What a difference a week makes; after starting the season on the bumpy, concrete-lined Houston course for a night race, the SCCA Pro Racing SIRIUS Satellite Radio Mazda MX-5 Cup heads to the classic, winding curves of Road Atlanta to join Historic Sportscar Racing for the 30th Anniversary Walter Mitty Challenge.
Heading into Round Two, Jason Saini (#28 AutobarnMazda/Saferacer.com) now leads the Championship following his victory at the Grand Prix of Houston last weekend. Saini led every lap of the race around the concrete-lined JAGFlo Speedway at Reliant Park after starting second.
Jesse Combs (#7 Coolgas Ltd. ) had a great showing at Houston, where he started sixth and made steady progress throughout the race to finish second in front of a hometown crowd—a commendable performance for his first MX-5 Cup race.
Taking part in his first-ever car race at the Grand Prix of Houston, 16-year-old Brett Smrz was the surprise of the weekend when he put his #29 AutismSpeaks.org/Team MER car on pole. The former karting champion was edged to the first turn by teammate Saini however, and fell back into a four-car battle for the podium. Smrz held his own against experienced Spec Miata racers Combs, Andrew Caddell and Matt Cross to finish third. If that’s what the kid can do in his first car race, don’t be surprised if you see him leading the MX-5 field at Road Atlanta this weekend.
Cross (#80 Jason Hoover Motorsports/Hooverspeed) just missed a podium last week after challenging eventual winner Saini early in the race, while Caddell’s (#30 Team MER/AimSport/Pinnacle Mazda) podium chances evaporated when he was forced to pit following contact with the wall. Although initially it appeared the only repairs needed were to the flailing passenger door, Caddell returned to pitlane a lap later and parked the car with gearbox trouble. The 2006 SCCA Spec Miata National Champion will be out for a better result this weekend on a course where the walls aren’t quite as close to the track.
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