Entering the last round at Thunderhill Raceway in Willows, CA, Jason Nelson (#333) held a points advantage over Ryan Shu (#2) setting up a scenario where Shu needed to win and Nelson needed to place 6th or lower for Shu to capture the title.
Nelson was riding strong through Saturday and had pace to finish on the podium, maintaining the points lead and capturing the coveted Formula Pacific title and the race club’s number 1 plate.
However, as we know, race Gods love to run what if scenarios to test the mettle of those chasing championships and this Sunday would be no diVerent. Nelson had entered a race which ran in the morning to get some laps and ensure the bike was ready for Formula Pacific. He got a decent and as the group made their way around turn 3, Shu was in 2nd and Nelson was in 3rd. At the top of turn 5, there was some jostling and Nelson fearing he would hit Shu put a little more pressure on the front brake lever and lost the front end and tumbled oV track. Although the speeds were relatively low, the damage to the bike was beyond repair for the upcoming Formula Pacific round.
Luckily, Nelson had been talking with his team and what spares should be on board the van and one of the spares was an older 1000cc bike. Immediately rims were removed, tires mounted and placed on warmers while going through the bike and finishing oV safety wire. Fortune would have it that Nelson was entered in another race prior to FP and allowed him to shake the bike down and ensure it was ready for racing. The pace was a bit oV from the A bike and strategies were discussed in how to manage the 14 lap race.
Formula Pacific gridded up Mat Cunha (12x) on pole, Jason Nelson (333), Ryan Shu (2), and Eugene McMahel (DNS) finishing out the front row. On the 2nd row and potential spoilers to Nelson’s championship round were Stephen Rue (14) and Greg Olson (11). As the light went dark the order coming out of T1 was Cunha, Shu, Nelson, Olsen, and Rue. As they finished the first lap, Cunha and Shu started stretching the gaps to the group of Nelson, Olson and Rue. Exiting T2 Olson made a strong outside pass and maintained that lead going into T3. That pass moved Nelson out and carrying a wide line through T3 allowed Rue to pull up on Nelson’s back wheel.
Olson would stretch the gap and solidify his role as spoiler with Rue now applying pressure on Nelson. Several laps later, Rue went deep on the brakes into T1 and passed Nelson andadded his name to the spoiler list. Olson had stretched the gap to about 1 second when Olson started falling back towards the chasing pair and several laps later, Rue would make the pass Olson and Nelson would follow which seemed to ignite a second wind in Olson and he and Nelson would pass and repass for the next lap allowing Rue to stretch out a 1+ second gap. Nelson made a pass and was leading entering T14 when Olson release the brakes and made a run for an outside pass. Nelson would maintain the lead onto the front straight and surprising everyone, put his head down and went after Rue who was in 3rd place with 2 laps to go.
On the last lap, Nelson would pull up on Rue several times with Rue answering every challenge. Exiting the last turn, Nelson got a strong drive and with the draft, went by Rue and led across the line for last podium spot. 3rd place was taken by .0016 at the line and the Championship and number 1 plate secured with room to spare.
Congratulations to Mat Cunha and Ryan Shu who did everything he had to in an attempt for the title.
Jason Nelson would like to thank CT Racing/Pirelli tires, Daredevil Motorsports, PCP Motorsports, Eric Kondo Racing, Maui Racing, Carter’s at the Track, AFM, Family and Friends for all the support in making the number 1 plate possible.
Eric Kondo Racing is proud to have Jason under our canopies over the years and be a part of this memorable run to the #1 plate. EKR would also like to thank, CT Racing Pirelli- Metzler tires, RTM, Bay Area Riders Forum, MotionPro, Rich Oliver’s Mystery School, Fuzimoto, and many others for their support.