NASA’s Teen Mazda Challenge has long been a bridge between karting and Mazda’s ladder to professional motorsports. Now, Teen Mazda Challenge drivers can choose to race in one of two classes: Spec Miata or the new Spec MX-5 Challenge Series. Beginning with the 2021 season, for the California NASA regions, young drivers from ages 13 to 20 can choose from the two classes to go with the chassis that best suits them. An active class since 1999, Spec Miata is as competitive as ever, with large fields and close racing. Launched in 2019, Mazda’s latest contribution to spec-class racing, Spec [...]

We talk a lot about the NASA family, and this is what it means to be part of it. Last week, Speed News shared the GoFundMe page that was started on behalf of NASA Texas member Pat Welch, who was diagnosed with throat cancer. The generosity of NASA members raised enough money to cover the Welch’s living expenses while they were in Houston at MD Anderson where he underwent treatment. “Thank you for sharing this in Speed News! The outpouring of love and support has been so uplifting to my family and me,” Welch said. “I can’t say enough about [...]

NASA Texas Spec E46 racer Pat Welch has been diagnosed with throat cancer, and some of his friends have started a GoFundMe page to help the Welches with their expenses as Pat fights off the disease. If you’d like to extend a helping hand to a member of the NASA Texas family, visit his GoFundMe page and donate. The post Go Fund Me Account Started for NASA Texas Member Pat Welch appeared first on NASA Speed News Magazine.

When the NASA Championships Presented by Toyo Tires was canceled due to COVID-19, it also put the Teen Mazda Challenge championship race — and its $20,000 scholarship — in jeopardy. Earlier in the summer, Mazda made the decision to hold the race at the NASA NorCal August race at Sonoma Raceway, but even that event looked uncertain with the potential for another lockdown, not to mention a series of fires that dotted the Bay Area as the event drew near. Under smoky skies, nine drivers from Teen Mazda Challenge faced off in a three-race weekend in pursuit of the TMC [...]

Due to travel restrictions and precautions related to COVID-19, NASA has made the painful decision to cancel the 2020 25 Hours of Thunderhill Presented by Hawk Performance. This is the time of year when registrations usually begin rolling in and teams begin serious planning efforts, so it was better to announce the decision to cancel now rather than later. Like so many other organizations in the age of the Coronavirus, NASA plans to resume its marquee events bigger and better next season. “It is heartbreaking to have to cancel our flagship events, first the Championships, now the 25 Hours of [...]

NASA Southeast Spec Miata returned to Roebling Road for the Firecracker Run, the second post-shutdown race with a 14-car field. Keith Williamson nabbed Pole Position with a 1:25.471, with Don Elvington P2, Yan Dia P3, Connor DeYoung P4 and Scott Carlisle P5. Race time temperatures in the mid 90s promised a greasy track. At the start, Dia gave Williamson a good push from the starter stand to Turn 1, leaving the order Williamson, Dia, Carlisle, Elvington and DeYoung. By the end of lap two, the leaders started catching the back of the Spec E30 field passing two cars. As they [...]

With membership renewals surging, the NASA National Office would like to remind all members to keep their contact information current on their NASA account. We have had a number of member packets come back “return to sender,” only to have people calling in asking where their membership cards are. It just takes a few minutes to update your contact information. Log into nasaproracing.com, go to your account and update your mailing address so we can keep things rolling. While you’re at it, make sure your emergency contacts also are up to date. The post Remember to Keep Your Contact Information [...]

NASA’s Turn 7 Girl, Flatten the Curve race weekend started with 22 Spec Miatas registered and on Saturday. Keith Williamson won pole position with a 1:45.654 with Aiden Crouse P2, Grant West P3, Yan Dia P4 and Broderick Bauguess P5. As the green flag dropped, Williamson got a good run through Turn 1, followed by West, with Crouse, Bauguess and Dia falling in line as they headed up the hill. At Turn 7, Dia tried to carry too much speed and went four off, losing his position to Ernie Cole. The lead pack of four Spec Miatas then started bump-drafting [...]

Injector Pulse now offers as a contingency program for one free injector cleaning service to racers and Time Trial drivers who place first and second in any NASA regional championship. All NASA racing and Time Trial classes are eligible. The Injector Pulse procedure begins with inspection, body cleaning, electrical and leak testing. Once those steps are completed, Injector Pulse tests spray pattern and volume measurements, puts the injectors in an ultrasonic bath, retests for spray and volume, and replaces O rings seals and filters before returning them to the customer. NASA Spec Miata National Director Xavier Calderon owns and operates [...]

This week’s Move of the Month relates more to the photographer who captured these images. When the leading driver missed a shift on the front straight on the last lap, the ensuing collision was captured on film by Herb Lopez, who stood his ground even when one of the cars was headed right toward him. Of course, there was a concrete wall between Lopez and the cars, but that’s no guarantee of safety. Way to hang tough, Herb. The post Standing His Ground and Getting the Shot appeared first on NASA Speed News Magazine.