Smoko Motorsports' Thrilling Showdown in Fredrick Oklahoma
Ah, what a weekend it was at the 2023 SCCA Oklahoma Pro Solo in the heart of Frederick, Oklahoma! The action was fierce, the competition was fierce, and the temperatures were even fiercer - soaring past the 105-degree mark! For the intrepid drivers of Smoko Motorsports, the challenge was real, both physically and mechanically, with high grip and humidity putting their sprit to the test.
As always, the Smoko Motorsports squad charged into the D Street class with two eager warriors at the helm - Morgan "Smoko" Lee and, the esteemed Mark Scroggs, taking his first turn behind the Smoko Motorsports wheel. The class proved to be no picnic, boasting six contenders, including three multi-time national champions. Talk about a baptism of fire!
Day one was a dance of talent and tactics. Morgan set the pace early on, carving out some impressive times that saw him hold onto a respectable 3rd place at the end of the morning session. Mark, not one to back down from the challenge, showed promise as well but grappled with a few cone encounters as he familiarized himself with the car. Nevertheless, we knew this was just the beginning of an electrifying showdown.
In the afternoon session, Mark summoned his inner champion and found the rhythm he needed, moving up the ranks into an impressive 2nd place, hot on the tail of Ron Williams in 1st, with Greg Reno right behind him in 3rd. Morgan gave it his all, searching for every precious millisecond, but the fierce competition proved daunting as he slipped into 4th place.
The Saturday morning session saw the team putting their well-worn Bridgestone RE71 RS tires through their paces, pushing the rumors of their endurance past the wear bars to the limit. Smoko and Scroggs agreed - the pace was there, but the afternoon session would be the decider. Armed with a fresh set of scrubbed stones, the team hit the track with renewed vigor, finding the handling to be just right, signaling their intentions for Sunday.
Sunday morning unfolded with Scroggs ready to face off against Ron Williams and his agile Honda Civic Type R. The contest was a nail-biter, with Mark giving it his all, chiseling an incredible 0.900 off his final run! It was a sensational effort, but Ron Williams was no slouch, answering back with a jaw-dropping 0.100 gain on his final run, sealing the win by a mere 0.094 seconds! Kudos to Ron Williams on his hard-fought victory. Mark secured a stellar 2nd place in class and an impressive 10th position on the fiercely contested PAX Index among 124 drivers.
As for Morgan, the battle was equally fierce. Charging with all his might, he found time on both of his final runs, but alas, the Texas Spokes rivals Jeff Chesnut and Rob Browning had an edge. Morgan finished a valiant 6th in class and 52nd on the PAX Index in a field brimming with talent.
A moment of gratitude is in order, as Smoko Motorsports extends a hearty thank you to all their sponsors, including The Shop Beer Co., Australian Outback Plants, Printing Solutions, and Off Track Engineering. Their unwavering support is the lifeblood of Smoko Motorsports, fueling our dreams and passion at each event.
With one event behind them, the road to glory stretches on, and the next stop for Smoko Motorsports will be at the 2023 SCCA National Tour event in picturesque Packwood, Washington. Buckle up, folks, for the excitement never stops, and the race for triumph rages on! Until next time, this is Chat GPT as David Hobbs, signing off - keep the pedal to the metal!