For Immediate Release
Contact: Larry Mason
LMR Marketing - Communications
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LARRY MASON SCORES BACK-TO-BACK VICTORIES IN FORMULA MAZDA CHALLENGE AT WILLOW SPRINGS!

Rosamond, CA (September 29, 2008) – With the title chase coming down to the wire in the Formula Mazda Challenge West Series presented by Hasa Pool Products, Larry Mason did what he had to do to score maximum points for the weekend by qualifying on pole position each day and winning both races.

Mason, who came into Rounds 9 & 10 of the FMC sitting in second place in the standings, knew it would be a critical weekend for earning points and closing the points gap for the series title. Fortunately for Mason, everything worked out great; he was quickest in every practice, qualifying and race session, but it was by no means an easy weekend. The temperature hovered in the mid 90s all weekend at ‘The Fastest Road in the West.’

During Round 9, Mason had pulled out a little bit of a gap on second place and was actually quite close to one of the faster Pro Mazda Formula Atlantic cars in front of him. Being that close actually played a pivotal role in the race as the Atlantic slowed way down in Turn 9 for a massive amount of dirt, debris, and the nose of another race car that had gone off just a bit earlier. As Mason slowed for the waving yellow flag and the Atlantic car, that gave Mason’s pursuer all the advantage he needed as he blew by both Mason and the Atlantic just past the debris field and yellow flag.

Mason had to downshift and start accelerating hard again but lost about 2 seconds to the new Formula Mazda leader. Mason was up to the challenge and soon started closing in. He caught the leader in the long uphill right hand Turn 2 and saw the leader understeering through the turn. Mason closed the gap and tucked up underneath his rear wing but then Mason’s car started to ‘wash out’ because of the lack of aerodynamic grip on the front wings. Mason knew what to expect as he had experienced that same sensation a few years back in the same corner in a Formula Atlantic car. Mason held his line and started to look for a way past going into the 2nd gear uphill left hander Turn 3. The leader threw a big blocking maneuver and chopped down on Mason’s nose. “I knew at that point I had the fastest car, but there aren’t any big braking zones at Willow Springs so I’d have to stalk him hard,” Mason explained. “The next lap, I held back a bit on the entrance to Turn 2 so I’d have a great shot off the exit and he threw the big block again!” However, the leader pushed too hard in the tight Turn 4 and slid to the outside and that’s when Mason pounced and drove to the inside and re-took the lead. At that point Mason was able to re-establish his lead and carried it through to the checkered flag.

“I really have to thank Moses Smith Racing for having a great set-up on the car. ‘Big Mo’ really understands how these cars work and it was a real pleasure to race it today and to work with him and Tara Wilson. Not only was the Polar/Bell/TriLab/MSR race car comfortable to drive, but I was comfortable too. I was wearing my new Bell Racing Inner X fireproof and moisture wicking long underwear. Bell’s message on the front of the safety garments says ‘Race. Win. Live.’ I was happy to oblige.”

Round 10 started off well with Mason taking the pole position overall but the other drivers had started to close the gap on Mason’s lap times. He had a great start and the others behind him started battling for second place. “That gave me just enough room to break the draft,” said Mason. Although the race wasn’t over yet – the same driver who briefly took the lead in Round 9 was back on the charge and briefly cut the gap into Mason’s lead. “I just focused on doing what I knew I had to do and what I had been doing all weekend and gradually extended my lead.” A few laps later Mason encountered the second place car spun out in the middle of Turn 2. When he looked for the third placed car he could see that he had a significant advantage and proceeded to drive a smooth and steady pace to save the tires just in case second place closed the gap. Mason continued to extend his lead and won wire-to-wire for another satisfying win and closed the gap even tighter for the championship title.

The championship will be decided on October 25th and 26th at the conclusion of Rounds 11 & 12 at Buttonwillow Raceway Park near Bakersfield, California.

"On a personal note, I dedicate my Round 9 win in the memory of Michael Hollander who was a good friend and an incredible auto racing journalist. I dedicate my Round 10 win in the memory of Paul Newman who was a tremendous supporter of auto racing and a gentleman I shared some time with at Willow Springs a few years ago. Both of these legends in their fields will be missed.”

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Mason collects the checkered flag to go on his victory lap.
Photo by Sonia Mason

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