MX-5 CUP: Teenager Foley wins at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca

Nineteen-year-old Robby Foley, an engineering student from Randolph, New Jersey, battled his way past some more experienced drivers to take the second race in the Battery Tender Mazda MX-5 Cup Presented by BF Goodrich Tires on Saturday.

Foley, who finished third in the inaugural race for the all-new cars on Friday, managed to make the outside line work in Turn 2 for his No. 63 Mazda Road to the 24 Scholarship car, and despite some minor brake issues, pulled out a car-length lead over second-place Dean Copeland in the No. 7 Copeland Racing car, improving over his sixth-place finish Friday.

Third was series veteran John Dean in the No. 16 Mazda Motorsports/Sick Sideways entry. Dean was second on Friday. Yesterday's winner, Patrick Gallagher, was a factor through most of the race but fell back at the end.

There was considerably more contact and off-track excursions in the Saturday race, possibly because the series doesn't race again until May 13-15 at Watkins Glen, and the drivers figured they had some time to repair any damage. There was some, but it was all comparatively minor.