Autoweek article - Runoffs

[RichardP]

There was an article in Autoweek highlighting the SCCA Runoffs.

http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071015/FREE/71015003&SearchID=73297148873274

There are some interesting comments about NASA in the article which give a hint to how far we’ve come. Probably more telling, however, is the fact that there wasn’t a similar highlight article in Autoweek after our Nationals. :(


And for a quick recap of the AS results for those that are curious:
It was won by a S197 Mustang but only because the SN95 Mustang that was leading on the last lap was taken out by the second place 4th gen when he got tangled up with a back marker Fox Mustang. 3rd gen’s completed the podium…

Richard P.

[AllZWay]

.......SCCA is better known, but I would say right now NASA is better run."

:P

[RichardP]

Amateur racing in NASA is now a little less amateur...


From http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/article/rdr-moves-to-nasa-and-announces-new-driver/
-------------------------------------------
02/25/2008 - 12:12 PM
San Juan Capistrano, CA Robert Davis Racing (RDR) today announced the successful transition of its club racing programs from races organized and sanctioned by the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) to those sanctioned by the National Auto Sport Association (NASA). The team’s first NASA outing recently occurred at Willow Springs International Raceway, in Rosamond, Calif., and resulted in five wins in three different classes.

RDR will continue to campaign the highly competitive rotary-powered Mazda RX-8, with support from Mothers Polishes Waxes Cleaners, Manheim Auctions, MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development and Hoosier Tires. For NASA competition, the team will field all of its cars in the Performance Touring (PT) class, with the classes differentiated by the amount of allowed modifications from a stock vehicle. Robert Davis and Scott Shelton will compete in the Performance Touring D (PTD) class, Dennis Holloway and new-to-the-team Jim Daniels will compete in PTC, while Jim Holloway will compete in PTB, the fastest class of the team.

Although he did not race at Willow Springs, Jim Daniels is expected to make a big splash on the left coast based upon his long and successful racing history. Daniels’ accomplishments includes winning the American Road Race of Champions (ARRC) in 2002 and 2004 in the competitive Spec Miata class, fourth in the 2005 Pro Spec Miata championship, winning the inaugural Mazda MX-5 Cup championship in 2006, 2006 SCCA MidWest Division SSB champion and 2007 ARRC Spec Miata champion.

RDR has been a dominant force on the west coast in SCCA Club Racing, winning regional, divisional and national titles for the last six years. While the team still supports the SCCA, NASA has given it the opportunity to race in different classes, eliminating much of the inter-team competition. MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development’s new support of NASA also aided the transition, as the team’s goal is to capture three NASA National titles at Mid Ohio later this year.

Next Up: California Speedway, March 21st-22nd, Fontana, Calif.
---------------------------------------------

Robert Davis is a Mazda senior vice president and head of the company’s racing program. Effectively, Mazda’s “factory” race team is now racing in NASA…


Richard P.

[AI#97]

Amateur racing in NASA is now a little less amateur...


Robert Davis is a Mazda senior vice president and head of the company’s racing program. Effectively, Mazda’s “factory” race team is now racing in NASA…


Richard P.

Uh, hope Heinricy doesn't decide to run AI!!! :shock:

[RichardP]

Uh, hope Heinricy doesn't decide to run AI!!! :shock:


It might be a good way for GM to hype up the new Camaro... :D


Richard P.

[Al Fernandez]

I heard Penske is considering an AI effort. Now that he's won the Daytona 500, he realized there's this other big hole in his trophy case...

That is great news about Mazda. That company has made huge strides towards becomeing the sports car guy company (or the sports car guy that cant afford a BMW company anyway) and I really believe all of their participation in road racing coupled with solid street cars and good advertising has done it.

[Todd Covini]

http://norcal.nasaproracing.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=137

"inverts & draws" thrown in without prior notice for SM. Novel idea.
Nice. Those Mazda factory teams will have to race their way to the championship!! :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:

(Thanks for posting the migration story, RP...I hadn't seen it elsewhere.)

-=- T