14 Spec MX-5 racers will gather at the historic Sonoma Raceway this weekend. Drivers Standings in all four regular season championships — National Series, East Regional, West Regional and Invitational — are at stake. This is because competitors from all of these series will be running at Sonoma and are able to score points in their respective competitions.
In the West Region, Sonoma is the third race of this shortened season. The current points leader is Wes Mollno, followed by Todd Launchbaugh, but Matt Fassnacht could mathematically win the West if he were to dominate the Regional race results at Sonoma. Even if Fassnacht does not surpass Mollno and Launchbaugh, he may well finish on the West Regional podium for the season.
Fassnacht’s results therefore have a big effect on the West, but also impact the East because he has run multiple events in both regions. Series rules mean that he will have to be ranked in only one region, and if Fassnacht is ranked in the West, then drivers in the East will move up in carryover points for the November Championship at COTA.
In the National Series, Tom Martin III heads to Sonoma with a commanding lead over Aidan Fassnacht, Ricardo Arruda and Adam Gonzalez. However, with 6 National drivers competing, were Martin to have two weak finishes and were Fassnacht to win or at least podium, we could have a tie or an outright win in regular season points by Fassnacht. Gonzalez and Arruda would seem to be fighting for the third spot on the National podium, which is fitting because they have had good on-track battles all season long.
The Invitational at Sonoma brings two exciting new drivers to Spec MX-5 Challenge, Aaron Jeansonne and Bryce Cornet. Both drivers have had success in formula cars, Jeansonne in British Formula Ford and Cornet in Formula Mazda. No Invitational driver has yet scored the maximum points, so the top of the rankings before the Championship is still up for grabs.
There is a lot on the line and we’ll issue a report as soon as the dust settles.