2007 Subaru Impreza WRX

This year, Yamada returned to set the fastest lap time of the event, running a full 10 seconds faster than the original record. Still that wasn't enough to beat the standing record set last year by Nobuteru "NOB" Taniguchi in the HKS Evo VIII CT230R. However, despite the appearance of Japanese teams dominating, several American companies and drivers have been making names for themselves with some previously unimaginable lap times. Tyler McQuarrie and the now U.S.-operated C-West/BC S2000 team have been setting records across the country all year. The show continued at the Super Lap with them breaking into the 1:46s in the Unlimited FR class. Then there's Tim Kuo who reset both the Limited AWD and Limited FF records while piloting the Evasive Motorsport Evo IX and Sportcar Motion Civic.

With the way things are going, I'd dare say that aftermarket manufacturers and shops are gaining more exposure and credibility at this venue than at any other event in the country, and that includes SEMA. But that's not to imply that there isn't room for individual efforts. The relatively new street classes accounted for nearly half of the entries this year. The top three times in the Street AWD class were all within half a second of each other. Nils Leufven in the Factor X/ Robispec Evo VIII took the top spot with Ryan Gates and AMS owner, Martin Musial, right behind in their AMS-equipped Evo Xs.

The lap times in each class are going to have to taper off here soon. The wall that is physics can only give so much-but then again few believed a sport compact car would ever run a 10-second quarter-mile pass. It's hard to say if we're in the low 6s or the high 13s right now, but we can't wait to see how far this thing goes. On behalf of the SCC staff both past and present, aim for the 5s.

Buttonwillow Finals