Robinson II Drives Stellar Race to Win First Formula Ford Title

LEXINGTON, Ohio (Sept. 25, 2005) – John Robinson II, of St. Cloud, Fla., captured his first National Championship Sunday, taking the Formula Ford class win at the 2005 SCCA National Championship Runoffs® Presented by Kohler at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. John LaRue, of Muncie, Ill., and Clark Cambern, of Haslett, Mich., completed the top-three.

Getting the green flag down the Mid-Ohio back straight-away, the 26-car Formula Ford field spread out three-wide. Holding the inside line, Robinson II maintained the lead ahead of LaRue and Cambern, who passed Hoinig to move into second place. As the top-five exited turn eight, Chuck Brewer made contact with Tom Schwietz, causing Schwietz to spin. Unable to avoid Schwietz, Mike Sauce made light contact and came to halt on the track. With Sauce stopped in the middle of the corner, the full-course caution was shown to the leaders as they crossed the start/finish. Quickly clearing the incident, racing resumed on lap three. Getting a great jump, Robinson II entered turn seven unchallenged, while LaRue and Cambern went side-by-side through turns seven and eight. With the duo battling for position, Robinson II soon began building a multi-car lead. Behind the lead trio, Schwietz was the driver on the move. Recovering from the spin, Schwietz set the fastest race lap, working his way past Jaremko into fourth place. With Robinson II running unchallenged in the lead, all eyes focused on the battle for second place. Despite repeatedly getting alongside LaRue, Cambern never found a way past. At the conclusion of the 20-lap race, Robinson had led flag-to-flag to capture his first-ever Formula Ford Title by 2.583 seconds.

“I really have to thank my engine builder,” said Robinson II. “We blew our in engine in testing in August and they dropped everything so we would have two motors in the trailer here to the Runoffs. The first few laps I had to push, but once I got free and John [LaRue] and Clark [Cambern] began battling, I was able to focus on driving fast consistent laps.”

Schweitz, of Winchester, Va., finished fourth, and Jaremko, of Spokane, Was., completed the top-five.

No. 21 Arthur Foster wins the Sunoco Hard Charger Award for advancing 10 positions, to finish seventh after starting 17th.

Now in its 42nd year, the SCCA National Championship Runoffs annually crown the best amateur road racers in North America as Champions. More than 750 competitors have gathered this year to battle for 23 class titles this year, with eight races being run Friday and Saturday and seven on Sunday.

Celebrating its 61st anniversary, Sports Car Club of America is a 60,000 member motorsports organization that sanctions and promotes grassroots and professional motorsports events of a variety of disciplines, including road racing, autocrossing, road rally and rallycross.