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Since its launch in 1989, the MX-5 has become a bestseller for Mazda.
In 2006, the company introduced the Mazda MX-5 Cup series.
Now in its fifth season, the MX-5 Cup is popular with competitors and fans.
The series is part of the MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development Ladder that promotes champions of Mazda series to the next level of their career. The motivation for drivers to enter the MX-5 Cup division is an opportunity to earn a factory-supported ride in next year’s SCCA Pro Racing Speed World Challenge Touring Car Championship, which is valued at $250,000. All Mazda MX-5 Cup cars receive only minor upgrades. Bolt-on modifications include a new intake manifold and exhaust system which increases the engine output from 170 to 200-horsepower. All the vehicles are equipped with a six-speed manual transmission and a limited-slip differential. The suspension uses a coil-over kit with double adjustable shock absorbers and roll bars. Khumo tires are mounted on 17X8” wheels. Brake pads, fluid and lines are upgraded for the demands of racing. For safety, the Mazdas are fitted with an eight-point roll-cage welded into the car, racing seatbelts and a fire extinguishing system. The 2010 season consists of eleven 45-minute timed races. The first event of the year was held at Virginia International Raceway and ended in September with a doubleheader at Miller Motorsports Park.
Round four of the 2010 SCCA Pro Racing Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup was held at Road America. Drivers would compete on the fourteen-turn 4.048-mile road course for forty-five minutes.
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A field of eleven competitors heads to Road America's turn two for round four of the 2010 SCCA Pro Racing Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup. Leading the pack is the No. 4 AMG / Cobalt Brakes Mazda MX-5 of the pole-sitter Brad Rampelberg. Chasing Rampelberg is the other front-row qualifier, Lyonel Kent, driving the No. 13 Alara Racing / Bulldog Productions Mazda MX-5 Cup and Kent's teammate, Ara Malkhassian. |
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The No. 4 AMG / Cobalt Brakes Mazda MX-5 of Brad Rampelberg started on the pole. However, there was contact between Rampelberg and Nick Evans on lap-2. He chose to pit as the track went full course yellow for another incident. Rampelberg took the restart from eleventh-place but quickly moved up the race order. On lap-11, he retook the lead and, with the help of his teammate, Michael Cooper, held on for the victory. |
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Finishing second at Road America was series veteran and owner of Alara Racing Ara Malkhassian. Malkhassian started the race in the third position driving the No. 11 Alara Racing / Bulldog Productions Mazda MX-5. Late in the contest, he ran with the lead pack and took advantage of the changes before him to move from fifth to second-place. Malkhassian claimed the runner-up spot by a margin of 1.457-seconds. |
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Nick Evans was gridded fourth for the forty-five minute contest at Road America. On lap-2, the driver of the No. 28 Team MER / Mazda / Sparco Mazda MX-5 had contact with the pole-sitter, Brad Rampelberg. Rampelberg spun, but Evans was able to continue. He moved into the lead; by the final lap, Evans was in a shootout with five other drivers and crossed the finish line in the third position. |
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The 2010 SCCA Pro Racing Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup points leader heading into round four at Road America was Jason Piscitell. Piscitell drove the No. 89 Team MER / DAMG Worldwide Mazda MX-5 and qualified in the seventh position. As the event came to a conclusion, he was among the leaders and would receive the checkered flag in fourth place. The result put him in a tie with Brad Rampelberg for the championship lead. |
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The podium for round four of the 2010 SCCA Pro Racing Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup at Road America. In the center is the race winner, Brad Rampelberg, from the Atlanta Motorsports Group. The victory moved Rampelberg into a tie with Jason Piscitell for the points lead. On the left is Alara Racing team owner and the runner-up Ara Malkhassian. The third-place finisher Nick Evans occupies the rostrum's final position. |
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| FINISH | START | DRIVER | TEAM | LAPS | RETIREMENTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | Brad Rampelberg | Atlanta Motorsports Group - Mazda MX-5 | 15 | - |
| 2 | 4 | Ara Malkhassian | Alara Racing - Mazda MX-5 | 15 | - |
| 3 | 5 | Nick Evans | Team MER - Mazda MX-5 | 15 | - |
| 4 | 8 | Justin Piscitell | Team MER - Mazda MX-5 | 15 | - |
| 5 | 10 | Michael Cooper | Atlanta Motorsports Group - Mazda MX-5 | 15 | - |
| 6 | 7 | Mark Carpenter | Atlanta Motorsports Group - Mazda MX-5 | 15 | - |
| 7 | 9 | Jesse Combs | Alara Racing - Mazda MX-5 | 15 | - |
| 8 | 14 | Kristine Craine | Pinktop Racing / JBR - Mazda MX-5 | 15 | - |
| 9 | 3 | Lyonel Kent | Alara Racing - Mazda MX-5 | 14 | - |
| 10 | 12 | Jeff Mosing | Team MER - Mazda MX-5 | 14 | - |
| 11 | 11 | Russell Walker | Team MER - Mazda MX-5 | 14 | - |
| 12 | 13 | Tim Probert | Alara Racing - Mazda MX-5 | 2 | Off Course |
| 13 | 1 | Mathew Pombo | Pombo Racing - Mazda MX-5 | - | Did Not Start |
| 14 | 6 | Mark Pombo | Pombo Racing - Mazda MX-5 | - | Did Not Start |
| 15 | 5 | Jimmy Burke | Pombo Racing - Mazda MX-5 | - | Did Not Start |
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