A line of Camaro and Mustang race cars preparing for a standing start at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.

NASA Great Lakes descended upon the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course on April 18–19 for a weekend defined by unpredictable spring weather and intense door-to-door action. As one of the most competitive classes in the region, the Camaro-Mustang Challenge field proved why it is a consistently popular series in the region, navigating a deluge on Saturday and a shortened, red-flagged sprint on Sunday.

With nearly a dozen CMC competitors hitting the Pro Course, the paddock was buzzing with talk of strategy and survival.

Saturday, Race One

Saturday’s action was defined by a sudden shift in the heavens. Just 10 minutes before the CMC standing start, the skies opened, turning the technical Mid-Ohio circuit into a skating rink. The weather forced a split in the field: those with rain tires and those brave enough — or unfortunate enough — to be on slicks.

Starting from the pole after a blistering morning session, Derek Wright managed to hold his lead through the spray to take the win. However, the story of the race was John Brody. Dubbed “Rocket Man” for his legendary starts, Brody earned a new nickname “Rain Man” after surging from seventh on the grid to finish second.

Derek Wright in the No. 913 Camaro crossing the finish line under a checkered flag at Mid-Ohio.
Derek Wright took three of three wins, including the rain-soaked race one on Saturday.

“He had a really excellent start and then ran well in the rain,” Marshall Moore said of Brody’s performance.

John Brody, nicknamed "Rain Man," driving his red No. 45 Camaro in wet conditions at Mid-Ohio.
Known among the NASA Great Lakes CMC competitors for his great standing starts, No. 45 John Brody is often called “Rocket Man,” but his performance in the wet on Saturday earned him a new nickname: Rain Man.

The conditions claimed several victims. Bob Denton, who started third on slicks, found the limit of adhesion quickly. “I just slid straight off into the grass, kept it going, and I said, ‘Yep, I’m done. I want to race tomorrow,'” Denton said. Similarly, Ron Rusnak ended up in the gravel at “Sea Valley” (aka Thunder Valley) and required a tow after attempting the race on slicks.

Daniel Majewski racing the No. 65 white Ford Mustang during a rainy session at Mid-Ohio.
No. 65 Daniel Majewski picked up a third-place finish in Saturday’s rainy race one.

Saturday Race One Results:

  • 1st: Derek Wright (No. 913)
  • 2nd: John Brody (No. 45)
  • 3rd: Daniel Majewski (No. 65)
  • 4th: Marshall Moore (No. 39)
  • 5th: Jim Mayer (No. 6)

Sunday, Race Two and Three

Sunday brought cooler temperatures, with the mercury dropping nearly 25 degrees from the previous day. Race two was cut short following a significant incident on the front straightaway that triggered a red flag. Because the race could not be resumed before time expired, the results reverted to the standings at the time of the flag.

Denton made a massive comeback in this session, jumping from eighth on the grid to finish second behind Wright. “I gained several positions on the start,” Denton noted. “Pete [Loftus] was faster than me, but I was able to hold him off until obviously the red flag.”

Bob Denton’s No. 67 black Chevrolet Camaro racing at Mid-Ohio.
After retiring early due to a lack of rain tires in race one, No. 67 Bob Denton finished second in race two and third in race three.

Race three featured the traditional CMC inverted grid, forcing the weekend’s leaders to carve through the field. Despite starting eighth, Wright regained the lead by the second lap. The closing stages saw a frantic battle for second between Denton and Peter Loftus.

“Pete and I had a very close race the last four laps,” Denton said. “On the very last lap going into Madness, Pete and I were side-by-side, but he had a fender on me and I had to lift.” Loftus held on to second place by a mere 0.6 seconds over Denton.

Peter Loftus driving the No. 135 white Chevrolet Camaro during a NASA Great Lakes race at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.
No. 135 Peter Loftus battled hard with Bob Denton. Loftus finished in third just .6 seconds behind Denton in race two, but got the better of him and finished in second, nearly 7 seconds ahead of Denton at checkers in race three.

Sunday Race Three Results:

  • 1st: Derek Wright (No. 913)
  • 2nd: Peter Loftus (No. 135)
  • 3rd: Bob Denton (No. 67)
  • 4th: Marshall Moore (No. 39)
  • 5th: John Brody (No. 45)

Technical Spotlight: The Japanese Steakhouse Fix

Beyond the track, the weekend highlighted the camaraderie of the NASA Great Lakes CMC group. Joe Rose spent much of the event battling a mysterious mechanical gremlin that kept his car from running. The solution didn’t come in the pits, but during a birthday dinner for Wright at a local Japanese steakhouse.

“Pete started talking through the systems, and he recommended that the O2 sensor could be the cause,” Moore said. Rose swapped the sensor and was able to return to competition. “Had we not had that opportunity to sit and bond as a team, I wouldn’t be able to race on Sunday,” Rose said.

Conclusion

The Mid-Ohio weekend was a showcase of Derek Wright’s dominance and the sheer resilience of the CMC field. Despite the rain, mechanical failures, and a red flag, the group finished the weekend with zero in-class contact for the entire weekend.

Marshall Moore’s No. 39 Ford Mustang racing in the rain at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.
Marshall Moore was in the hunt all weekend, but finished just off the podium in all three races. Two fourth-place finishes and a fifth.
Image courtesy of Meredith Newsome

1 COMMENT

  1. CMC is more than what happens on track — it is the people, the paddock, and the willingness to help each other keep racing.

    This weekend was a great reminder of what makes the NASA Great Lakes CMC group special.

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