Mazda MX-5 Cup Race #1 - DAYTONA
This weekend, I got to experience the iconic Daytona International Speedway as a scholarship winner for the first race of the Mazda MX-5 Cup season.
For my first time driving at Daytona, I had a lot to learn. With the high banking, in field, and drafting situation, I was determined to learn as much as possible and improve my times throughout the weekend.
Qualifying was not the best session for me, as we qualified P23. However, I decided to keep my head up and work my way up through the field as much as possible.
In Race 1, I got a great start, gaining 9 positions within the first few corners. As the race went on, so did my battles as I made my way up through the pack. However, half way through the 45 minute race, my sub frame cracked, causing a huge flex in the sway bars. This eventually led to the sway bar brackets breaking, and me loosing the front end in the International Horseshoe.
This resulted in falling back multiple positions and finishing the race with vibrations in the car.
After a mechanical issue in Race 1 and receiving a penalty, I would start Race 2 in P26. This definitely wasn’t ideal, but I figured that the only place I could go was forward.
So that I did. When the full course yellow came out in Race 2, I was up 10 positions in P16. Due to a crash involving a couple cars, the field was lined up behind the pace car.
When the incident was cleaned up and the track was safe, we got the green flag again. I managed to stay in my pack and began making passes. Unfortunately though, a few laps after the restart, I was involved in an unavoidable accident that ultimately broke my race. The contact from the incident caused me to spin and fall back to almost last.
On a positive note, after penalties and official results came out, I ended up Top Finishing Female for Race 2.
Daytona was a tough one. I definitely didn’t get the results I wanted, but I felt like I overcame and improved so much.
What I learned this past weekend was invaluable. Although it’s easy to beat myself up about the results, it’s harder to look at where I started and where I am now. I’m not satisfied, but I’m proud of how far we’ve come in just one year of car racing. On to the next learning experience. Sebring!
Jan 26, 2024
