AWESOME!!!!!!!! Our own Mark Pombo of Duluth, GA takes the first Jetta TDI Cup race at VIR! He started 4th on grid. If you haven’t read our interview with Mark, it is a must!
Michael DeNino maintained his 10th place during qualifying and finished 10th.
We will have a follow up from Mark and Michael!
In its worldwide debut, the first Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup race was held Sunday at VIRginia International Raceway, with rising star Mark Pombo crossing the finish line after completing 11 laps in the 30-minute sprint race. With a best lap time of 2:15.686 Pombo, 25, from Duluth, GA., raced against 28 other up-and-coming drivers to secure his win in the race.
“Winning the first race of the Jetta TDI Cup is definitely a highlight of my racing career so far,” said Pombo. “It’s a competitive field of racers, with each of the drivers at the top of their game. I wouldn’t have been able to achieve this win without the support of the Volkswagen cup series team and Cates Engineering.”
“We couldn’t be more thrilled about our first Jetta TDI Cup race experience,” said Stefan Jacoby, president/CEO, Volkswagen of America, Inc. “We had an amazing event in Virginia with Governor Kaine in attendance, ‘Max’ leading the pack as pace car, and incredibly talented young drivers racing clean diesel cars in what’s proving to be a very competitive race series.”
Complete Jetta TDI Cup race results are listed below with finishing position, starting position in parentheses, driver, hometown, and laps completed.
1. (4), Mark Pombo, Duluth, Ga., 11
2. (5), Derek Jones, Philadelphia, Pa., 11, -.463
3. (6), Jimmy Underhill, Denver, Colo., 11, -.532
4. (7), David Jurca, Federal Way, Wash., 11, -.831
5. (20), Gary Williams_Jr., Dana Point, Calif., 11, -1.171
6. (2), Caleb Kenney, Berkeley, Calif., -1.629
7. (21), Chris Kuenning(R), Grand Rapids, Mich., 11, -2.381
8. (11), Chris Castagna, Boston, Mass., 11, -2.556
9. (8), Juan Pablo Sierra Lendle, Puebla, MX, 11, -3.269
10. (10), Michael DeNino, Gaithersburg, Md., 11, -4.122
11. (16), Jake Dallenbach(R), San Antonio, Texas, 11, -4.846
12. (24), Adam Kretschmer(R), Brampton, Ontario, 11, -8.487
13. (19), Andy Lee, Colorado Springs, Colo., 11, -11.204
14. (25), Nick Mancuso, Mettawa, Ill., 11, -11.663
15. (26), Andrew Cordeiro, Woodbridge, Ontario, 11, -11.828
16. (29), Taylor Broekemeier(R), Fort Collins, Colo., 11, -12.457
17. (28), Adam Love(R), Normal, Ill., 11, -14.986
18. (17), Wyatt Dallenbach(R), San Antonio, Texas, 11, -15.751
19. (23), James Kirkham, Beaverton, Ore., 11, -18.063
20. (13), Ryan Buetzer, Long Beach, Calif., 11, -18.195
21. (27), David Richert(R), Niverville MB, Canada, 11, -19.377
22. (15), John Shim(R), Starkville, Miss., 11, -19.768
23. (18), Evan Pflock(R), Rendondo Beach, Calif., 11, -26.949
24. (1), Josh Hurley, Cooper City, Fla., 11, -2:11.011
25. (22), Chad Brassfield(R), Phoenix, Ariz., 10, -1 lap
26. (9), Liam Kenney, Sterling, Va., 9, DNF
27. (14), Adam Crepin(R), St. Louis, Mo., 9, DNF
28. (12), Chris Holman, Burlington, Ontario, 9, DNF
29. (3), Timmy Megenbier, Melrose Park, Ill., 3, DNF
All drivers in this innovative race participated using factory prepared and managed 2009 Jetta TDI clean-diesel vehicles powered by a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder TDI engine. The Jetta TDI is lightly modified from spec, featuring race-ready suspension and brakes, and a six-speed double-clutch automatic DSG transmission. Additionally, to highlight its environmental dedication Volkswagen has partnered with Carbonfund.org to certify the entire race series as carbon free.
The next race in the series will take place on May 16 – 18th, at Mosport International Raceway.
- Volkswagen Motorsport
Related posts:
- Jetta TDI Cup: Mark Pombo Leads wire to wire to take the win at Mosport
- Jetta TDI Cup: Mark Pombo takes the win with Timmy Megenbier claiming the Championship at Road Atlanta
- Jetta TDI Cup: Devin Cates becomes the sixth Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup Winner of 2009 in New Jersey
- Jetta TDI Cup: Polesitter Andy Lee wins Volkswagen Race at Autobahn Country Club
- Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup: Jake Thompson wins Round #2 at VIRginia International Raceway
Was there — the real drive of the day was Liam Kenney — went from 9th on the grid to first place before being punted from the rear and taken out in a mess near race end. Congrats to all!!
Congrats to Mark and all of the Pombo Family….They are the greatest…!!!!
Was also there- My favorite driver was Castagna. He went from 11th to 1st before getting punted. Great race to watch.
Congratulations from everyone here at Cates Engineering!
WHAT kind of a “race” is it when ONLY 4 cars out of 30 finish without damage? I would think that with the quality of EXPERIENCED drivers in this VERY competitive spec series that there would be some respect exibited. Hopefully the SCCA will get a handle on the “racing” so there will be cars left to finish the series. I vote for immediate, firm DICIPLINE where illegal, unsportsman like and downright dirty driving are involved before this wonderful racing opportunity evolves into a meaningless fiasco.
@everyone – thank you for swinging by and posting you comments/thoughts
@Tim – Wow. We had no idea. We are going to get reports from Mark and Michael but right now thats a shocker.
Agree, that the series needs to be run perfectly and we hope Volkswagen does not lose focus on the racing part of this vs. the $$$ of TDI sales. I’ve only heard great things so far, outside of the race portion.
Thanks again for all the input.
If you have images from the race and would like them in our gallery, let us know.
I’ve also set up a flickr group – http://www.flickr.com/groups/jettatdicup/ if your on flickr.
Congratulations to Mark Pombo. In reading his bio info it is apparent that he is an outstanding person. Just hoping his front bumper is “damage” free. I would like to see the TDI Cup launch several of the “grassroots” racers professional careers. Time will tell how the SCCA will deal with the offending drivers. Looking forward to great racing from a very talented field of young drivers. Best wishes for clean, hard racing to all the worthy competitors.
There was some dirty driving, for sure. SCCA & VW will review the footage from all the cars’ cameras and assess penalties for MoSport.
I was one of the 4 cars that came out undamaged. There were even reports of drivers hitting each other on the straightaways!
But yea, congrats to Mark Pombo, Derek Jones and Jimmy Underhill.
I’m looking forward to Canada.
John
#29 Jetta TDI Cup
@John – From your point of view, and other drivers, can a 30min race expose one to trying too hard? Where as a 55min might open you up to a bit more patience? Even then there are still not pits and an option for a stop & go.
They are definitely short races, no doubt, but the level of damage out there on Sunday was inexcusable. I was baffled as I have corner flagged for club races and I have never seen so much carnage. VW specifically put a max of 30 pts for 1st place for the first 2 races so that we all have time to adjust and so no one can think they will win the championship in 1 or 2 races.
Regardless, we all got a stern talking to and I really hope it doesn’t happen again.
Great run for Adam Kretschmer moving from 24 to 12 – after blowing a tire in qualifying. Maybe some hometown luck in race two at Mosport!
Nice drive John. You and the other three drivers without damage should have been awarded bonus points for exibiting respect, car control, SELF control and racing maturity. I know in the heat of battle split second decisions need to be made. Most of the drivers are from different parts of the country and don’t know each other. Mutual RESPECT has not been established I am sure some of the damage occured when drivers retaliated for being driven dirty; wanting to let the offending driver know EXACTLY and immediately how they felt. Emotions and adrenalin run high but that is the nature of COMPETITIVE RACING. There is NO place in racing for unabated emotions. It may well be that what happened might be a blessing in disguise. VW and SCCA know serious problems occured and HOPEFULLY the offenders will be punished to the degree of the offense committed. Surely some things were not as blatant as others. Time will tell.
Best of racing luck to you John and once again NICE DRIVE.
Thank you, Tim!
I hope MoSport will be much better – in terms of driving respect and my finishing position.