944 Cup Winner by Dave Derecola

After just his first full season in the series, Chesapeake’s own Eric Rupert out of Churchville, Maryland, stood atop the year end points standings after thirteen races to lay claim to the 944 Cup Championship.

Eric began track events in a Porsche Boxster with a season of Drivers Ed with PCA Potomac in 1999. In 2001, purchased a 911 and began club racing with PCA. For the next 2 years he raced in both PCA and SCCA. In late 2003 bought a 944 and began racing in the 944Cup.

His reason for making the jump into the 944 Cup series, Eric said ”After 3 years of Club Racing, I had three criteria when deciding what series to race next. First and foremost, close racing followed by reduced travel and finally budget. The Cup Series was the only option to satisfy all criteria. Two races per weekend really works well for those with other major time commitments (family, church, work, etc). I purchased a 944 on a rent-to-buy basis. After the very first race, I was hooked. “

In his run for the Championship this year, Eric’s quickness and consistency had him finishing on the podium in 11 races with his Cignatta Motorworks 1983 944. He dominated the races held at the series’ home track Summit Point, winning four of six, breaking the track record for the series on more then one occasion.

The Championship was decided not until the 13th and final race of the season at Summit Point in November. Eric found himself in an old fashion knife fight with Joe Hrymack from the Jersey Shore Region for much of the season, with the lead going back and for almost every race. Whoever won this last race would be the Champ.

Jersey Joe in his Rothman’s 944 went into the last race with a mere 2 point lead over Eric, but found himself qualifying 3 spots behind him. Within a lap, the two locked bumpers, and were not to be separated until lap 7 when Jersey Joe decided it was time to make his move. It was in Turn 3 that the Championship would be decided when the Rothman’s tried a brave “no brake” approach to take a run for a pass in Turn 4. The move didn’t work and the Rothman’s just caught an edge on the gravel trap and went sideways.

Eric took the lead of the race and for the Championship. He never looked back and cruised to a comfortable victory, and bragging rights for the next year.