For Immediate Release
Contact: Larry Mason
LMR Marketing - Communications
info@LMRMC.com

LARRY MASON SCORES PODIUM HAT TRICK IN FORMULA MAZDA AT AUTO CLUB SPEEDWAY!

Fontana, CA (January 29, 2010) - Competing for the first time since winning the 2008 Formula Mazda Challenge West Presented by Hasa Pool Products championship in 2008, Larry Mason drove the Triathlon Lab Formula Mazda with Moses Smith Racing at Auto Club Speedway (nee California Speedway) in Fontana, California to three podium finishes in three races over the weekend. This regional/national/regional race format kicked off the season for the California Sports Car Club region of the SCCA.

Beautiful sunny weather greeted the racers and fans after a week of pounding rain and the snow-capped mountains in the distance provided a dramatic backdrop to the racing action.

“It was great to be back behind the wheel again in the Triathlon Lab/Polar/Bell/MSR car. The on-track action was pretty exciting – especially from my viewpoint! My first session on Saturday morning was on a wet and slippery track from the overnight rains. Going through the oval turns one and two on a damp track certainly had my attention! There were so many drivers spinning off on just about every corner during that qualifying session that a full course caution flag was shown. Unfortunately, I was a victim of that full course caution. As another driver passed me going into turn three he got a call on his radio telling him of the full-course caution. He decided to back off, get on the brakes, and get back in line behind me. Apparently, the corner workers only saw the last part and called in to the stewards that I had passed under the full course caution. My penalty was having my time disallowed and put to the back of the starting grid.

“In the first race I had a reasonably good start and was able to pass quite a few cars before turn three and I was in third place in class. I saw second place up ahead and put my head down to catch him. I was closing big in the tight section before returning to the oval. I made a move to the inside to make the pass, but the other driver didn’t see me and took his normal racing line. I had two choices – hit him and take both of us out, or hit the big safety cones lining the inside of the track. I chose the latter, spun and continued. The contact bent the front wing support but otherwise I came away unscathed. The car still seemed pretty fast despite the damage. It took me a few laps but I caught him and drafted by in turn one. I held second at the finish.

“In race number two, the action heated up fast as multiple cars crashed, spun, and blocked the track coming off of the oval on the first lap. It looked like the Grand Prix of Long Beach turn one with so much carnage! I managed to stay out of trouble by having to go off course a bit to get through the mess, I wasn’t able to make any headway and finished third after qualifying fourth.

“Race number three had me starting second thanks to my finishing position from the day before. The leader was able to get a draft from one of the sports racers and pull just far enough away that I wasn’t quite able to catch him. I finished second again, but the best part is that the official results showed that I had set the fastest race lap in our class! The speed was there, we just needed more time.

“All-in-all it was a very good weekend with three podium finishes in three separate races – a triathlon of sorts! I want to thank Lloyd from Triathlon Lab for his great support over the weekend, Moses and Tara from MSR for fantastic prep work and all of the other details that go into making a fast race car, and my wife Sonia for the incredible private hospitality area, great food, and logistical support. I also really appreciated two things in particular from Bell Racing. My Inner X inner wear was warm when it was cold outside and moisture-wicking cool when the action heated up. My Bell Dominator helmet also proved to be up to the task in the high-speed sections of the oval where it was planted firmly on my head with minimal buffeting from the wind.”

This race weekend proved to be a great start in preparation for Mason to compete at the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach in the Firestone Indy Lights series on April 18th. Mason is currently seeking marketing partners to join him for this marquee event.

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