeps GTP Badger Races

Former GTP champion Ev Kamikawa took two GTP wins driving with a flair not seen in the driver over the past several seasons.
"I love this track and tonight was my night," said Kamikawa. "No other reason for it other than every blind nut finds a squirrel once in a while. Tonight I was that nut!"

Badger Raceway returned to the ISF schedule after a two year layoff to resume the "Brawl at Badger" event for the ISF's 20th season. The track known for its long straights and the infamous Jim Clark hairpin turn handed a big challenge to the drivers, two of whom were making their track debuts.
The event hosted two GTP events rather than the traditional GTP and F1 events as in  the past. The first GTP event was run to traditional rules with Mike Lack setting the pace with a record pole position time, locking his position in the final race.
Kamikawa won the first heat, Dean Strom the second, and Mike Kristof the third heat race (he later got knocked out of the semi with some early deslots. All the winners went on to face Lack in the final. The final was quickly a three car race as Fitzlaff crashed out early. That got narrowed to two as Lack couldn't find pace and was passed by Strom and Kamikawa. "It felt good to pass Lack again and again and again!" exclaimed Strom.
Better handling in the second half forged Kamikawa ahead to take the win.

For the second GTP race an experimental grid system was used for the first time. Cars were slotted into heat races based on where they finished overall in the first race. The intention was for drivers at the slower end of the grid to race first and make sure one slower driver would go to the final, if it was a rookie in the hopes of them gaining more experience, and giving the cars and drivers who just raced a chance to cool down.
Pete Dorn was able to take advantage of the rule to win the first heat. Fitzlaff the second and Strom the third. Kamikawa made the final by being the fastest of the drivers who finished second in all the heats.
In the final it was not much of a contest as Kamikawa took off. Strom was able to keep it close. Fitzlaff redeemed his first race by scoring a podium and Pete Dorn was able to give his new GTP a good showing.

The next race is at the Lack Track and makes the field race GT cars for the first time in five years in addition to GTP.

GTP Category -- 10 Minute Final race #1
Pos. Driver Car

1. Everet Kamikawa-Marlboro Shell Ferrari
2. Dean Strom-Great Big Pictures Merceedes
3. Mike Lack-Copenhagen Toyota
4. Mike Fitzlaff-Opus Racing Nissan
5. Mike Kristoff-Miller High Life Porsche  
6. Scott Mente-Silkcut Jaguar  
7. Steve Rist-Skoal Bandit Toyota 
8. Bill Black-Sunoco Toyota
9. Pete Dorn-Jagermeister Toyota GTP
10. Andrew Black-Mercedes GTP

Pole position: Mike Lack 3.950
Heat Winners: Kamikawa, Strom, Kristof
Semi Final:Kamikawa

GTP Category -- 10 Minute Final Race #2
Pos. Driver Car

1. Everet Kamikawa-Marlboro Shell Ferrari
2. Dean Strom-Great Big Pictures Merceedes
3. Mike Fitzlaff-Opus Racing Nissan
4. Pete Dorn-Jagermeister Toyota GTP 
5. Scott Mente-Silkcut Jaguar  
6. Mike Lack-Tamiya Jaguar   
7. Mike Kristoff-Miller High Life Porsche   
8. Andrew Black-Mercedes GTP
9. Steve Rist-Skoal Bandit Toyota 
10. Bill Black-Sunoco Toyota

Pole position: no pole cars grided by finish of race 1
Heat Winners: Strom, Fitzlaff, Dorn
Semi Final: no semi. final gridded by heat winners and highest 2nd place in heats