In H1, Chad Slagg would sit on the pole for the rolling start with a laptime of 1:23.5 in his #14 K20A Civic. Jason Franza in his #06 K20A Integra Type R would start from the 2nd position with a laptime of 1:23.9. Kevin Helms in his #05 B20vtec Civic hatchback would start from 3rd after turning a laptime of 1:24.6. John Oldt in the #75 S2000 and Justin Culbert in the #01 K20A Integra Type R would round out the top 5 positions on the grid. Kelsey Smith, a visiting racer from the Midwest region in the #112 S2000, would be slotted in the 6th position after running just his 2nd session ever at Summit Point! Pete Curpier in the #42 H22-powered Civic coupe, Matt Bookler in the #33 B18-powered Civic hatchback, and Andrew Lee in the #27 B18C-powered Civic hatchback would complete the H1 grid, respectively. Slagg would be able to utilize traffic well, and would stretch to a sizeable lead early in the race. Franza and Helms would stay near each other for most of the race. Curpier, driving the #45 Integra Type R, due to electrical issues with his own car, would be on a tear from the start and was making up positions by the lap. After having a great run for a good portion of the race, Oldt would suffer a spin in turn 5, the entry to the carousel. This would enable Smith, Bookler, and Lee to advance in position. Although Slagg would take the checker, he would later be repositioned due to passing under yellow. Franza would take the win, while Helms would finish 2nd. Curpier, after an unbelievable drive, would take the final podium spot after starting last in the H1 grid! Smith would claim 4th by a nose in his first ever race at Summit, while Bookler would take 5th after an epic battle with Smith. Lee would finish 6th after having a great battle with Bookler himself, while Culbert and Oldt would complete the H1 finishing order. Franza would claim fast lap of the race with a 1:23.3.

In H2, the 1st and 2nd positions would be separated by a mere tenth of a second. John Whitaker in the #88 Integra Type R would claim the pole with a laptime of 1:26.61. Walt McKinney in the #577 Prelude would start from 2nd with a laptime of 1:26.76. After building a considerable lead, Whitaker would suffer clutch failure which would allow McKinney to cruise to his first Honda Challenge win. Whitaker would claim fast lap for H2, a 1:26.9.

H4 saw a great qualifying grid, made up of 6 cars. On the pole making his presence felt, would be Colin Botha, who was another Midwest regional racer. His #49 CRX would start from the pole after qualifying with a time of 1:27.8. Rookie Ryan Jenkins in the #98 Integra would start from the 2nd spot with a laptime of 1:28.8. Andrew Zimmerman in the #81 Integra would start from 3rd with a time of 1:30.4. Trevor Melville in the #333 Prelude and Windell Holmes in the #124 Integra would start from the 4th and 5th positions, respectively. Botha, much like he was at the National Championships at Mid-Ohio, would be too tough and would go on to win from pole. Jenkins would complete a great drive himself and would be able to hold off Zimmerman, who finished in 3rd, for 2nd place. Having both encountered problems in the race, Heath Haynes in the #15 Integra (was unable to qualify) and Melville would both DNF. Botha would claim the fast lap and a new H4 record by nearly a full second, a 1:26.8!

H5 would see Beno Rubin back returning to the field in his #8 plus a new face in rookie Sean Curran, who was piloting the #256 CRX. Joining them were Zephyr Belski in the #517 Civic, fresh off his victory at the National Championships and Keith Edwards in the #46 CRX. Belski would obtain the pole with a lap time of 1:30.2. Starting from 2nd on the grid would be Rubin, having run a time of 1:32.2. Curran would start from 3rd with a 1:34.8, while Edwards would start from the 4th position. Belski would turn in another dominant performance, and would win from the pole. Rubin would complete a solid drive himself and would finish in 2nd, while the rookie Curran would secure a podium spot in his first ever race in 3rd. Always consistent, Edwards would continue his record of most consecutive HC finishes and would finish in 4th. Belski would set the fastest lap with a 1:31.1.

The pre-race grid would be shuffled in H1 from the day before as Franza would sit on the pole with a laptime of 1:23.808. Helms would be just eight thousandths behind with a 1:23.816! Slagg would start from the third spot with a 1:24.0. Curpier, who again was piloting an unfamiliar Integra Type R due to electrical problems in the #42 Civic, would qualify 4th on the grid, while Culbert would start from the 5th position. Oldt, Smith, Bookler, and Lee would round out the H1 qualifying grid, respectively. Helms would be able to grab the race lead heading out of the first turn, with Franza and Slagg close behind. After Helms got a less than optimal run out of turn 10, Franza would be able to regain the race lead on the front straight. Helms would yet again recapture the lead heading into turn 1 on the next lap, with Slagg just behind Franza. Near the halfway point, Slagg would be able to pull along side Franza in turn one, and assume 2nd place. Franza would regain the 2nd spot after Slagg was forced wide in turn one on the next lap. With just three laps remaining, Franza would come together with a Mustang in the carousel, leaving Slagg with the ability to cruise to the class championship. He would not let up, however, and would chase Helms for the remainder of the race. Helms would be too tough, and would end the year on a great note with a win. Slagg would finish in 2nd, while Curpier after an unbelievable drive with an unfamiliar craft would take a 3rd place finish. Culbert and Smith would take 4th and 5th place respectively, while Bookler, Oldt, and Franza would complete the H1 finishing order. Slagg would turn the fastest lap of the race, a 1:23.4.

H2 would see only McKinney make the grid, as Whitaker would be unable to run due to his clutch failure from the day before. Although winning by default, McKinney would close out a very successful and well-driven rookie season.

H4 would have one of the tightest qualifying positions in Honda Challenge history, as the pole was acquired by Botha by just five thousandths (1:27.93) of a second over Jenkins (1:27.98)! Haynes would find himself 3rd on the grid after running a 1:29.1. Zimmerman and Melville would complete the H4 pre-race grid. As he was the day before, Botha would simply be too much, as he would win from pole and best his lap record from the day before with a 1:26.804. Jenkins would edge Haynes for 2nd, while Melville and Zimmerman completed the H4 finishing order. As stated above, Botha would grab fast lap of the race, a new lap record, with a 1:26.804!

H5 would see its qualifying order from the day before unchanged, as Belski would once again sit on pole with a time of 1:31.1. Rubin would again start from 2nd with a time of 1:34.3, while rookie Sean Curran would start from 3rd after running a 1:36.0. Edwards would round out the H5 starting grid. The National Champ would once again prove too tough down the stretch, withstanding a tough test from Rubin. Belski would edge Rubin for the win, while Curran would again grab 3rd place with Edwards finishing in the 4th spot. Belski would again set fast lap, a 1:30.6.

The East Coast Honda Challenge would also like to congratulate the following on a spectacular 2006 season to the following notable finishes:

H1:

• Chad Slagg (Champion)
• Jason Franza (2nd place)
• Pete Curpier (3rd place)
  

H2:

• John Whitaker (Champion)
• Walt McKinney (2nd place)
  

H4:

• Andrew Zimmerman (Champion)
• Ryan Jenkins (2nd place)
• Trevor Melville (3rd place)
  

H5:

• Adam Mouradian (Champion)
• Zephyr Belski (2nd place)
• Beno Rubin (3rd place)
  

East Coast Honda Challenge “Rookie of the Year”:

• John Oldt
  

East Coast Honda Challenge “Man of the Year”:

• Adam Curpier
  

The East Coast Honda Challenge extends its sincere thanks to its title sponsor, King RAT Motorsports for such great support throughout the 2006 points season. We also thank the entire NASA Mid-Atlantic family, along with the Summit Point Raceway staff. Much appreciation goes out to the fans, the competitors, and their families. Thanks to all for truly making 2006 a year to remember!

For information regarding the upcoming 2007 season, please check our website, Honda-challenge.com.