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Mazda Club Racers Star At NASA Western States Championship
Mazda Racers Score Six More Club Racing Championships

IRVINE, Calif. (October 17, 2016) –The final preliminary invitation to the 2016 Mazda Road to 24 Shootout, the NASA Western States Championships presented by Toyo Tires, concluded yesterday with another six championships earned by Mazda racers.

The Mazda-powered NASA Western States Champions are as follows:

  • Nick Sommers, Nevada City, California – Spec Miata
  • Brian Lock, Santa Cruz, California – NP01 Mazda MZR
  • Jon Van Caneghem, Marina Del Rey, California – Super Unlimited Elan-Mazda MZR
  • Joshua Allen, LaVerne, California – PTC Mazda MX-5 Miata
  • Charlie Hayes, Walnut Creek, California – PTD Mazda MX-5 Miata
  • Dan Howard, Columbus, Ohio – PTE Mazda MX-5 Miata

John Doonan, director of motorsports, Mazda North American Operations, said, “The gateway to our professional race programs, via the Mazda Road to 24 Shootout, is club racing. We salute our six latest Mazda-powered NASA champions. I can’t wait to see who earns the $100,000 Mazda scholarship.”

Winning a club racing championship with Mazda-power is the primary entry channel into the Mazda Road to 24 Shootout. This post-season shootout will award a $100,000 Mazda scholarship to compete in the 2017 Battery Tender Mazda Global MX-5 Cup presented by BFGoodrich Tires. The 2016 Shootout will take place November 15-16, 2016 at the New Orleans Motorsports Park. A complete list of the eligible racers will be announced at a later date.

About Mazda Motorsports 

Mazda Motorsports boasts the most comprehensive auto racing development ladder system of any auto manufacturer in the world. The Mazda Road to 24 program offers a number of scholarships to advance drivers up the sports car racing ladder, beginning with the Global MX-5 Cup series and culminating with the Mazda Prototype team. The Mazda Road to Indy is a similar program that includes Mazda-powered categories of USF2000, Pro Mazda and Indy Lights. In grassroots road racing, more Mazdas race on any given weekend in North America than any other manufacturer. Mazda is also the title sponsor of the renowned Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, Calif. Follow all of the latest news at MazdaMotorsports.com, @MazdaRacing on Twitter, and MazdaMotorsports on Instagram and Facebook.