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| San Diego Race Recap – Simo Takes First Championship |
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Simo Wins First Championship
Brian Simo of Carlsbad, Calif., won his first BFGoodrich Tires Trans-Am
Series championship on his home track at the inaugural Grand Prix of San
Diego. His team, Huffaker/Qvale Motorsports, won its first series owner
championship. For Simo it was a well earned Championship as he has been the runner up for three straight seasons.
Simo started Sunday's race from the pole position in the No. 88 Tommy Bahama
Qvale Mangusta. He led the first 46 laps of the 60-lap race on the 1.65-mile
San Diego street circuit.
When championship points leader Paul Gentilozzi of Lansing, Mich., retired
from the race with an engine problem on lap 20, Simo had only to finish 12th
to clinch the series driver championship. But he watched his lead slip away
when his engine developed a misfire. He relinquished the lead on lap 47, but
held for third place in the race. He won the championship by 12 points over
Gentilozzi.
"This is probably one of the most unique championships ever won," Simo said
of his down-to-the-wire championship. "This was one that was such a long
shot, it's hard to believe. But we had such a great race car! The car was
absolutely awesome. You couldn't ask for a better race car.
"When I saw Paul go off, that was the gift. Then our engine started
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