MX-5 Cup Changes Road America Date

TOPEKA, Kan. (Dec. 22, 2009) €“ Following the announcement that the NASCAR Nationwide Series will race at Road America, in Elkhart Lake, Wis., for the first time in the legendary track€™s history, Mazda has revealed that the SCCA Pro Racing Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup will now participate in the June 18 €“ 20 weekend, in place of the previously announced Road America date.When the 2010 MX-5 Cup schedule was previously announced, Road America appeared as Round Eight, on Aug. 20 €“ 22. With the addition of the Nationwide Series to the 2010 Road America calendar, Mazda has chosen to move the MX-5 Cup race to the June 18 €“ 20 weekend. It will be the first time MX-5 Cup has raced alongside the Nationwide Series. MX-5 Cup will complete a line up that also includes the SCCA Pro Racing Trans-Am Series.€œThough we hate to change the schedule so soon after announcing it at PRI, switching the Road America dates had several benefits,€ Alternative Marketing Manager for Mazda North American Operations Jim Jordan said. €œHaving raced on the August weekend at Road America for the past two years, we know how full that schedule can be, putting track time at a premium. Taking MX-5 Cup to the new June event with Nationwide will ensure the teams have all the track time they need, not to mention a huge crowd on hand to watch.€€œMX-5 Cup always puts on a good show at Road America, so we€™re happy they could join us for this exciting new weekend,€ Road America President George Bruggenthies said. €œWith the addition of this great spec series, the Road America 200 weekend is shaping up to be a great show for race fans.€The SCCA Pro Racing Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup will continue to hold a total of 11 races at eight venues.2010 SCCA Pro Racing Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup ScheduleApril 23 - 25 VIRginia International Raceway (w/Grand-Am)Alton, Va. April 30 - May 2 Road Atlanta (w/Mitty Historic Races)Braselton, Ga. May 21 - 23Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca (w/ALMS)Monterey, Ca, June 18 - 20Road America (w/NASCAR Nationwide) Elkhart Lake, Wis. June 25 - 27New Jersey Motorsports Park* (Mazda Weekend)Millville, N.J. July 30 - Aug. 1 Autobahn Country Club* (Mazda Weekend)Joliet, Ill. Aug. 27 - 29Mosport International Raceway (w/ALMS)Bowmanville, Ont. (Canada) Sept. 10 - 12 Miller Motorsports Park* (w/Grand-Am)Tooele, Utah * - doubleheader