Miata Atlantic: Road Atlanta race one notes

Buras Takes First Career Miata Cup Win At Atlanta With Last Lap Pass

BRASELTON, Ga. (May 6, 2005) -- Todd Buras, of Atlanta, captured his first-career SCCA Pro Racing Mazdaspeed Miata Cup Presented by Hankook win Friday, taking the first round of the Atlantic Tour at Road Atlanta, part of the Drift Atlanta event. Payton Wilson, of Gainesville, Ga., and Shawn Dewey, of Townsend, Del., completed the podium.

After starting his No. 56 kkrr.com/bsiracing.com Miata 1.8 on the pole position with a record-breaking qualifying lap of 1:45.959 (86.297 mph), Buras fought back from his third place position on the penultimate lap and took advantage of another driver's bid for the lead to slide through for the win.

Second-starting Matthew Pombo, of Duluth, Ga., got the jump from his second starting position to lead the first lap in his Pombo Racing/Security 1/OPM Autosports Miata 1.6, but Buras and teammate Jim Daniels, of Germantown, Tenn., were past on lap two to lead for the next four tours. Tom Long, of Raleigh, N.C., took the point on lap six, only to relinquish it to first Wilson on lap seven and then Buras on lap eight.

Defending series Champion Wilson was back in front on lap nine in the No. 1 King RAT Motorsports/OG Racing 1999 Miata, and led through a caution period that set up a green-white-checkered finish. Long tried for the lead in turn seven, but found himself off track on the final lap. Buras took advantage of the situation and was able to pass Wilson for the win.

Dewey, the 2004 series Runner-Up, had a nice run in his DAB/dewspeed.com Miata 1.6 up from ninth to complete the podium. Chris Puskar, of Chesterland, Ohio, and Jason Saini, of Lake Forest, Ill., completed the top five. Saini set a new race lap record in the process, with a 1:47.034 (85.430 mph).

Erik Stearns, of Van Buren, Ohio, was presented the Sunoco Hard Charger award for his improvement from 19th on the grid to finish 11th.

Round Two of the Mazdaspeed Miata Cup Presented by Hankook is scheduled for Saturday afternoon at Road Atlanta.

Race Stats:

Fastest Race Lap: Jason Saini, 1:47.034 (85.430 mph), Record

Fastest qualifier: Todd Buras, 1:45.959 (86.297 mph), Record

Lap leaders: Lap 1, Matthew Pombo; Laps 2-5, Todd Buras; lap 6, Tom Long; lap 7, Payton Wilson; lap 8, Todd Buras; laps 9-12, Payton Wilson; lap 13, Todd Buras

Sunoco Hard Charger: Erik Stearns advanced eight positions in the race

-scca pro racing-