When a friend sleeps through qualifying and decides to continue their catnap as the race nears, the responsible driver takes the keys, unplugs their friend’s alarm clock, and suits up. Such was the case when Derek Wang started this ICSCC race in last place thanks to his friend snoozing. Rather than let the race fall apart, however, this talented hotshoe managed to sneak through a field of Miatas and CRXs to snag victory with late braking, drafting, and clever positioning.

Derek’s impressive karting resume indicates he’s quite good at maintaining momentum, and as he rolls more speed into and through most of the corners, he’s able to get a few good runs in before the third lap is over. Wang certainly has a skill advantage over the second half of the field, and a power advantage as well. Yet, with the narrow confines of Spokane County Raceway preventing him from simply outdragging his opposition, he has to bide his time and choose the ideal spot to overtake.

Considering how gutsy his charge is in certain sections, he’s refreshingly courteous to those who don’t make his life too difficult as he gets around them. Wang’s a driver with quite a lot of experience, and it seems the field was aware they were in the presence of a genuine talent, yet, as he nears the front (9:06), a fearless fella in a 944 bobbles, weaves, and locks his brakes in an attempt to stay ahead. Calmly, Wang gives himself a reasonable gap to the aggressive driver in the Porsche, and when he sense a chance, he dives in, goes wheel-to-wheel and emerges victorious.

Good thing his friend was jetlagged.