Round 3 of the 2022 IROC Championship Series was again a shootout between the top Expert and Sportsman drivers, but this time on the SR3 banked oval and a car lineup that would, hopefully, recreate the great era of American dirt-track racing. Race one got underway at 11:30ish Saturday, November 12 under clear blue skies and warm sunshine. Oh, and some of us enjoyed the awesome Krispy Kreme donuts that Eric Lane brought into the paddock–thanks, Eric!
The “Day On The Oval” started with the wild and loose MG+ 1.5 “Midget” hardbodies running at 18v and ended with the always popular Viper Jet (SPEC-JET) with Lexan NAStruck bodies at 12v. A little twist was added to the mix (from Kevin Webster) to only run on the two inside and two outside lanes.
We also got to witness the first-ever female driver participate in our formal racing program. Martha Elderon was amazing in her debut at Stewart Raceway. Martha won heats (segments) in both the MG+ 1.5 “Midget” race and the Retro-Viper “Maximum Leeway” race–Nice!
Short Story Round 3 Overall Results
| Place | Name | Laps | Points | Total Time |
| 1 | George Peters | 400 | 48 | 1551.692 |
| 2 | Kevin Webster | 383 | 40 | 1644.271 |
| 3 | Jordan Walker | 372 | 29 | 1608.379 |
| 4 | Eric Lane | 365 | 22 | 1684.491 |
| 5 | Jerry Pearson | 222 | 18 | 997.273 |
| 6 | Martha Elderon | 204 | 9 | 1020.019 |
| * | Steve Stewart | 418 | 64 | 1507.187 |
Race 1: MegaG+ 1.5 “Midgets” (18.1v)
These cars are a handful to drive since they have no traction magnets and a weighted independent front end. To make things even more challenging for the drivers, two of the cars on the inside lanes were underpowered at 18v and required extreme patience and skill to limit the losses each driver would suffer in those two lanes. Martha Elderon, surprised us all by bagging her first-ever heat win in the Red lane. Martha drove the wheels of the car and had a huge smile on her face after winning that segment late in the race.
Sportsman driver, Jordan Walker dominated this one until the last couple of segments, dropping to 4th overall after Kevin Webster and George Peters. In the end, Sportsman driver Kevin Webster came out on top with a heat win and three 2nd-place finishes. Sportsman driver, Jerry Pearson took the final podium spot with a very nice heat win in the final segment.
These cars were intended to be run at 22v but the consensus was that they were easier to drive at 18v. Sadly, they were tested and tuned at 22v and two of them did not run nearly as well at 18v as the other two. (Details)
| Place | Name | Laps | Points | Total Time |
| 1 | Kevin Webster | 115 | 13 | 534.661 |
| 2 | George Peters | 114 | 11 | 522.128 |
| 3 | Jerry Pearson | 111 | 7 | 536.974 |
| 4 | Jordan Walker | 109 | 6 | 528.271 |
| 5 | Martha Elderon | 109 | 5 | 552.024 |
| 6 | Eric Lane | 108 | 4 | 569.509 |
| * | Steve Stewart | 118 | 16 | 517.322 |
Race 2: Retro-Vipers “Maximum Leeway” Lexan (15v)
These are way cool cars based on the Viper V-SPEC chassis but using weights instead of traction magnets and a special motor magnet design that minimizes downforce. These cars can also be a handful but the newly minted Hot Wheels “Maximum Leeway” Lexan bodies seemed to help keep the cars firmly planted even at 15v.
This race and perhaps this car would be the most competitive of the day with nearly every driver winning at least one heat. Martha Elderon won her second heat race of the day in the first segment on the Blue lane. Besting second and third place by two laps–Go, Martha!
In the end, Expert Driver George Peters would come from behind and steal the show from the hard-charging Jerry Pearson in second. Kevin Webster bagged the final podium spot and some valuable points needed to maintain his lead in the series. (Details)
| Place | Name | Laps | Points | Total Time |
| 1 | George Peters | 115 | 13 | 421.945 |
| 2 | Jerry Pearson | 111 | 11 | 460.299 |
| 3 | Kevin Webster | 103 | 7 | 435.335 |
| 4 | Eric Lane | 101 | 6 | 457.765 |
| 5 | Jordan Walker | 100 | 5 | 443.116 |
| 6 | Martha Elderon | 95 | 4 | 467.995 |
| * | Steve Stewart | 120 | 16 | 406.225 |
Race 3: MegaG 1.7 Whelen/SK Modifieds (18v)
Another “drifting” type of car with good power and speed. These cars are a hoot on the oval and this race was also very competitive. We would lose two drivers prior to the start of Race 3 but it didn’t get any easier for anybody. We dropped down to three lanes, running just the Yellow, Green, and Red lanes freeing up two drivers to marshal.
New Sportsman driver, Eric Lane would bag his second heat win of the day in this one by winning segment four, less than a second ahead of 2nd place finisher, Jordan Walker. Close racing, indeed.
This race was also a heated battle between the two Expert drivers, George Peters and Home Cook’n. George fought valiantly and even won the final segment in convincing fashion. However, losing four laps in the first segment in the Green lane would prove a bit too much to overtake Home Cook’n for the overall win. Also very close racing in the Sportsman class, for sure. (Details)
| Place | Name | Laps | Points | Total Time |
| 1 | George Peters | 85 | 13 | 333.192 |
| 2 | Jordan Walker | 77 | 11 | 340.254 |
| 3 | Kevin Webster | 77 | 7 | 356.492 |
| 4 | Eric Lane | 74 | 6 | 355.435 |
| * | Steve Stewart | 90 | 16 | 308.313 |
Race 4: Viper Jets (SPEC-JET) (12v)
The final race of the day was the venerable Viper Jet under HOPRA SPEC-JET rules and requiring fuel stops at 28-laps. These cars are way fun and on an oval course, even more fun. Super fast and way more “stuck” than any of the previous cars, this one was a battle throughout.
Current Junior of the Year, Jordan Walker, led this one until 4th segment when George Peters took over the race lead with a nice second-place finish and his usual crafty pit-stop strategies. Going into the final segment, George was done with his rotation at 86-laps, tied with Jordan Walker sitting second overall. Would 86-laps be enough for the win?
Only Kevin Webster and Home Cook’n had a shot at bumping the two drivers off the podium. Kevin went into the final segment with 58-laps, Home Cook’n with 60. In the end, Home Cook’n prevailed with a 30-lap total in the final round. Kevin Webster would end up with 88-laps, bagging second overall and therefore winning the final race of the day. Kevin didn’t win any heats, he just methodically focused on getting laps and managing fuel perfectly.
Not to be outdone by the more experienced drivers, Eric Lane would quietly and brilliantly win the final segment of this race. Going into the final heat with 52-laps, he knew he wasn’t in contention for the overall but he was on a mission. Eric ended the race with a perfect 30-lap score and clicked off the fastest lap of that segment in the process–Go, Eric! (Details)
| Place | Name | Laps | Points | Total Time |
| 1 | Kevin Webster | 88 | 13 | 317.783 |
| 2 | George Peters | 86 | 11 | 274.427 |
| 3 | Jordan Walker | 86 | 7 | 296.738 |
| 4 | Eric Lane | 82 | 6 | 301.782 |
| * | Steve Stewart | 90 | 16 | 275.327 |
Wow! I was a bit apprehensive about the car lineup for this oval round of the series. Typically, most slot car drivers don’t enjoy the more difficult-to-drive cars. This group not only enjoyed the “fast & loose” cars, but they also drove them extremely well–very impressive driving by all!
Series Standings Summary
Going into the final round of the 2022 IROC Champs Series, Kevin Webster has a nearly unassailable points lead in the Sportsman class with steady appearances and strong race results.
George Peters has pretty much locked up the 2022 IROC Championship win in the Expert standings. With only one round left, he only needs to show up and finish a couple of races to take home yet another massive trophy.
IROC Championship Series Points Standings After Round 3:
Sportsman Class
| Place | Name | Laps | Points | Total Time |
| 1 | Kevin Webster | 961 | 98 | 7612.257 |
| 2 | Jerry Pearson | 641 | 75 | 5416.834 |
| 3 | Eric Lane | 915 | 69 | 7651.906 |
| 4 | Jordan Walker | 372 | 29 | 1608.379 |
| 5 | Martha Elderon | 204 | 9 | 1020.019 |
Expert Class
| Place | Name | Laps | Points | Total Time |
| 1 | George Peters | 1034 | 153 | 7457.567 |
| 2 | Brad Sandahl | 360 | 42 | 3331.948 |
| * | Steve Stewart | 1064 | 189 | 7336.991 |
The final round of the series is tentatively slated for November 26, 2022 and will be contested on the SR3 Road Course. Though track management is considering a slightly different layout. Stay tuned for more details on the Round 4 finale.
* Home Cook’n results are not factored in the series points. Owning the track means enjoying a massive advantage. And even more so when you build or maintain many of the IROC cars being contested.
Okay, shut up and drive!
