Spec MX-5 Club Racing Factory Team Debuts at Buttonwillow Opener
If you wanted to catch a glimpse of the Spec MX-5 field in the paddock at Buttonwillow Raceway in April, all you had to do was look for the newest, shiniest, prettiest cars in the paddock. The grid consisted mostly of newly constructed cars, including two supported by Mazda Motorsports, so they were fairly easy to spot.
After the inaugural race on the 2021 calendar at Buttonwillow in April, they all still looked the same as they did when they came off their trailers, save for a bit of Buttonwillow dust on a few.
The Spec MX-5 field gridded up with cars from American Iron, Super Touring and Thunder Roadster, so they had fast company. Mazda Motorsports Club Racing Factory team and Teen Mazda Challenge driver Alex Berg made the most of qualifying by logging a sub-2-minute lap time. That’s quick.
Berg capitalized on pole position and led the race from flag to flag, with the lead group of cars still within striking distance. When the checkers flew, it was Berg taking the win, Spec Miata veteran Todd Launchbaugh in second, and NASA Rocky Mountain’s Andrew Clos in third.