For Immediate Release
Contact: Larry Mason
LMR Marketing Communications

Team LMR Starts 2015 Season in Victory Lane at US Majors Event!

FONTANA, CA – Larry Mason started 2015 where he left off in 2014 – in Victory Lane! Coming into the first race weekend of the year was going to be a huge challenge for the Auto Diagnostic Services Team LMR Formula Mazda. It was at this race event last year that found Mason inexplicably off the pace and still salvaging two fifth-place finishes. After the team diagnosed the lack of horsepower based on a bad ignition coil, Mason was excited to see if he could step onto the podium this year. He did so and all the way to the top step!

After missing the first practice and qualifying session on Friday due to business commitments, Mason had to make the most of a 15 minute final qualifying session to set his time on the grid. He turned the second quickest lap of the session, but due to the combination of times from both sessions, he ended up fourth on the grid (in class). The start of Race One was hectic as multiple cars and classes spread out wide on the banked oval of Turns 1 and 2 of Auto Club Speedway. Mason took advantage of the draft and actually led briefly before getting passed into Turn 3. He and the other Formula Mazda (FM) drivers would take turns leading as the draft played a huge role in making up time and top speed. Mason was never alone in the battle for the lead and was able to get to the front and stay there for a good portion. However, a caution flag for an accident had his two closest pursuers behind him make their move and relegated Mason back to third. He kept his cool and his head down and gradually made it back to the front on the last lap. The race was far from over as he was passed again for the lead. Going side-by-side a few turns from the end, Mason had to give up the position and dropped to second heading into the last turn. He got a great run through the final turn and managed to pass the leader and win the race by a scant 0.116 seconds! The race was so exciting to watch that the SCCA corner workers were still talking about it the next day as one of the greatest races they had ever seen! It was exciting from where Mason sat too. His Polar heart rate monitor peaked at 178 bpm! The incredible race story made the front page of SCCA.com and MazdaMotorsports.com. “I can’t thank Tom (Engelsman) enough for doing the final prep work and getting the car delivered to the track ready to go,” Mason said. “Also, Luke Rangel played a key role in the preparation of the car the week before the race.”

Race Two on Sunday saw Mason qualified P2 for the race based on his fast race time from Race One. Again he was able to make it into the lead briefly before getting passed by the 2014 National Champion. As Mason dropped to third, he was determined to get back up to the front. He managed to get into second and hold that position for the majority of the race but was passed for second on the penultimate lap due to a backmarker. On the last lap, Mason stayed with the second placed driver and was able to draft pass in Turn 2 and out-brake two other cars going into Turn 3 for a total of three passes in short order! He was able to hold his position and finished second to end the weekend spraying champagne on the podium. These two great finishes have put Mason into the SCCA US Majors Western Conference Championship points lead as well as the Southern Pacific Division points lead. It’s a great way to start the season. Now is the time for sponsors to join a winning team!

Stay tuned to www.LMRUSA.com or the team’s FB page at Facebook.com/TeamLMRUSA for more updates.

 

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Tom and Larry enjoy the spoils of victory after the race.
Tom and Larry enjoy the spoils of victory after the race.
Photo by Stella Castro

 

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