JT Novosielski Wins the F2000 Major Money Madness at Mid-Ohio While Thomas Schrage Dominates F1600
It was a great weekend of racing at the famed Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course as JT Novosielski and Thomas Schrage won big in their respective classes at the second event weekend in the 2024 Formula Race Promotions program. Novosielski earned a pair of F2000 wins, taking home major money for his efforts, while Schrage was unstoppable in F1600, making three trips to the podium's top step.
“Another great weekend in the books for FRP teams and competitors,” expressed Robert Wright. “Great racing, great action, and great fun. We had a solid turnout of 13 F2000 drivers, and once again, we had a 20+ field in F1600.”
F1600
Qualifying
1. Cooper Shipman – 1:32.782
2. Thomas Schrage – 1:32.995
3. Sebastian Mateo Naranjo – 1:33.173
4. Dillon Defonce – 1:33.844
5. Karsten Defonce – 1:33.844
F1600 Masters
Qualifying
1. Scott Rubenzer – 1:34.429
2. Joe Colasacco – 1:34.712
3. Bob Reid – 1:35.795
4. Phil Kingham – 1:35.845
5. David Livingston Jr. – 1:36.920
Race #1
It was Thomas Schrage who topped the result sheets in the 16-lap race, advancing from his outside front row starting spot to take the win, with pole position winner Cooper Shipman crossing the line second. Schrage was fast in his Rice Race Prep machine scoring the fastest lap of the race by a healthy margin. Behind Shipman, Sebastian Mateo Naranjo earned his fourth podium finish ahead of Tim Steele, who had an incredible drive into the top-five to finish fourth. Crossing the line in the fifth position was the #41 entry of Karsten Defonce ahead of Jackson Tovo, Jonathan Lee, and Joe Colasacco, who grabbed the number one spot in the Master ranks. David Livingston Jr. was second in Masters and ninth overall, with Ethan Tovo rounding out the top-ten. Joining Colasacco and Livingston on the Masters podium was long time FRP racer Phil Kingham in third.
Race #2
Race two on the weekend saw Schrage maintain his position at the top of the results sheet, scoring his second win and, again, the fastest lap of the 16-lap race. Behind him was Sebastian Mateo Naranjo, who jumped one position on the podium between races one and two. At the same time, Masters winner Joe Colasacco finished third overall in his epic drive. The Defonce family put a pair of drivers in the top-five, with Karsten leading Dillon, and they rounded out the top-five in fourth and fifth. With Colasacco taking third overall and the win in the Masters class, it was Scott Rubenzer and David Livingston Jr. who joined him at the podium celebration.
Race #3
Thomas Schrage made it three-for-thee on the weekend, taking the third and final F1600 victory of the weekend. Unstoppable with consistently smooth laps all weekend, the only time Schrage was not at the top of the time charts was in qualifying, where he turned the second-fastest lap time. Karsten Defonce showed considerable improvement throughout the weekend, earning the #2 podium spot, while Sebastian Mateo Naranjo was back on the blocks again in third. Ethan Tovo earned his best result in the 2024 F1600 season, taking the checkers in fourth, just ahead of Timothy Steele. In the F1600 Masters class, Joe Colasacco beat David Livingston Jr. to the win, while Scott Rubenzer was third in class.
Atlantic 016 & Open
Qualifying
1. Matthew Butson - 016 – 1:20.157
2. Dudley Fleck - 016 – 1:20.365
3. Nathan Byrd - Open – 1:22.093
4. John Mcaleer - 016 – 1:22.941
5. Steve Hamilton - Open – 1:26.691
F2000
Qualifying
1. JT Novosielski – 1:24.958
2. Gabriel Cahan – 1:25.460
3. Dane McMahon – 1:26.695
4. Jonathan Farmer – 1:26.837
5. Steve Jenks – 1:27.004
Race #1
The race for cash in the F2000 class was won by 2023 season champion JT Novosielski as he was able to convert his pole position into a victory in the first race of the weekend. Earning $1000 for his win, Novosielski was excited to rejoin FRP and had his sights on a clean weekend sweep with race two. Dan McMahon also took home some cash for his efforts in a solid drive to second advancing from his P3 starting spot while Steve Jenks celebrated with them on the podium in third. Jonathan Farmer and Robert Wright rounded out the top-five, with Dave Weitzenhof capturing both the “6th Place Sucks” award AND the Hard Charger award.
In the Atlantic 016 class, Dudley Fleck drove his way past pole sitter Mathew Butson to the front for several laps, before Mathew regained the lead. The front duo’s multiple lap battle ended when engine issues forced Bitson to park on lap 11. The front battle resumed with John Mcaleer getting past Nathan Bryd also on lap 11, setting the finish order for the Atlantic classes with Fleck, Macaleer, and Butson on the 016 podium and Bryd, Steve Hamilton, and Austin Holtgraewe on the Open Class podium.
Atlantic 016 & Open
Qualifying
1. Matthew Butson - 016 – 1:17.712
2. Dudley Fleck - 016 – 1:18.218
3. Nathan Byrd - Open – 1:19.418
4. John Mcaleer - 016 – 1:20.352
5. Paulie Gatto - Open – 1:26.401
F2000
Qualifying
1. JT Novosielski – 1:24.140
2. Gabriel Cahan – 1:24.985
3. Dane McMahon – 1:25.085
4. Steve Jenks – 1:26.696
5. Jonathan Farmer – 1:28.950
Race #2
It was three Atlantic 016 drivers who found themselves in the top-three positions overall in race two of the weekend led by Butson. Improving two positions from the day prior, Butson took the win in the 17-lap race on route to a double podium weekend. Behind him, Fleck secured the second step on the box to go with his victory the day prior, beating Mcaleer, who ran third. Steve Hamilton took top honors in the Atlantic Open class ahead of Pauli Gatto and Austin Holtgraewe who rounded out the podium.
In the F2000 class, JT Novosielski took his second win in as many days, scoring major cash for his effort. The dominant driver over the weekend, Novosielski was unbeatable in wheel-to-wheel action. Gabriel Cahan earned his third podium in four races, finishing second for the second day in a row, adding some solid points to his championship with Dan McMahon in third. Steve Jenks and Robert Wright ran fourth and fifth on the day, taking home money for their finishing position.
Next up for Formula Race Promotions will be the Lime Rock Park over the May 24-27 weekend. Stay tuned to RaceFRP.com for more information.
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