Makishima/Lau and Pete Bovenberg win big at Buttonwillow double header

The team of Doug Makishima and Edgar Lau were one of only two drivers that won both of their races at the double header United States Touring Car Championship (USTCC) races at Buttonwillow Raceway Park, just north of Los Angeles, CA. The other driver was Pete Bovenberg who also won both of his races.

Saturday, Round 4
The team of Doug Makishima and Edgar Lau had an uneventful race working their way through traffic and securing a win the MCS/Summit Tech BMW M3 in the Super Touring class. Reto Baumann finished second in the Sparta Evolution Volkswagen Jetta after getting a poor start and losing many positions. Daniel Rose finished third in the ARG MBO Motorsports BMW M3.

In the GT class, it was Rob Harper’s P2i Services BMW 335i who won the race. He was not the fastest though as Chris Alliegro’s Intellectual Ventures Ford Mustang had a faster lap time but finished second. Larry Bani finished third in the GoGoGear.com BMW M3.

Pete Bovenberg was the quickest in the Sportsman class in the ARG MBO Motorsports Honda Civic. He charged hard at the start and built a gap and maintained the gap throughout the race. Reza Arsham, driving the Konig Wheels Honda Civic, has driven four different cars in four races and has had his share of mechanical issues this year but managed to finish in second place. Third place went to Michael McColligan who had a strong performance in his Idemitsu/Raybestos Mazda RX8.

The Touring Car class always has great racing with three winners in four races. Gary Trudeau was the pole sitter in his 3point8 Performance Hyundai Genesis and took the early lead. Ali Arsham started in second place in his Konig Wheels Hyundai Genesis with a great start that catapulted him past four cars but a near collision at Turn 1 meant that he lost those positions and had to work his way up again. He closed the gap to Trudeau and made a pass on the exit of the Phil Hill corner. Arsham managed to take the win with Trudeau in second place. Joshua Lion, driving the Lion Raisins BMW 330i, finished third.

Sunday, Round 5
The Doug Makishima/Edgar Lau team extended their winning streak and took two wins out of two in the Super Touring class in the MCS/Summit Tech BMW M3. Dave Brown driving the Sparta Evolution Volkswagen Jetta finished second with Daniel Rose’s ARG MBO Motorsports BMW M3 finishing third.

The GT class was won by the Intellectual Ventures Ford Mustang of Chris Alliegro with Rob Harper switching cars and driving a BMW M3 instead of his BMW 335i. Harper’s P2i Services BMW finished second.

Bovenberg once again showed that he is the man to beat in the Sportsman class and made it a perfect weekend with two wins out of two for the ARG MBO Motorsports Honda Civic. Michael McColligan had his Idemitsu/Raybestos Mazda RX8 perfectly sorted and took the second podium spot with Brad Austin getting his first podium position with the TNI Racing Mazda MX-5.

Newcomer Joshua Lion was very strong on Sunday and he took the win in the Lion Raisings BMW 330i in the Touring Car class. He was followed by Gary Trudeau’s 3point8 Performance Hyundai Genesis. Finishing third with a great pass on the last lap was Victor Ng in the ARG MBO Motorsports Honda S2000.

Only one race remains on the 2020 calendar and most of the battles will be decide at Sonoma Raceway on October 10-11 for the last round.

Be sure to follow the action online and on social media and watch the entire season exclusively on Final Drive TV on NBC Sports BA available on Xfinity, Dish Network, DirecTV, AT&T Uverse and Hulu Live. You can always watch the previous seasons on YouTube.

Round 4 Results

Round 5 Results