128 replies to this topic

[Johnny D]

Here a turn by turn from Andrew Carbonell’s track walk with notes you can print.

http://mazdamotorspo...tm_medium=email  

J~

[ECOBRAP]

Packed and ready to rock. See everyone tomorrow 

 

[Johnny D]

NASA Western States Championships presented by Toyo Tires at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca are drawing the best racers from across the country.
Allan v Powell
Competitors from across the country are preparing for the second annual NASA Western States Championships presented by Toyo Tires to run at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca July 31- August 2.
This will be the second year that the National Auto Sport Association (NASA) has held twin championships for eastern and western states competitors. The NASA Championships, in their 10th year, are attracting top drivers and cars. Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca is proving to be a track that many NASA racers want to run.
“Traveling across the country for this one event certainly isn't easy or cheap,” says Eric Powell, who will be racing his No. 74 Performance Touring Mazda Miata at the championships all the way from Orlando, Fla. “It is really stretching me to the max, just as it did last year. However, from the genesis of this build there has been one goal in mind. That is to win championships, get in the Mazda Club Racer Shootout and win the scholarship. To maximize my chances of a good showing at this year's NASA Championships, I have decided to attend both events and am looking forward to some great competition. I had a good shot at the Shootout last year but unfortunately I made a mistake that certainly played a factor. Therefore I'm going all in for a shot at redemption.”
Powell knows he's going to be in for a battle with some of the West Coast racers.
“There are a couple of guys I don't have much info on but certainly Josh Allan will be one to put up a fight,” he adds. “I know he has been working hard to improve his car and has a great team behind him. Truthfully he wasn't far off last year, my car just happened to work particularly well in one specific sector at Sonoma [Raceway] that gave me a huge advantage. My goal for the weekend is to win.”
DexterRX8-1Warren Dexter and his father Zane are coming from Nebraska. “We will be driving two different cars,” Warren said. “I will be in a 2004 Mazda RX-8 and my father will be in a 1990 Mazda Miata. We both run in the PTC Class so we will be racing against each other. Usually when we race in Spec Miata I end up beating dad, but his Miata is a brand-new build and only time will tell how fast he'll be. My goals are to have a fun weekend with my dad and to win a National Championship.”
Will Faules, NASA National Event manager, says he is ready to welcome racers to the Monterey Peninsula.
“Wow, I can't wait,” Faules says. “We have great drivers in top cars coming from across the country. The great Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca circuit is a great draw for our Championship event. We still have entries coming in every day as we get closer to hitting the track for the big event.”
Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca is a 2.2-mile, 11-turn undulating road course located in the foothills of the Monterey Bay area. The track is known for its high speeds and signature downhill Corkscrew turn. The challenging road course is sure to provide exciting racing throughout the championships weekend. - See more at: http://www.mazdamoto...h.hlP58O7i.dpuf

[Johnny D]

Friday Qual
http://www.race-moni...mode=qualifying

Friday Qual Race.
http://www.race-moni...Session/5492790
 
J~

[Jim Drago]

Congrats to Mark Drennan on winning pole and qualifying race one! Followed by Tim Weaver and Mason Filippi. 

I miss that place, would have like to run NASA Champs this year. 

 

Good luck to all. 

Jim

[trimless]

Friday Qualhttp://www.race-moni...mode=qualifying

Friday Qual Race.http://www.race-moni...Session/5492790
 
J~

I was 9th!!!!! I was 9th!!!!!

Race monitor showing no respect to the 1.6

[Bench Racer]

What happened to Matt Cresci during the race?

[Jim Drago]

Congrats to Mason Filippi for the win today followed by Will Rogers and Dakota Dickerson. Mark had a mechanical issues of some sorts while leading. The car shut off while leading with one to go.

 

Tomorrow should be a great race

Jim

[ECOBRAP]

What happened to Matt Cresci during the race?

Unfortunately the motor let go with a few laps left. Today went a lot better driving my 1.6, started DFL because of yesterday and made up 22 positions to finish 10th! Hard charger award made for some great GoPro footage, but I still have to start towards the back tomorrow. Going to be a great race, stay tuned

[FTodaro]

Unfortunately the motor let go with a few laps left. Today went a lot better driving my 1.6, started DFL because of yesterday and made up 22 positions to finish 10th! Hard charger award made for some great GoPro footage, but I still have to start towards the back tomorrow. Going to be a great race, stay tuned

Good luck, lets see some video!

[James York]

Good luck to everyone racing there.  Be safe.

[Scott Krzastek]

Good luck, lets see some video!

 

Video would be great since the NASA feed is terrible.....  They need a lesson from SCCA regarding championship coverage.......

[fotostars]

Unfortunately the motor let go with a few laps left. Today went a lot better driving my 1.6, started DFL because of yesterday and made up 22 positions to finish 10th! Hard charger award made for some great GoPro footage, but I still have to start towards the back tomorrow. Going to be a great race, stay tuned

 

Oh nooo :-(

 

So I missed the live coverage. Someone, help! What happened at the Championship race?

[Jim Drago]

Congratulations to Mark Drennan on the win! Nice to see you win one after last year!

 

After some protests I believe it was Matt Cresci second, Tim Weaver third, Mason Filippi 4th,Steve Powers 5th and Dean Busk sixth. 

 

All the guys from third to six are engine and/or car customers! Thanks for the support and congratulations to all of your on a great weekend.

[Sacslider]

Many congrats to the man the myth the legend, Mark Drennen!!! Job well done good sir!

Mark then backed up his SM championship win with another in SpecE46!!

And wow on a 1.6 finishing on the podium (and fastest lap in the race) at Laguna. Never would have guessed a legal 1.6 could have done that. Too bad there was NO TECH after the cars were dyno'd to prove that car was legal. Guess we will never know.

[Jim Drago]

Many congrats to the man the myth the legend, Mark Drennen!!! Job well done good sir!

Mark then backed up his SM championship win with another in SpecE46!!

And wow on a 1.6 finishing on the podium (and fastest lap in the race) at Laguna. Never would have guessed a legal 1.6 could have done that. Too bad there was NO TECH after the cars were dyno'd to prove that car was legal. Guess we will never know.

 

 

Very disappointed in the lack of tech post race.  I will have a longer post in a new topic as this is not the place. One of the reasons for invasive post race tech is to validate the win and performance of those at the front to the rest of the field and the class.  It is a shame that didn't happen.  

[trimless]

I brought a legal 1.6 to the race. First time on the track this weekend for me but IMO it's not really shocking that a 1.6 made it to the podium.  Very much a momentum track.   Don't know Matt personally but I will give him credit for being a hell of a driver to put his car on the podium

[Danny Steyn]

Congrats Mark Drennan - Finally!

[john mueller]

Very disappointed in the lack of tech post race.  I will have a longer post in a new topic as this is not the place. One of the reasons for invasive post race tech is to validate the win and performance of those at the front to the rest of the field and the class.  It is a shame that didn't happen.  

 

I'll be happy to discuss how the decision was made to do, or not to in this case for this particular event.  I'm traveling back home today and have a project due Tues morning so I'll be out of pocket until Tuesday late afternoon...  So please start another topic and I'll chime in when I can.

 

Just so everyone knows we were prepared and ready for very invasive tech on the top three with P4-6 being held in impound too.

[Ron Alan]

On a personal level...fun, exciting, and disappointing all in one!

 

First, huge congratulations to Mark on the win! Well deserved! 

 

Mason Fillipi finished 2nd but was docked 2 spots for contact. His incident is still under appeal to Jerry. Regardless, he had a heck of a weekend with P3/P1 finishes in the Qual races(P1/P1 for teen challange points!). At 17 he has quickly shown he can wheel a car!

 

Matt Cresci began the weekend in my car in the hopes a 1.8 was going to give him a better chance to be up front. Unfortunately the motor didnt cooperate and let go in the first qual race  So he got back in his own car which he drove to the track. Starting 31st in the 2nd qual race and no fear of crashing his own car(huge)he let it all hang out and drove to 10th! This put him P20 for the start of the championship race. Barley missing the top off the hill big crash at the start he made up 9 spots in 4 corners before the double yellow came out. P11 at the restart he then drove his way to P3 at the finish and now P2 to because of the 2 position penalty for Mason. Very impressive on all levels! I know there are skeptics but watching from my vantage point, what i saw was a car that was very hooked up and at 125lbs lighter was able to go deeper! His passes under braking and the ability to maintain his momentum with the altered line was the difference. 

 

Huge shout out to Tim Weaver who raced clean all weekend and was right there. One bump to pass in which he went from 2nd to 4th made the difference in his finish. But as of now is on the podium!

 

 

Always fun hanging out with great people...which is the upside to what can sometimes be stressful wrenching on cars. 

 

As for the event, I must say it was a little disappointing. Not very organized(parking was a mess!)and a lot of standing around(at least for our group). Invasive tech was left to the decision of the top 4 finishers after each car had been dynoed...outcome, no tear downs. As others have eluded to...maybe another thread!