TPWS Racing Takes Harris Hill Victory After Late Fuel Drama

Correction: An earlier version of this article misidentified the car that ran out of fuel while leading near the finish. It was Powell Racing Green Rocket’s No. 769, not Black Flag Sarcoma Racing’s No. 106. The reported hole in the fuel tank also involved Powell’s car. The story has been corrected below.

TPWS Racing claimed Sunday’s Race-Rite Battle at the Hill seven-hour victory at Harris Hill after late fuel trouble stopped Powell Racing Green Rocket’s leading No. 769 Mazda Miata, opening the door for the No. 257 Miata in the closing minutes.

TPWS completed 263 laps to secure the September 27 victory. Black Flag Sarcoma Racing finished second with 262 laps, while Powell completed an all-Miata podium with 259.

The race began under clear skies with a temperature of 73 degrees. Opening-lap spins for Love Racing’s No. 648 Miata and Split5 Racing’s No. 713 Nissan 240SX provided early drama. Over the opening ten laps, the top five remained within ten seconds of one another.

Black Flag Sarcoma moved into the lead at approximately 9:20 a.m. and became a central player in the fight for the win. Its afternoon included an unexpected fuel stop that interrupted its challenge.

Shortly after 2 p.m., the No. 106 slowed and stopped after running out of fuel on lap 197. It had been two laps ahead of Powell Racing’s No. 769 Miata. After a reported five-minute, 33-second pit stop, Black Flag Sarcoma returned to the race in third, behind Powell and TPWS.

Chas Spence of Black Flag Sarcoma Racing said the team’s telemetry had indicated enough fuel to complete another lap or two. The unexpectedly empty tank left the team searching for an explanation.

Six caution periods interrupted the seven-hour contest, but the final slowdown accompanied the decisive change at the front.

According to a post-race clarification from TPWS, Powell held an approximately eight-second lead as the race entered its closing minutes. Black Flag Sarcoma was running third when Powell’s No. 769 ran out of fuel, handing TPWS the lead.

With just over six minutes remaining, the course went yellow before transitioning to Code 35. Nearly four minutes ticked away under caution. When green returned at approximately 3:57 p.m., only about two minutes and 20 seconds remained before the checkered flag.

TPWS finished the job, securing the win as Black Flag Sarcoma took second and Powell slipped to third in the final classification.

The post-race clarification attributed Powell’s fuel loss to a hole in its tank, reportedly caused by a rock striking the underside of the car. The precise circumstances of the damage have not been independently confirmed.

Behind the three Miatas, Slow Cheetah Motorsports finished fourth overall and won Class C with its No. 44 BMW E46. Poorsha Werks completed the top five in its No. 986 Porsche Boxster. Both recorded 257 laps. Love Racing recovered from its opening-lap spin to finish sixth with 256.

TPWS also won Class A. Pistola Alto topped Class B in its No. 93 Ford Escort/ZX2, Spawn of Checo won Class D in its No. 404 Ford Mustang, and Lap Dancers finished first in Class F in its No. 120 Miata.

In the separate EC classification, Return of the Knuckleheads recorded 144 laps in its No. 802 Ford Mustang. Its 1:25.892 was the fastest lap listed across the regular and EC classifications. Powell Racing recorded the quickest lap in the regular classification at 1:26.514.

Powell had the pace and the lead late in the race. TPWS had the opportunity when it mattered, bringing the No. 257 home to turn a dramatic final few minutes into a Harris Hill victory.

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