MX-5 Cup Field To Road America For Round Six
Jun. 20, 2012 - ELKHART LAKE, Wis. - The SCCA Pro Racing Playboy MX-5 Cup returns to a track that annually provides some of the closest racing on the schedule, and has proven to be a strong indicator of series champions. In five previous appearances at Road America, three have been won by future champs Jason Saini, Todd Lamb and Brad Rampelberg.
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| Nathan Sparks is looking for two podiums in a row (Weber photo) |
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Last season, Dean Copeland’s No. 7 Sync Speed Inc/Copeland Motorsports Mazda MX-5 crossed the finish line just 0.114-second ahead of Jason Saini for the win, making Copeland one of the drivers to keep an eye on this weekend.
The “watch list” for this weekend also includes the CJ Wilson Racing team, led by current Championship leader Stevan McAleer in the No. 28 CJ Wilson Children’s Charities/Blue Mercury Capital/RUFocused.com MX-5. McAleer is already a two-time winner in his rookie campaign. Joining McAleer under the CJWR tent is Elliott Skeer’s No. 17 MAZDASPEED/Sparco/Pelican Windows MX-5. The 17-year-old has a win under his belt as well, and has shown speed all season long. Joining the two championship contenders at CJWR are series regulars Emilee Tominovich (No. 19 Truecar MX-5) and Charles Paquin (No. 27 CJ Wilson Mazda/New Balance/Phiten MX-5), along with first-timer Sam Barnett in the No. 29 ModSpace Motorsports/CJWR MX-5.
Another safe bet to run up front are Sick Sideways teammates Christian Szymczak (No. 34 Projections Research/Sick Sideways MX-5) and John Dean (No. 16 Projections Research/Sick Sideways MX-5). Szymczak is second in the points and appears poised to take his first win, while Dean lurks in fourth and has won twice already in his rookie season. The team expands to four cars this weekend when Diane Mould (No. 51 Projections Research MX-5) and Steve Molnar (No. 53 Projections Research MX-5) make their debuts.
Be leery of focusing too much attention on the young drivers and ignoring the series veterans, however. Ara Malkhassian, the all-time leader in starts, sits third in the points and is coming to a track where he has traditionally finished amongst the leaders in the No. 11 ALARA Racing MX-5. Jeff Mosing was a regular podium contender a series ago and made his first 2012 start in the last race, finishing fourth in the No. 12 Frank’s International/Race Now For Autism MX-5. Jeff’s brother, Brent Mosing, is in his rookie season behind the wheel of the No. 10 Frank’s International/ALARA Racing MX-5, and Tim Probert’s No. 26 ALARA Racing MX-5 has consistently run in the top-10.
Nathan Sparks grabbed the first podium of his young career in Round Five at Mid-Ohio, and is hoping for a repeat in this weekend’s Round Six. Daniel Bender has his No. 18 Bravo Trailers MX-5 on his home track and could get into the mix, while the rapidly improving Beth Chryst is ready to run with “Miss Scarlett” – the No. 2 Chryst Brothers Construction MX-5.
Additionally, four cars will participate in the Skip Barber Racing School MAZDASPEED Pro Challenge. The arrive and drive program features identical MX-5 machines with slightly fewer modifications than the Playboy MX-5 Cup class, providing a stepping stone for drivers wishing to enter into the pro ranks and running as a separate class in the race.
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