The 2016 Thunder Roadster Series kicked off at the NASA Great Lakes event on March 19 and 20 at the National Corvette Museum Motorsports Park in Bowling Green, Kentucky. The action on track was fantastic as the Thunder Roadster drivers showed why this is one of the fastest growing classes in NASA.
Saturday was a perfect day for racing and the Thunder Roadster Series didn’t disappoint. After starting deep in the field, Will Miller and Scott Lanford carefully picked their way through the Spec Miata and 944 Spec fields on their way to finish in the top two spots of the Lightning group. In the process, Lanford lowered the track record to 2:18:834 seconds, taking the record previously set by Will Miller. In the closing laps, Lanford ran down Miller and as the two came out of Turn 23 to the checkered flag. Both drivers were sideways and the drag race to the finish line decided the race. Miller hung on for the win by a wheel. Officially, the difference was .028 seconds, the second-closest margin of victory in the history of the Thunder Roadster series. Lee Roberts rounded out the all Full Throttle Racing podium, finishing third.
Sunday was a completely different story. The drivers fought rain and treacherous track conditions. Due to the conditions, series officials and drivers agreed to run an abbreviated race. This time, Jamie Ratchford and Lee Roberts started up front with Scott Lanford and Will Miller in row two. As the drivers fought to find traction, the name of the game was to stay on track.
When the race ended, Lee Roberts took the win over Jamie Ratchford, followed by Lanford and Miller. After two races, Lee Roberts is the points leader over Will Miller heading into round three in Madison, Illinois on April 9-10.
