“This was sort of a last minute thing,” Saini said. “It’s been kind of tough getting everything going for Sebring. We got everything done at the last minute and the team did a great job to get the cars ready. The car kept getting better and better throughout the race. There were a couple of unfortunate mechanicals. Chip [Herr] dropped out and then Kuno [Wittmer] dropped out. I was looking forward to racing Kuno. That was going to be fun.
“To get on the podium after all it took to get here is just great. I give all the credit to Mazda and Tri-Point for making this all happen as well as some personal sponsors to make this race possible. Hopefully, we can take these results and move them forward to the rest of the season.”
Rookie Eric Foss, of Fort Worth, Texas, made a stunning World Challenge debut in the No. 75 MAZDASPEED/Stoptech/Racinghart MAZDA6. Starting 12th, Foss was able to claw his way to ninth on the opening lap. The 2008 SCCA Pro Racing Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup Champion then battled some of the series’ fiercest competitors, including defending Champion Peter Cunningham, Michael Galati and James Clay, en route to a hard-earned fourth-place finish. Foss’ climb through the field, a full eight positions, won him the Sunoco Hard Charger Award.
Nick Esayian, of San Diego, Calif., completed the top five, collecting a career-high finish in the process. The driver of the No. 34 BimmerWorld/GearWrench BMW 328i ran as high as fourth midway through the race, but was caught by Foss on lap 12. Esayian was nearly demoted another spot by teammate James Clay (BMW 328i) on the final lap, but Clay would take the checkered flag in sixth.
After missing the promoter test day and first practice session on Wednesday, Michael Galati brought his MAZDA6 home in seventh after a spirited battle with newcomer Andrew Aquilante, who finished eighth in his Subaru WRX.
Defending Champion Peter Cunningham, in the new body style Acura TSX, finished ninth, after losing his front bumper in an early incident, followed by Jeff Courtney in the previous body style Acura TSX.
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