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The SCCA Runoffs Features Over 500 Racers In 25 Classes but The Biggest Prize is Only Open to Those with Mazda Power
October 9, 2008 (Topeka, Kansas). As everyone in racing knows, on any given weekend, there are more Mazdas on the road-race tracks of America than any other brand of vehicle. Nowhere will that be more apparent than this weekend at Heartland Park Topeka, when over 100 Mazda racers will compete in over a dozen classes at the annual SCCA National Championship Runoffs.
Spec Miata has become the biggest single make spec class in the world, and it is not uncommon to find fields of 50+ cars in a race. Formula Mazda is the other Mazda exclusive class for rotary powered open wheel racers. For those who prefer racing against open fields of Porsches, Chevrolets, Toyotas, Hondas, and the others, the Mazda brand can be found in multiple showroom stock and production modified classes. The two most popular models are of course the MX-5 Miata, and the legendary RX-7.
Mazda believes in pay for performance and will be paying contingency in the amounts of $5000, $2500, and $1250 for first, second, and third place finishes. In 2007, Mazda paid out over $40,000 in contingency, including five national champions:
Robert Huffmaster | Rochester Hills, Mich. | Touring 3 | Mazda RX-8 |
Thomas Thrash Jr. | Houston, Texas | E Production | Mazda RX-7 |
Jesse Prather | Topeka, Kansas | F Production | Mazda MX-5 Miata |
Brad Rampelberg | San Jose, Calif. | Spec Miata | Mazda MX-5 Miata |
Jim Goughary Jr. | Jupiter, Fla. | Formula Mazda | Formula Mazda |
Club Racer to Professional
In 2006 Mazda inaugurated a program to help launch a club racer into the professional ranks. All SCCA national champions who raced a Mazda, a Mazda powered formula car, or Mazda powered sports racer were eligible to compete in a shootout with the prize being a brand new MX-5 and the parts to build a MX-5 Cup car. In round numbers this is a $50,000 prize, greater than any other offered in club racing today.
In the first two years, the program has been a great success:
- In 2006 Andrew Caddell won the SCCA Runoffs in Spec Miata. Thanks to Mazda, Andrew went on to race in the 2007 MX-5 Cup, winning two races, finishing as runner-up for the championship. In 2008 he won the inaugural Ford Racing Mustang Challenge for the Miller Cup as his career continues to advance.
- In 2007 Brad Rampelberg won the SCCA Runoffs in Spec Miata and he is currently chasing the 2008 Playboy MX-5 Cup having scored a win in only his third-ever pro race, and followed it up with a second win at the Miller Motorsports Park. Brad is currently sixth in points with one race to go.
About Mazda:
Mazda is the brand of choice for road-racers across North America. More than 9,000 grassroots racers compete in various classes with the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) and the National Auto Sport Association (NASA). Racers who are years away from earning a driver’s license can now begin their professional motorsports careers in the Mazda family. A driver can begin in karts and progress through the Skip Barber series, Club Racing Formula Mazda, professional Star Mazda and finally to Formula Atlantic, all with Mazda. No other car company has ever connected the dots this way.
On any given weekend, there are more Mazdas on the road-race tracks of America than any other brand of vehicle. At the track, you’ll see MX-5 Miata, RX-8, MAZDA3, MAZDA6, RX-7 and other vintage Mazda models competing, because every Mazda has the Soul of a Sports Car. In fact, the largest road-racing class in the world is Spec Miata, with more than 1,500 first- and second-generation Miatas tearing up America’s racetracks, making it the most-raced production car in the world. Mazda’s involvement in motorsports extends to its relationship with Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, one of the world’s premier road-racing circuits, and the Skip Barber Schools for driving and racing.
Headquartered in Irvine, Calif., Mazda North American Operations oversees the sales, marketing, parts and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States, Canada and Mexico through nearly 900 dealers. Operations in Canada are managed by Mazda Canada, Inc., located in Ontario, Canada, and in Mexico by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City.
About SCCA Pro Racing Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup:
Stepping up in place of the former MAZDASPEED Miata Cup, the SCCA Pro Racing Mazda MX-5 Cup made its debut in 2006. Featuring identical Mazda MX-5s on spec Kumho tires, MX-5 Cup gives drivers the opportunity to run on high-profile weekends in an economical, entry-level racing series. The 2008 MX-5 Cup schedule features eight races at prestigious events across North America, and with grids composed of roughly 30 cars at each race, MX-5 Cup has become one of the best shows in motorsports today. The season champion is awarded a factory supported Mazda ride in the series above. 2007 MX-5 Cup Champion Jason Saini raced a MAZDA6 in the 2008 SCCA Pro Racing SPEED World Challenge Touring Car Championship becoming Rookie-of-the-Year . Visit www.mx-5cup.com to learn more.
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For more information on Mazda products, visit the online Mazda media center at www.MazdaUSAmedia.com
For more information on MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development, visit www.MAZDASPEEDDevelopment.com
For more information on the Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup visit www.mx-5cup.com