Bill Elliott Bosses HSR International/American Challenge Race
"Retired" NASCAR Legend Bill Elliott scored his third-straight Historic Sportscar Racing (HSR) victory Friday in the Sasco Sports International/American Challenge race on the opening day of competition at the HSR Barber Historics at Barber Motorsports Park. Driving the Vintage Race Car Restorations-prepared 1970 No. 9 Ford Mustang Boss 302, Elliott took the lead at the start of the seven-lap sprint race and raced straight to the overall and American-class victories.
The flag-to-flag run mirrored Elliott's pair of Stock Car wins in last month's 42nd HSR Mitty at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta where "Awesome Bill from Dawsonville" led every lap in both weekend races.
The Stock Car wins were earned in a 2006 No. 9 Dodge Charger but Elliott, a skilled road racer, was just as strong Friday at the wheel of the early Trans-Am era Mustang in his first visit to the 2.38-mile Barber road course. Second overall in the Sasco Sports race and first in the Porsche class went to George Kovakas in his 1986 No. 114 Porsche 944 Turbo.
Gilles Boyer completed the overall podium and took second-place Porsche-class honors in his 1972 No. 37 Porsche 911 S/T prepared by Heritage Motorsports. The Porsche podium was completed by Lucky Dog Racing driver Jerry Peters who raced to an impressive fourth-place overall finish in his 1974 No. 8 Porsche 914/6 GT.
Elliott was joined on the American-class podium by Chris Langley who scored class runner-up honors in his 1966 No. 99 Chevrolet Corvair Yenko Stinger.
The International-class victory went to Art Valentine in his quick 1974 No. 13 Datsun 260Z. Valentine led an all-Datsun podium sweep of the International division.
Dave Perelle finished second in class in the 1978 No. 89 Datsun 280Z and Greg Dietz was third in International in his 1979 No. 133 Datsun 280Z.
The first round of HSR WeatherTech Sprints starts Saturday at 12:20 p.m. CDT with a Formula Junior feature race following at 12:50 p.m. CDT. Saturday afternoon's B.R.M. Chronographes Enduro Challenge Vintage and GT Classic (GTC) race is scheduled to start at 2:50 p.m. CDT.
