Thunderhill Gives Scott Ivie Home Field Advantage May 1-2, 2004, Driver Commentary
Scott Ivie, #47 -New ASC Points Leader: "I knew going into this weekend's races that it would be my best chance so far this year of pulling out a win, simply because at the other tracks this season, I had little or no experience racing on and Thunderhill is one of my favorites."

"Saturday's qualifying went very well for me and I had a couple of good runs in the 1:53's which I thought should get me at least in the top three, but I had no idea I was running over a second faster than Mike (Arnheiter) who qualified second at a 1:54.8. I got the pole with a 1:53.550."

"Saturday's race started off very well as Mike and I dragged raced into turn 1 with neither giving an inch. I happened to somehow get the jump on him and I was leading exiting turn 1. From that point until lap 3, I went very much on "cruise control" running consistently 1:56's and 1:57's. In lap three, I started to run into lapped traffic and from there on, I was busy enough having to pass the next 29 cars in the other race groups that were racing with us. When the white flag came out I realized it was Jeff Glowniak and not Mike behind me. I comfortably took the checkered with Jeff about 5.9 seconds behind."

"Sunday's qualifying didn't go very well for me. Last minute car preparations made me be a bit late to the pre-grid and I lined up at the back of the ASC cars in the line. I still thought I would be able to get at least one clean run but I didn't. I qualified 4th with a 1:56.137. I knew if I was going to win this race, I would have to pass three great drivers, Mike (Arnheiter), Dave (Arnheiter) and Steve (Carvajal) that were ahead of me after qualifying.

The start of the race was very clean and I was right on Dave's bumper going into turn 1. On the exit, Dave went off a little wide and I moved in behind Steve before turn 2. I stayed close on Steve and made a good run on him going into 8. That put me behind Mike at the breaking point going into 9. From that part until the end of the race, it was the most intense racing ever for me! Several times we were bumper to bumper at 100 MPH plus in very heavy traffic!

My intent was to see I could rattle Mike a bit hoping to force him into making a mistake but he never did. I didn't want to make a bad move or a mistake myself either because I knew that I had to finish in front of Dave (Arnheiter) to be number one in points standings. Taking a risk and pushing for the win wouldn't have achieved what I wanted, and that was to lead in the points after the weekend. Not to take anything away from Mike, because he drove a very good and defensive race just like I did the day before. He never allowed me to get a run on him or make a pass under braking. Our lap times were nearly the same every lap. The second to last lap was the fastest for both of us. Mike's was 1:56.400 and mine only 6 one thousandths behind at 1:56.406. That's how close it was! When the white flag came out I thought I could take him but every time I would make a move, he would counter. Going into the last turn, before the front straight, I again got within few feet from his bumper but this was probably his best turn and was certainly my worst. I couldn't get him and I finished second just five tenths of a second behind. Congrats to Mike, he did very well."

And Congratulations to Scott Ivie and Mike Arnheiter for their respective wins.

Final Results:

Race 1

    1. Scott Ivie, California Financial Group, Chevy Montecarlo #47
    2. Jeff Glowniak, Gearhead Motorsports, Chevy Montecarlo #34
    3. Mike Arnheiter, Agoura Painting, Pontiac Grand Prix, # 80

Race 2

    1. Mike Arnheiter, Agoura Painting, Pontiac Grand Prix, # 80
    2. Scott Ivie, California Financial Group, Chevy Montecarlo #47
    3. Jeff Glowniak, Gearhead Motorsports, Chevy Montecarlo #34

Next Round: Buttonwillow Raceway Park, June 5-6, 2004.