Miata Challenge Laguna race two notes

Dobson sweeps Miata Challenge races at Laguna.

MONTEREY, CALIF. (September 22, 2002) - Ken Dobson, of Carmel Valley, Calif., won Race Two of the Mazda Miata Challenge, sweeping the doubleheader event, at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, part of the Monterey Sports Car Championships. Completing the top-three was Barry Hartzel, of Monterey, Calif., and Jon Prall, of Cupertino, Calif.

Following two pace laps, 45 cars took the green flag in the late afternoon. Starting from pole, by virtue of his win in Race One, Dobson, in the No. 33 Larry Oka Racing Mazda Miata, held the lead into turn. Behind the leader, Hartzel, in the No. 92 Hartzel Automotive Mazda Miata, and Prall, in the No. 78 California Driving Adventures/Red Line Oil Mazda Miata, battled for position. Exiting turn two, the duo maintained their respective second and third place starting positions. The leading trio quickly established a blistering pace in the opening laps, building a lead of over four seconds on fourth place. As the race progressed, some great battles took place back in the field, while the top-three remained unchanged. At the checkered flag, Dobson had captured both rounds of the doubleheader, finishing 1.973 seconds ahead of Hartzel. Dobson has now won every Pro Mazda Miata race he has entered, including three races at Laguna Seca.

"That was fun," said Dobson. "It's really a pleasure to drive this car, and race against my good friends from the California region."

Completing the top-five was Terry McCarthy, of Mountain View, Calif., in the No. 27 Duall Safety Mazda Miata, who finished fifth in Race One, and Izzy Sanchez Jr., of Mountain View, Calif., in the No. 80 California Driving Adventures/Red Line Oil Mazda Miata, who finished seventh in Race One.

--scca pro racing-