Round two of the NASA Southeast season kicked off with a display of resilience and community at Carolina Motorsports Park Feb. 14–15. With 15 Spec E30s taking the green flag, the weekend was defined by unpredictable weather, from the fast, dry asphalt of Saturday to a Sunday deluge that tested the limits of visibility and grip.
The 2.279-mile circuit, known for its challenging turns and abrasive surface, served as the perfect backdrop for a field brimming with seasoned veterans and a surging class of rookies. Despite the competitive tension on track, the paddock remained a testament to the “racing family” spirit that defines the Spec E30 class.
Saturday Racing
Saturday’s race one featured a dry track and a frantic pace. Charlie Beach, driving the magenta No. 66 BMW 325is, secured the top spot on the podium after a masterclass in defensive driving and traffic management. Beach faced immediate pressure from Team 110% Racing’s Jeff Williams, who is notorious for his quick reaction times.
“Start in front of Jeff Williams because he will get a better start than you every time,” Beach said. “He just beats you to the jump. I don’t have the reaction time that he has. But then it’s just, you know, staying inside for Turn 1, making sure the opponent doesn’t get a good run on the outside.”
The race was complicated by a mid-event yellow flag that bunched the field, forcing leaders to navigate heavy mixed-class traffic with Spec Miatas. Kevin Bandy, who finished fourth on Saturday, noted the difficulty of the restart. “I went around a bunch of Miatas at least three wide, came into 14, missed my braking zone and collected Greg Tresan, unfortunately,” Bandy said. Despite the contact, which left his car with significant camber issues, Bandy’s pace remained competitive throughout the weekend.
Sunday Racing
Sunday brought a dramatic shift in conditions as heavy rain moved into the Kershaw area. Race two presented a tactical dilemma: stick with slicks or switch to rain tires. While Jeff Williams of Team 110% Racing opted for rains and took the win, Beach and Bandy gambled on slicks.
“Sunday morning wasn’t wet enough to significantly change the line,” Beach noted, though he admitted the gamble eventually favored those on rain tires. “For the first three quarters of the race, Jeff Williams had me on every lap, but at the end of the race, I was starting to catch him back up and that’s how I still got fastest lap.”
By race three, the “50-50 shot” on tires was over. The track was soaked. Williams once again dominated the field, but the real story was the battle for survival in near-zero visibility. Bandy, sporting old-stock rain tires, managed a second-place finish despite his windshield fogging up.
“At the end of the race, I couldn’t see any apexes to my right,” Bandy said. “I was judging everything based on track-out on the left side on right-handers. I was all over the place, just had no idea where I was.”
VIDEO
Ride along for the start of the rainy race three at Carolina Motorsports Park. Joseph Abraham started in fourth position and finished in third.
Beach, however, faced a more harrowing ordeal on eight-year-old rain tires. After a near-collision in the carousel and zero visibility, he made the veteran call to retire early. “I could only tell a Miata was passing me by their exhaust note,” Beach said. “I thought, ‘This is too dangerous. I like my car. I don’t want to ball up my car.’ I figure it’s better to have a car than have points.”
Key Driver Perspectives
The weekend served as a baptism by fire — and water — for several of the region’s seven new rookies. Rich Perkins, coming out of competition school, finished all three races on the lead lap. “I’m very quickly learning I don’t fire off at the green flag fast enough,” Perkins said. “I enjoyed the rain race Sunday morning. I actually really enjoyed that one.”
The camaraderie of the Spec E30 group was on full display before the first green flag even dropped. Race one winner Charlie Beach only made it to the grid thanks to his competitors. After snapping a rocker arm on Friday, Beach spent 11 hours repairing his engine with parts provided by Preston Wrenn and labor from Jeff Williams, Brandon Adams and Stephen Pearce.
“I was only on track because of the people I was racing against and ultimately beat in that first race,” Beach said. “The selflessness where people care more about racing you than they do about getting a position … that is a great highlight of Spec E30 in the Southeast.”
Bandy echoed this sentiment, referencing the Latin root word for competition, “competere.” “It literally means to strive together for excellence,” Bandy said. “The whole idea of competition is that you’re supposed to help each other be the best versions of yourselves.”
Conclusion
The season opener at Carolina Moorsports Park proved that while Team 110% Racing and Charles Beach are the ones to beat, the real winner was the Spec E30 class’s depth. With 15 cars competing and a steady influx of new talent like Justin Dekker and Drew Horner, the region is poised for a record-breaking year. The field now looks ahead to the legendary turns of Virginia International Raceway and Roebling Road, where rivalries and friendships will continue.
Awesome write-up on an incredible class, with talented drivers throughout the field. Well done NASA Southeast and Spec E30!