F-MAZDA: Sonoma event summary

Chuck Hulse Increases His Pro FM Championship Lead
Weaver and O'Donovan in a dead heat for SFM Championship

This past weekend at Infineon Raceway there was a Pro Formula Mazda class double header in the Molecule Formula Mazda Challenge championship. NASCAR Sprint Cup racers had been at Infineon Raceway the previous weekend and the track was very slick from the heat and the different types of rubber. "The track is greasier than ever," stated previous MFMC Champion Patrick O'Neill. "I drive this track all the time and this is the slickest it's ever been."

O'Neill, who entered just this race and is not in the 2009 series points battle, didn't seem to mind the slick track as he took the pole position and win on Saturday. Chuck Hulse finished in second, with Stan Kohls right in his draft taking the third spot. Kohls had fastest lap of the race on Saturday and this would also end up being the fastest time of the weekend.

On Sunday Hulse took the pole position. From the start Kohls was on his gearbox and stayed on him the entire race. In the opening lap the cars behind the leaders got into an altercation when Dave House collided with Andy Brown, and then flew into the unsuspecting Sean Prewett. Prewett, who was already committed to the corner and headed for the apex, had major damage and could not continue and neither would House. Brown was able to continue and lost little time in the scuffle. Hulse took the win, followed by Kohls, and Brown.

Molecule Formula Mazda Challenge points have been updated and Chuck Hulse is leading the Pro Formula Mazda class with 415 points, Stan Kohls is in second with 345 points, and Andy Brown is in third with 243 points. In the Standard Formula Mazda class there is a tie for first place between arch rivals Derry O'Donovan and Bill Weaver both who currently have 301 points.

The next points race for the Standard Formula Mazda class is at Thunderhill July 25th-26th with SCCA, and the next race for the Pro Formula Mazdas is October 3rd-4th at Thunderhill with NASA.

Interesting weekend notes:

Pacific F2000: This weekend was the first time that the Molecule Formula Mazda Challenge series partnered with the Pacific F2000 series. Eleven F2000 cars took the grid and the series and drivers were great to work with. Everyone is looking forward to the September 12th-13th race weekend at Mazda Raceway.

Visitors: As usual the series had its share of interesting visitors. Russell Racing alumni Joe Zammuto and Peter Rossi stopped by to watch the racing. Rossi's son Alexander just won a Formula Master's race the prior Sunday in the Czech Republic. SCCA FS points leader Darrell Benner stopped in to catch some of the action, and Rick Fitzgerald of Aerocraft set up a tent to show off his custom F2000 bodywork pieces.

Super Super car: There are always cool supercars at these events, but the MFMC Paddock area became a tourist destination when PFM driver Dave House parked his new Bugatti Veyron by the World Speed Motorsports trailer.

-credit: www.formulamazdachallenge.com