Vesrah Racing’s Mark Junge, Chris Ulrich and Larry Denning (recruited to replace injured Glenn Szarek) led 5 hours, 23 minutes and 5 seconds of the WERA National Endurance Series 6-hour at Portland International Raceway and were more than three laps ahead when the engine of the team’s GSX-R1000 let go. Vesrah was credited with ninth overall in the race, which was entered by 15 teams, and still leads the series point standings by 5 points.
The mechanical failure gave the lead and the overall win to Pennzoil’s Chris “Opie” Caylor, Scott Harwell, Billy Ethridge, Jamie Lane and Steve Grigg on a Suzuki GSX-R750.
Cox Racing Group was second overall, second in Heavyweight Superbike on a Yamaha YZF-R1, 10 laps behind Pennzoil, with riders Andrew Cox, Bill Cismar and Todd Frey.
Army of Darkness was third overall, first in Mediumweight Superbike with riders Sam Fleming and Jim Williams on a Suzuki GSX-R600.
Team Chaos was fourth overall, first in Mediumweight Supersport on a Suzuki GSX-R600, with riders Mark Crozier, Matt Kramer and Billy Justice; Justice replaced Tripp Nobles, who flew home to Macon, Georgia upon receiving word of his father’s death.
Motorcycleusa.com finished first in the Heavyweight Superstock class on a Suzuki GSX-R750, at fifth overall.
SB Motorsports topped the Lightweight Superbike class with a Suzuki SV650, at 10th overall.
Results
1. Pennzoil Racing, Suzuki GSX-R750, HWSB, 294 laps, 98.277 mph
2. Cox Racing Group, Yamaha YZF-R1, HWSB, 284 laps, 94.801 mph
3. Army Of Darkness, Suzuki GSX-R600, MWSB, 283 laps
4. Team Chaos, Suzuki GSX-R600, MWSS, 281 laps
5. Motorcycleusa.com, Suzuki GSX-R750, MWSS, 280 laps
6. J&J Motorsports, Suzuki GSX-R750, HWSS, 278 laps
7. SB Motorsports 3, Yamaha YZF-R1, HWSS, 276 laps
8. Team Chicago, Yamaha YZF-R6, MWSS, 272 laps
9. Vesrah Racing, Suzuki GSX-R1000, HWSB, 269 laps
10. SB Motorsports, Suzuki SV650, LWSB, 268 laps
11. Neighbor Of The Beast, Suzuki GSX-R600, MWSS, 268 laps
12. SB Motorsports 2, 266 laps
13. Speedwerks-Cyberlogtech, 260 laps
14. Poweersports, 298 laps
15. Damage, Inc., 228 laps
16. Lee Auto Body, 88 laps
Point Standings
1. Vesrah Racing, 495.095
2. Pennzoil Racing, 490.975
3. Army Of Darkness, 456.320
4. Team Chaos, 388.385
5. J&J Motorsports, 362.895
6. Neighbor Of The Beast, 356.335
7. Loudoun Motorsports, 333.600
8. Team Chicago, 312.370
9. Team Clinton Cycles, 297.205
10. Racersupply.com, 293.32
When worst finishes are dropped, Pennzoil leads Vesrah by 30 points after five of 10 rounds. The WERA National Endurance Series allows teams to drop their worst finishes, and count their best nine of 10 finishes.
But the series may end up totalling nine races since a round was originally scheduled for the still-uncompleted Rausch Creek circuit.