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SCCA Runoffs: Keller edges Kasemets in
Formula Ford Championship race
Chris Keller came out on top of last lap drag race in the Formula Ford race in Kansas
Chris Keller, of Green Brook, N.J., raced Tonis Kasemets, of Mundelein, Ill., out of the circuit’s
final turn and down the front straight to nip Kasemets by the nose of his Formula Ford at the
finish line to capture a 0.136-second victory at the 45th SCCA National Championship
Runoffs at Heartland Park Topeka.
Jeremy Treadway, of Putnam Station, N.Y., survived an early-race incident to finish third.
Kasemets jumped out to an early lead in his No. 37 Goodyear Vestal 09F while polesitter
Keller, in the No. 15 Goodyear/Loynings Engine Service/FastForward Swift DB6 battled with
Tony Coello.
Keller slipped past Coello on lap three, but by that point Kasesmets had opened up a lead of
more than two seconds.
While Keller had begun to close the gap on Kasemets, Treadway was battling with No. 2
Michael Sauce and No. 44 Alex Schutte for fourth place.
The battle for position however ended when Schutte and Treadway made contact in turn 14,
ending with Schutte stopped on track and the yellow flags waving for a full-course caution.
That erased Kasemets’ gap on Keller, and when the race restarted on lap nine, Keller began
looking for an opportunity to steal the lead.
The 20 year-old pulled past Kasemets for the first time on lap 12, only to relinquish the lead
just a few turns later. Close the entire time, Keller was only ahead of Kasemets at the stripe to
get credit for a lap led on lap 14.
Kasemets had an answer for every move the Keller made, with Kasemets’ holding the
advantage at the start of the final lap.
Running virtually nose-to-tail for 13 corners, Kasemets ledthe way heading out of Heartland
Park’s 14th and final turn. Things however suddenly went wrong for the 2000 Formula
Continental National Champion, as what would later be diagnosed as an engine problem,
allowed Keller the gap and beat Kasemets in the drag race to the checkered.
Driving the same car that Keith Nunes piloted to a Runoffs gold medal in 1998 and 1999,
Keller scored the National title in his first-ever Runoffs start.
Formula Ford Championship race
Chris Keller came out on top of last lap drag race in the Formula Ford race in Kansas
Chris Keller, of Green Brook, N.J., raced Tonis Kasemets, of Mundelein, Ill., out of the circuit’s
final turn and down the front straight to nip Kasemets by the nose of his Formula Ford at the
finish line to capture a 0.136-second victory at the 45th SCCA National Championship
Runoffs at Heartland Park Topeka.
Jeremy Treadway, of Putnam Station, N.Y., survived an early-race incident to finish third.
Kasemets jumped out to an early lead in his No. 37 Goodyear Vestal 09F while polesitter
Keller, in the No. 15 Goodyear/Loynings Engine Service/FastForward Swift DB6 battled with
Tony Coello.
Keller slipped past Coello on lap three, but by that point Kasesmets had opened up a lead of
more than two seconds.
While Keller had begun to close the gap on Kasemets, Treadway was battling with No. 2
Michael Sauce and No. 44 Alex Schutte for fourth place.
The battle for position however ended when Schutte and Treadway made contact in turn 14,
ending with Schutte stopped on track and the yellow flags waving for a full-course caution.
That erased Kasemets’ gap on Keller, and when the race restarted on lap nine, Keller began
looking for an opportunity to steal the lead.
The 20 year-old pulled past Kasemets for the first time on lap 12, only to relinquish the lead
just a few turns later. Close the entire time, Keller was only ahead of Kasemets at the stripe to
get credit for a lap led on lap 14.
Kasemets had an answer for every move the Keller made, with Kasemets’ holding the
advantage at the start of the final lap.
Running virtually nose-to-tail for 13 corners, Kasemets ledthe way heading out of Heartland
Park’s 14th and final turn. Things however suddenly went wrong for the 2000 Formula
Continental National Champion, as what would later be diagnosed as an engine problem,
allowed Keller the gap and beat Kasemets in the drag race to the checkered.
Driving the same car that Keith Nunes piloted to a Runoffs gold medal in 1998 and 1999,
Keller scored the National title in his first-ever Runoffs start.
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