AGT Inter-Americas Challenge

KERSHAW, S.C. - If it is true that a racing series grows with its rookies then the American GT Challenge took a major step with its 2006 season opener at Carolina Motorsport Park.

One AGT rookie set a series record in qualifying and two others turned in impressive racing performances as the series competed around the 14-turn, 2.235-mile course.

Defending series champion Edison Lluch won both heat races and took the early season lead in the driver standings. But a collection Rookie of the Year candidates made an impression on the observers in the paddock.

Edison Lluch Jr. established a new single-lap record of one minute, 32.247 seconds and started on the pole of the first heat race. He led the first half of the race before his father slipped by as the pair raced into the first corner. Jordan Bupp, son of veteran Kenny Bupp, finished fourth in both heats and was impressive with his consistency. Ryan McManus finished fifth in the first heat race and came away from CMP fifth in drivers points.

The Lluch duo raced each other for the wins in both heat races and both came away with a track record. The senior Lluch broke the record he set a year ago when he turned a lap of one minute, 32.891 seconds in the first race. The wild moment of the weekend came at the end of the first heat when Edison Lluch and Edisito Lluch raced to the Checker in a .11 second differential. The second heat was decided by .4 seconds.

The elder Lluch said, “I knew it was him (that was behind him). I know he has the guts, the talent and the machine to win any race. I feel like a proud father. Winning is good, but racing against your son is the best.”

Kenny Bupp was on hand to practice with his son, but left the track to tend to a private matter before Sunday’s racing started.

The next scheduled race for the AGT series is the May 21-22 event at Mosport International Raceway in Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada. Many of AGT competitor’s favorite track.

AGT notes

The AGT paddock had twice as many cars at Kershaw as it had in the same race in 2005 … Jordan Bupp was disqualified for being under weight in the first heat. He is appealing. Kenny Bupp’s car conforms to the AGT rulebook, but it looks different from the rest of the field of Mustangs, Corvettes and Camaros. The elder Bupp drives a stock car once driven by NASCAR Cup star Ricky Rudd … Mike Canney put in a terrific performance and won and was paid the vigorish of one bottle of 2004 Cima Collina Chardonay for out qualifying Woodson Duncan to win their bet… Dave Machavern, a former Rolex Sports Car Series GTS class champion, competed at Kershaw but was unable to complete the full distance. He struggled with engine trouble … Joey Scarallo split time with car owner Woodson Duncan in Duncan’s Mustang. Scarallo drove the first race and Duncan drove in the second. Joey gave up a couple of positions after being black flagged for a brake light malfunction … John Finger, who lives in nearby Greenville, won the inaugural AGT race in 2004 and has competed in every AGT race at the track. He finished third in the first race and fifth in the second race this time around good enough for 3rd overall … Every one was happy to see Terry Giles who after last reason must feel like every hurricane in the Atlantic was dispatched to Terry’s house to cause mayhem on the race schedule and destruction to the house everyone was also sorry to see him depart early with oil pump problems … And Geno with his frenetic work schedule and a recent personal setback struggled but was able to start the first race. Others who struggled due to mechanical included Jon Chevy Leavy who was fast but … Question where were Hooker and Humphries?

Final points under appeal.