TOPEKA, Kan. (Oct. 11, 2008) – In his 17th Runoffs start, Peter Zekert, of Maryland Heights, Mo., claimed his first National Title, winning GT-Lite at the 45th SCCA National Championship Runoffs.

Starting third, Zekert became the luckiest man in the race before the green flag even flew, as the entire front row disappeared before the race could begin. First, polesitter Christopher Bovis lost power to his No. 1 Honda CRX on the pace lap, when a piece of rubber became lodged in the air intake. Bovis’ disabled car, stopped on the back stretch, forced the starter to wave off the start so the safety crew could remove the vehicle. Then, as the field reformed and approached the final corner before the front straight, second-place qualifier Brian Linn pulled his No. 21 Hoosier Tires/CW Horton GC MG Midget into pitlane. When the green flag waved, Zekert became the polesitter.

Shadown’s No. 72 Goodyear/RedLine/Road-n-Race Honda CRX followed Zekert into Turn One. Shadowen was soon passed by the No. 6 FMR/Goodyear/Rebello Racing Nissan Sentra SE-R of Lans Stout, from Cornelius, Ore., who would then set his sights on Zekert. Stout kept the pressure on Zekert until lap 13, when a driving error caused the rear-end of his car to get loose and send him on an off-course excursion through the Turn Four grass.

Zekert was never challenged again in his No. 45 Booble/Goodyear/Red Line Nissan 200SX SE-R crossing the finish line 4.573 seconds ahead of second place Shadowen, a flag to flag victory.