The series made its way back to Summit Point Raceway for rounds 13 and 14 of the 2006 points season on August 26-27. Due to logistics, the Honda Challenge group would see H1 split from the group, as they would be running with the larger displacement cars. The spectators would then be treated to not only one but two Honda Challenge races on both Saturday and Sunday!

In H1, Pete Curpier would put his H22-powered Civic on the pole with a lap time of 1:24.2. Chad Slagg, with his K20A-powered Civic would be slotted into 2nd position with a time of 1:24.5. Kevin Helms in his B20vtec-powered Civic would start from the 3rd spot with a lap time of 1:25.2. Adam Curpier (H22-powered Integra Type R) and Jason Franza (K20A-powered Integra Type R) would round out the top 5 qualifying spots, respectively. John Oldt (S2000), Matt Bookler (B18C5-powered Civic), and Andrew Lee (B18C-powered Civic) would round out the H1 grid. On the standing start, Slagg and Franza would both utilize the torque of the K20A and would come out of the first turn in 1st and 2nd, respectively. Franza would be able to slip by Slagg in turn 5, but Slagg would regain the position just four turns later, and would hold on for the race win. Franza would claim 2nd. Pete Curpier and Kevin Helms were engulfed in a fierce battle, swapping positions several times, before coming together in the brake zone of turn 1. Pete Curpier would hold onto the 3rd position, while Helms would take 4th. Adam Curpier would claim 5th. Oldt, Bookler, and Lee would complete the H1 finishing order. Slagg would claim fast lap of the race, a 1:23.9.

H2 would see a familiar face on the pole, John Whitaker in his #88 ITR, with a lap time of 1:27.6. Walt McKinney in his #577 Prelude would start from 2nd with a time of 1:29.9. McKinney would complete a stellar drive and severely close the gap to Whitaker, but it would not be enough, as Whitaker would claim yet another class win. Whitaker also set the fast lap with a 1:27.5.

In H4, Wendell Holmes in his #124 Integra would start from pole with a time of 1:30.2. Andrew Zimmerman in his #81 Integra would start from 2nd with a 1:30.9, while Trevor Melville in his #333 Prelude would start from 3rd with a time of 1:31.3. Navigating through much traffic, Holmes would take the class win. Melville would improve his finishing position and would take the 2nd, while Zimmerman would finish 3rd. Holmes also set fast lap with a 1:30.9.

H5 would see yet another round in an already intense rivalry. Adam Mouradian in the #52 CRX would claim the pole with a lap time of 1:31.2. Beno Rubin in the #8 Civic would start from 2nd with a time of 1:31.7, while Zephyr Belski would start from the 3rd spot with a time of 1:31.9. Keith Edwards in the #46 CRX would start from the 4th spot. On a mission, Belski would be able to overtake Mouradian for the race win, after a nose-to-tail battle for the entire race! Edwards would claim a 3rd place finish, while Rubin was forced to retire due to engine failure. Belski also set fast lap for H5, a 1:30.1, which was .8 quicker than the H4 fast lap!

In H1, Franza would claim the race pole with a lap time of 1:24.1. Pete Curpier and Helms would claim the 2nd and 3rd spots, with times of 1:25.0 and 1:25.1. Adam Curpier and Slagg would round out the top 5. Franza would lead for the entire race until Slagg, through a miraculous drive, would snatch the race win on the last turn of the last lap. Franza would take 2nd, while Helms would claim 3rd. Oldt would claim the 4th spot, while Bookler would take 5th. Both Adam and Pete Curpier would unfortunately be forced to retire after suffering mechanical issues. Slagg would again set fast lap of the race, a 1:23.5.

H2 would see a repeat of its qualifying grid, with Whitaker taking the pole with yet another 1:27.5. McKinney would again start the race from 2nd, although improving his qualifying time from Saturday with a 1:29.0. Whitaker would again claim the win, setting fast lap in the process with a 1:27.8.

In H4, Holmes would again claim the pole, with a time of 1:30.0. The 2nd spot would be taken by Melville, with a time of 1:31.9. Less than a tenth behind Melville, Zimmerman would start the race from 3rd with a 1:32.0. Holmes wasn’t to be denied, and would repeat as class winner, besting his qualifying time by more than a second with a 1:28.9! Unable to start the race due to mechanical problems, Melville would sit out, and Zimmerman would claim 2nd place.

H5 would see Belski again on pole, this time with a lap time of 1:31.0. Mouradian would start from 2nd with a 1:31.6. Rubin, who was forced to retire on Saturday, would be driving Keith Edwards’ #46 machine for Sunday, and would start the race from 3rd with a qualifying time of 1:36.0. Another intense battle would be witnessed between Belski and Mouradian, with Belski yet again getting the better of the two. Mouradian would take 2nd, while Rubin would claim 3rd.

The East Coast Honda Challenge would like to extend its sincere appreciation to King RAT Motorsports , NASA Mid-Atlantic , the entire Summit Point Raceway staff, the fans, the competitors and their families for providing yet another memorable weekend.

The East Coast Honda Challenge will return to Summit Point Raceway for its final weekend, rounds 15 and 16, of the 2006 points season on October 14-15. For more information regarding the Honda Challenge, please visit our website, www.honda-challenge.com .