NASA Northeast finally kicked off its 2026 season at Watkins Glen International Raceway on April 25–26. A deep field of Super Touring 5 competitors faced a weekend of extremes, transitioning from a treacherous, rain-soaked track on Saturday to a record-shattering dry Sunday. Between mechanical heartbreaks and a finish-line margin that required a microscope to measure, the season opener proved that the ST5 class is one to watch this year in NASA Northeast.
The weekend was marked by a heavy rookie presence and a tight-knit paddock culture. Despite the competitive intensity, drivers were swapping tools, anti-fogging tips, and data logs. “If I did not paddock with them, I wouldn’t have the access to some of the tools and the wipes and the spray,” rookie Umur Selek said. “Everybody was so helpful to each other in getting whatever was necessary.”
Saturday Racing
Saturday was defined entirely by the elements. Continuous rain and cold temperatures turned the 3.4-mile circuit into a test of visibility and nerve. The ST5 field stunned officials by posting qualifying times in the 2:36 to 2:38 range, outpacing higher-class GTS3 cars by nearly 5 seconds.
“ST5 had the best lap times in qualifying and the race,” ST5 series leader George Menabde said. “Somebody told me we never seen this kind of lap times in the rain. People were like, ‘We’ve never seen this before.'”
The race itself culminated in what many believe to be the closest finish in NASA Northeast history. Menabde and Anatoly Stolbov charged toward the finish line side-by-side, with Menabde claiming the win by a microscopic 0.014 seconds.
“I took very conservative lines the last three turns and then I saw he was coming behind me,” Menabde said. “I literally could not see him because I only used the anti-fog in the front. We basically almost came to a draw.”
Stolbov, who had been stalking Menabde through the “Boot,” nearly pulled off the upset. “I was able to get a run on him through 10 and 11,” Stolbov said. “I was so excited. I was so sure I had [him].”
Saturday ST5 Results:
1st: Besik Menabde (BMW 330ci) – Best Tm: 2:38.964
2nd: Anatoly Stolbov (BMW M3) – Best Tm: 2:38.704 (Margin: 0.014)
3rd: Alexander Krochik (Scion FR-S) – Best Tm: 2:37.788
4th: Umur Selek (Subaru BRZ) – Best Tm: 2:36.233
5th: Kyung Oh (Honda S2000) – Best Tm: 2:40.242
Sunday Racing
When the clouds cleared for Sunday, the pace transitioned from “unprecedented” to “unbelievable.” The dry track allowed the field to push the limits of the ST5 rulebook, resulting in multiple drivers shattering the existing class track record.
Menabde, forced to start from the back of the grid due to a disqualification over a minor horsepower infraction on Saturday, put on a masterclass in overtaking. He sliced through the field, eventually catching and passing Dillon Brennan and Alexander Krochik to sweep the weekend.
The speed was relentless. Menabde clocked a 2:07.945, while Krochik followed closely with a 2:07.612. “We were back and forth between 2:08s and 2:07s,” Menabde said. “Those are very out-of-class lap times. People were texting me like, ‘Are you guys okay? Are you skipping corners?'”
For Krochik, the record-breaking pace was a bittersweet consolation for a second-place finish. “That one felt good,” Krochik said. “It would have been better to beat George, but a bit of a consolation prize.” Krochik’s charge was nearly derailed by a loud “clunk” in the bus stop, which turned out to be a fender liner tearing loose rather than a suspension failure.
The day also saw a strong podium performance from Dillon Brennan, who returned to the track in a Honda Civic that had been rebuilt from the chassis up following a wreck in 2023. Brennan held the lead early before the high-horsepower BMWs and the aerodynamic 86-chassis cars caught up. “The car felt good all weekend,” Brennan said. “I’m just amazed that it ran, honestly, and ran as fast as it did.”
Sunday ST5 Results:
1st: Besik Menabde (BMW 330ci) – Best Tm: 2:07.945
2nd: Alexander Krochik (Scion FR-S) – Best Tm: 2:07.612
3rd: Dillon Brennan (Honda Civic) – Best Tm: 2:10.074
4th: Umur Selek (Subaru BRZ) – Best Tm: 2:10.427
5th: Peter Cipollini (BMW M3) – Best Tm: 2:13.419
Key Driver Perspectives
The weekend wasn’t without its casualties. The ST5 group lost four cars to mechanical issues between Friday and Saturday, including blown engines and broken axles. Benjamin Johnston, who suffered a catastrophic engine failure during Friday practice after a money-shift, embodied the spirit of the class. Despite his weekend ending early, he stayed to support his teammates.
“It wasn’t my happiest race weekend,” Johnston said. “But we roll on. Watching these guys in the rain, I was saying at the Start-Finish, ‘Man, there’s nowhere I’d rather be in the world than on that grid right now.’ We’ll get it fixed.”
Similarly, Tim Noakes suffered an axle failure on Sunday after a promising run in the rain. “We have that community and the ability to help each other out. That’s why I’m here more than anything,” Noakes said, emphasizing the camaraderie that defined the event.
Conclusion
With Menabde securing the double-win and multiple drivers dipping into the 2:07s, the bar for ST5 in the Northeast has been set exceptionally high. The weekend proved that while the “Rusty” BMW of Menabde remains the car to beat, the Scion and Subaru 86-chassis cars and the resurgent Hondas are within striking distance. As the region moves toward the next event, the rivalries are friendly but the competition is fiercer than ever. If the season opener at the Glen is any indication, the 2026 ST5 championship will be a battle of inches and thousandths of a second.
