NASA SoCal returned to the desert landscape of Chuckwalla Valley Raceway in February for the inaugural weekend of the season. NASA Socal Spec E30 racing was defined by tire strategy, setup challenges and a historic performance from a new father deprived of sleep. The 2.7-mile circuit, known for its high-speed bowls and technical “S” sections, served as a demanding stage for a field that proved once again why Spec E30 remains one of the most competitive classes in the NASA Nation.
From first-time podium celebrations to a grueling climb through the field that resulted in a new track record, the event was a masterclass in race craft and endurance.
Saturday Racing
Saturday’s action began with a shift on the starting grid. Matthew Ibrahim initially set the pace in qualifying, but he self-reported coming in underweight at the scales. “I just went blank and I realized in the middle of this qualifying I hadn’t put the spare back in my car,” Ibrahim said. Despite tech officials initially clearing the field, Ibrahim elected to start from the back, handing pole position to Tom Paule in the No. 93 Team Build My Wealth entry.
The race itself was a tight, tactical affair. Paule maintained a slim lead for the duration, eventually taking the win by less than a second over a surging Sean Aron. Farther back, Shant Kalenderian provided the highlight of the day, clinching his first-ever podium with a third-place finish. Kalendarian was on the gas so hard he broke the accelerator pedal, which Ibrahim and Ryan Walton helped him fix.
Veteran Ed Sukchai, returning from a hiatus, managed to sneak into fifth after mechanical issues plagued other top contenders.
Sunday Racing
Sunday morning’s qualifying race saw Ibrahim mount a legendary comeback. Starting from fourth, he had on a set of sticker tires to tear through the field, eventually hunting down Walton, who drove the No. 93 on Sunday. In the process, Ibrahim clocked a blistering 2:03.951. “I just threw the fresh set of tires on … and just sent it,” Ibrahim said. “It looked like Ryan had understeer issues. After a couple mistakes, I was able to finally get by.” Series leader Andrew Clark confirmed the time stands as a new Spec E30 track record for the circuit.
Race two belonged to Walton in the No. 93 Team Build My Wealth entry. After Paule spent part of Saturday giving passenger rides to HPDE students, Walton realized the tires he planned to use were shot. He pivoted to a set of stickers for the final sprint, a move that allowed him to lead the field by more than 13 seconds. “I had a set of stickers and I put those on and that’s the reason I gapped everybody,” Walton said. “I think I was the only one on the brand-new tires.”
Behind Walton, a heated battle for the podium emerged between Aron and Ibrahim. Despite a stalling issue at the start and a car that was “sputtering for two laps,” Ibrahim fought from last place back to Aron’s bumper. Aron, , had to go “full defensive” for the final lap to hold Ibrahim off to finish second with Ibrahim less than a second behind him at checkers.
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Setup Challenges
The weekend highlighted how small adjustments to alignments and sway bars can transform a Spec E30’s handling.
Ibrahim revealed he fought a “super lively car” all weekend due to a serrated subframe that left him with a quarter-inch of total toe-in in the rear. “It was dragging a lot on the straight and any steering input … the car wanted to slide,” Ibrahim noted. He typically prefers zero toe or a maximum of 1/16-inch in.
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Walton helped Marcelo Calcagnotto diagnose a bound-up rear sway bar on Saturday. After disconnecting it, Calcagnotto’s pace improved drastically. Conversely, Walton and Aron experimented with tightening their rear sway bars by roughly a quarter-inch, a rare move for Chuckwalla that Walton said made the car handle exceptionally well.
Key Driver Perspectives
The SoCal Spec E30 paddock atmosphere is bolstered by the “Sticker Awards” tradition maintained by Andrew Clark. From the “Fluffer Award” for the fastest in warm-up to “Hard Charger” honors, the informal awards keep the spirits high. “It’s fun to recognize more people than just the main guy that won,” Clark said.
For many, the weekend was also a sentimental one. With the future of historic tracks like Willow Springs uncertain, drivers like Aron emphasized the importance of the community. “I’m a history nerd,” Aron said. “I love the fact that I’m doing the same thing as all these guys did in the ’60s.”
Conclusion
The weekend concluded with Team Build My Wealth Racing sweeping the top step of the podium both days, though the glory was shared with Matthew Ibrahim for his record-breaking Sunday morning performance. As the SoCal region looks toward the next event at Willow Springs, the rivalry between the consistent Aron, the technical Walton and the lightning-fast Ibrahim is set to intensify.
The racing is fun and the racers are awesome, so glad to be in this field!!!