Tim Barber takes trophy in Spec E30 NASA championship in Austin

While all eyes were on Sonoma Raceway for the recent IndyCar finale, a Sonoma driver took first in a “grassroots” championship race in Austin, Texas, on the same weekend,

On Sept.16, Tim Barber of Sonoma won the Spec E30 class championship at the 2018 National Auto Sport Association National Championships. The class consists of U.S.-spec BMW E30 325i coupes and sedans, sold between 1987 and 1991. All cars in the series use the BMW M20B25 engine.

The class is one of the slowest in professional racing, and least expensive, giving drivers a chance to learn racecar competition.

Barber opted for a new race suit and wrapped his car in an old-school Miller High Life logo for the championships. “I hope the wrap on the car and the suit gets a lot of press because it was a big waste of money,” he said with a laugh.

More than 450 amateur and professional drivers from across the United States converged on Circuit of The Americas outside Austin to compete for a championship in more than 20 classes.

This year’s National Championships was the largest field of competitors since NASA was formed in 1991.

NASA is one of the United States’ largest grassroots motorsports groups, with numerous drivers moving into the professional ranks.

The racers drove the same 3.4-mile road course that Formula 1 drivers will run in late October on the North American leg of their tour. With varying elevations and challenging turns, the Circuit of The Americas road course pushes amateur and professional drivers’ skills to their limits.