Before 1999, the Star Mazda Series, created by Gary Rodrigues, had a number of regional championships. With the formation of the American Le Mans Series (ALMS), a National division, with backing from the Best Western hotel chain, was established to act as a support series for the ALMS. The inaugural title was won by Joey Hand, who scored five victories in seven starts.

The 2002 Star Mazda North American Championship presented by Goodyear started on the first weekend of March at Texas Motor Speedway. For round two, the series traveled to Sebring International Raceway. Next, teams made their way to the West Coast for events at Sears Point Raceway and Portland International Raceway. The only stop in Canada took place at Mosport International Raceway on the weekend of August 17-18. At the beginning of September, the championship returned to California for the first of two visits to Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. The penultimate round was held at Road Atlanta, with the finale taking place at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.

In addition to the National Championship, there were titles to be won in a Masters class (drivers 45-years of age and older), Red Line Oval Championship and four geographic divisions (West, Southwestern, Eastern and Northeastern).

The Star Formula Mazda is constructed by Valley Motor Center. The tube-frame chassis is fitted with shear plates, ensuring quick and easy damage repairs. The car weighs 1140-pounds and is equipped with a Mazda 13B rotary engine and five-speed transmission. The motor, which uses a 48 DCOE carburetor, produces 170-horsepower.

Round four of the 2002 Star Mazda North American Championship was held at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course as a support event for the American Le Mans Series weekend. Drivers would compete on the thirteen-turn 2.258-mile road course for twenty-five laps.

Guy Cosmo collected six wins in eight previous starts at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. He grabbed another victory at round four of the Star Mazda Series North American Championship. Cosmo put the No. 45 Racers Edge Motorsports Start Mazda on the pole. Despite two caution periods during the event, he was able to pull away from the field. Cosmo is second in the title chase and trails Scott Speed by four points.
Finishing in the runner-up position at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course was Justin Pruskowski. After three rounds, this was his best result of the season. Pruskowski qualified fifth fastest for race four driving the No. 75 Quantum Autosports Star Mazda. Late in the contest, he moved to the fourth position. A well-executed pass at the ‘Keyhole’ saw him pass Scott Speed and Tim Jennings for the runner-up result.
Moses Smith led the championship point standings heading into round four; however, Scott Speed would lead the title chase by the end of the weekend. Speed piloted the No. 11 Star Race Cars Star Mazda. The rookie qualified seventh fastest. During the race, he made his way forward and moved into second but could not challenge Guy Cosmo. A pass by Justin Pruskowski relegated him to a third-place result.
The points leader, Moses Smith, entered the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course weekend with a record that included two fourth-place finishes and a victory in the previous round on the oval at Pikes Peak International Raceway. During the qualifying session, Smith posted a time that put him third on the starting grid. Unfortunately, he spun into the gravel trap, at the Keyhole, on lap-14 or 25 and retired from the race.
The fourth-fastest qualifier at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course round was Tim Jennings, the driver of the No. 70 Jennings Motorsport Star Mazda. At the drop the green, Jennings made an aggressive pass on Scott Speed and Moses Smith to move into the runner-up spot. He held second-place for most of the contest, but the car developed a loose condition and Jennings would lose three positions and finish fifth.
Doug Peterson led the Master Class (drivers 45-years of age and older) point standings as the result of three podium finishes, two of which were victories. Driving the No. 87 3-Dimensional Star Mazda, Peterson was particularly fast and qualified second. Unfortunately, a technical infraction required that he start thirty-first. Peterson charged through the field and finished ninth overall and second in class.

FINISHSTARTDRIVERCARLAPSRETIREMENTS
11Guy CosmoStar Mazda25-
25Justin PruskowskiStar Mazda25-
37Scott SpeedStar Mazda25-
42Jamie BachStar Mazda25-
54Tim JenningsStar Mazda25-
66Paul DallenbachStar Mazda25-
710Bret ArsenaultStar Mazda25-
89Joe PruskowskiStar Mazda25-
931Doug PetersonStar Mazda25-
1011Rick RossStar Mazda25-
1111John OlsenStar Mazda25-
1211Scott KusyStar Mazda25-
1311Jeff HarrisonStar Mazda25-
1411John MeffordStar Mazda25-
1511John FaulknerStar Mazda25-
1611Rick WaddellStar Mazda25-
1711Aaron OgusStar Mazda25-
1811Jon BrownsonStar Mazda25-
1911Dan Tomlin, Jr.Star Mazda25-
2011Bryan WillmanStar Mazda25-
2118M. W. MilamStar Mazda25-
2228Dan WeylandStar Mazda25-
2319Rob WalkerStar Mazda25-
2426Tom MabeyStar Mazda25-
2515Ian HendersonStar Mazda25-
2623Steve CookStar Mazda25-
2730Randy WarsStar Mazda25-
2829Richard ParkerStar Mazda25-
2927Dan Tomlin IIIStar Mazda23Did Not Finish
303Moses SmithStar Mazda14Did Not Finish
3116Tom NastasiStar Mazda10Did Not Finish

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