Formula Mazda’s Matthew Machiko Grabs First Runoffs Win and Super Sweep

LEXINGTON, Ohio (September 24, 2016) – No matter what, there were going to be three new faces on the Formula Mazda podium at the 53rd SCCA National Championship Runoffs presented by Garmin VIRB being held on the 13-turn, 2.258-mile Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.  Of the entire field, not one driver had ever finished in the top three previously, and many had never competed before at the Runoffs.

But one driver, Matthew Machiko from Wexford, Pennsylvania, in the No. 21 Nathan Contracting/Frontier car went one step beyond earning his first Runoffs win.  He went so far as to clean up with an SCCA Super Sweep awarded to drivers that win a U.S. Majors Tour Conference Championship, win one of nine key National races, win a National Championship at the Runoffs and win the national points standings -- all in a single class.  He also earns an invite to the Mazda Shootout.

“It was a lot of fun today. The car was perfect,” Machiko said.  “Wow. We worked so hard for this.”

Under partly cloudy skies, Tire Rack pole sitter Jacob Loomis, of Corinth, Texas, in the No. 68 Epic Electric/Texas Autosportsled Formula Mazda led the field to the green, but immediately slotted into second behind Machiko.  But after a handful laps, Loomis pulled in to the pits and gifted second to the No. 5 Madhatter Golf/Helicon Farm car of Paul Ravaris from Aledo, Texas -- who then pulled into the pits shortly after Loomis.  Turns out the cool, damp morning air was making some cars “louder” than earlier in the week, and sound violation black flags were issued to both Loomis and Ravaris.  But Machiko stormed on without issue.

“I actually had this violation happen to me at Summit Point during the first race of the year,” Machiko noted.  “I knew we needed a new muffler this week to make sure we were baffled enough, and we made sure the exhaust was turned away from the sound monitor.”

After the shuffle, the No. 8 Entwistle Racing/Division Furtive Formula Mazda of John Entwistle from Katonah, New York, ended up in second, which is where he finished for his first-ever Runoffs podium.

“Surprising,” was the word Entwistle used to sum up his Runoffs week at Mid-Ohio.  “This feels great, man.  I’m super amped.”

In third came Bradley Yake, of Fort Worth, Texas, in the No. 24 Madhatter Golf Formula Mazda.  His first podium finish at the Runoffs, Yake was flabbergasted by the result.

“I was really surprised when I pulled in the pits after the race to learn I was third,” Yake said.  “I had a really bad start.  I couldn’t see the flagman when everyone went, so I went right to the back of the field.  So for the beginning of the race, I was just trying to get my position back.”

Finishing fourth was the No. 28 of William Snyder from Southlake, Texas, and fifth went to No. 38 Nicholas Malone, of Fate, Texas, in the Epic Electric/Madhatter Golf/WS Formula Mazda.

Taking the Sunoco Hard Charger award was Bradley Yake, finishing third from his sixth grid position.

The 53rd SCCA National Championship Runoffs presented by Garmin VIRB, the Pinnacle of American Motorsports, crowns Sports Car Club of America’s Club Racing National Champions this year at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio, from Friday, September 23 through Sunday, September 25.

While the live broadcast of all 28 National Championships is available live at SCCA.com, each race will be on demand in the coming weeks.

LEXINGTON, Ohio -- Provisional results for Saturday’s SCCA Formula Mazda National Championship at the 53rd SCCA National Championship Runoffs presented by Garmin VIRB at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, with finish position, starting position in parentheses, driver, hometown, car and laps complete.

1, (2), Matthew Machiko, Wexford, PA, Star Formula Mazda, 23.

2, (4), John Entwistle, Katonah, NY, Star Formula Mazda, 23.

3, (6), Bradley Yake, Fort Worth, TX, Star Formula Mazda, 23.

4, (7), William Snyder, Southlake, TX, Star Formula Mazda, 23.

5, (8), Nicholas Malone, Fate, TX, Star Formula Mazda, 22.

6, (1), Jacob Loomis, Corinth, TX, Star Formula Mazda, 10.

7, (5), Paul Ravaris, Aledo, TX, Star Formula Mazda, 10.

8, (3), Jarret Voorhies, Cresson, TX, Star Formula Mazda, 1.

Overall Time of Race: 35:01.573

Average Race Speed: 88.963 mph

Margin of Victory: 14.442 seconds

Fastest Race Lap: Jacob Loomis, 1:27.922 (92.455 mph)

Sunoco Hard Charger: #24 Bradley Yake

Lap Leaders: Laps 1-23, #21 Matthew Machiko

Photo: Matthew Machiko claimed his first Formula Mazda Runoff win and an SCCA Super Sweep title.

Credit: Jay Bonvouloir