Sunday’s race brought another first time NASA Great Lakes winner as Jonathan Davis picked up his very first NASA Spec Miata win at Mid-Ohio in June.

NASA Great Lakes headed to Mid-Ohio on June 6-8 to contest the third leg of the 2014 Spec Miata series. In qualifying, Chris Williams grabbed the pole just .012 seconds ahead of Justin Hille, and .019 seconds ahead of Frank Todaro in third.

Williams led the pack into to Turn 7, challenged by Hille into Madness. Hille took the lead, and Todaro and Jonathan Davis settled in behind Williams. Eventually, Hille, Williams and Todaro began to pull on the pack.

Back up front, Hille was pressured hard by Williams, who in turn was hounded by Todaro. The front three looked like there would be no passing, but out-of-class traffic loomed. In the very first encounter, Williams picked wrong, and Todaro pounced into second. Just a lap later, Todaro went to the outside of Hille in 7, and completed an outside pass before Madness. Williams got inside Hille in the Keyhole, and Todaro, Williams, and Hille was the order as the white flag flew. Todaro held off Williams and Hille at line, as all three crossed the stripe within .64 seconds of each other. Todaro had claimed his first NASA win in convincing fashion.

Everyone was hoping Sunday would be dry for another exciting run. Well, this is Mid-Ohio, where rain happens, and the entire Sunday schedule would be run in the rain. Hille picked off pole position. Robert Keller came in on his heels in second, and Davis took the third spot.

The pack was led out by Hille with constant rain falling on an already drenched track. When the green flag flew, a lack of grip and almost zero visibility inside allowed the outside lane to gain quick positions. As the group completed the first lap, Keller had the lead, followed by George Clos Jr., Hille, Davis, Ryan Roberson and Williams.

Keller immediately began to pull on the field, while Clos Jr. tried to hold the No. 2 spot. Unfortunately for Clos Jr., an off-track adventure in Turn 1 gave Hille, Davis, and Williams some operating room. Keller was determined, and maintained a commanding lead while Davis continued to look for opportunities to get by Hille.

As the race neared its conclusion, the group drove by Keller sitting in the kitty litter at the entrance to Thunder Valley. An out-of-class car and Keller had tried to occupy the same space at the same time, and it led to a disappointing end to Keller’s race. This must have emboldened Davis, who passed on Hille and went on to beat him by more than 10 seconds. Williams completed the podium well back of Hille.

RESULTS

http://timingscoring.drivenasa.com/NASA_Great_Lakes_Region/2014%20-%20Official%20Results/Mid-Ohio%20-%20June%202014/

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