Largest ever Mazda Miata field spotlights Race 2 at Apex

"I would say that's the most fun I've had in a race car since karting 15 years ago. That was so much fun. Probably something like 10 passes. It was nuts," said Mazda Miata driver and Apex member Lucas Barnett. And that was the story for the largest-ever field of Mazda MX5 Cup cars at the Scottsdale Ferrari Apex Challenge series presented by Coffin & Trout. The fast-growing class witnessed a train of four cars breaking away early and battling within inches for 30 straight minutes.

"I forget how things happened, but there were a lot of lead changes," he added. "That's what is so cool about it. You think you're doing well and then all of sudden you're not and you're in fourth or fifth, and the next thing you know you're in the front. You can make passes very easily in that car. It was a blast."

In total there were four lead changes. Tom Tait, fresh off his Ford Mustang Challenge Series season, took the MX5 Cup win in his first MX5 Cup race. He was the pole sitter, but was fourth at one point before digging his way back forward. Barnett - who started fourth -- came second following a spicy Turn 7 penultimate lap pass on Joey Rainey. The points battle in MX5 Cup after two rounds is super close with five drivers separated by just 13 points.

Excitement filled the air all weekend. After practice and qualifying, Apex Motor Club members and friends were greeted with a flag jumping demonstration from neighboring Skydive Phoenix, punctuating a Chris Stapleton national anthem and news that the final piece of new tarmac was in place the night before, making Apex a 4.76 mile circuit and the longest in Arizona.

"In aggregate we're 4.7 miles, which is a half mile longer than Road America," said Apex CEO Jason Plotke. "We have a surface that is better than Miami GP because the crew that paved Miami just paved Apex. We couldn't be more excited and we'll hopefully be racing on this bad boy in January 2025."

Back on track, the Radical class put on its usual close-quarters show. Chris McMurry captured the overall and Gold class pole, and survived multiple restarts to win flag-to-flag. Andy Voelkel and Ralph Gilles started second and third, and finished in that order. Lucky Ludwig recovered from a crash the prior race to finish fourth and earn hard charger honors, picking up three spots.

Newcomer to Radicals Ryan Fisher has emerged as the early season favorite in the Silver class, notching his second straight win and first class pole, while finishing sixth overall. He was followed by Evan Wolf and Carl Fredrickson, both Silver class contenders in their own right.

"Consistency is key along with having the team and car to where the driver likes it helps a lot," said Voelkel. "Race 1 (in October) didn't really go my way so I did some testing with Crown Racing, got a lot of set up changes in and dialed the car back to me, and it made a world of difference. If you have a car that you're confident with, it helps with the consistent laps."

The GT4 race matched the standard set elsewhere in Round 2 with a fierce battle of its own. Scott Dehlendorf took the pole and led handily in his Porsche Clubsport. Behind him was a five-car, three-make battle between Matt Williams, Matt Crandall, Joey Rainey, Joe Rainey and Bill Lawrence.

Joey Rainey picked his way through traffic and eventually gapped the remaining group. And after Williams and Crandall swapped positions multiple times, it was Crandall who finally made good with just five minutes remaining for what looked like the final podium spot.

However, leader Dehlendorf had a mechanical on the final laps, handing Joey Rainey his second GT4 win this season and seventh straight win dating back to last season. Crandall inherited second in his first GT4 race at Apex, and Joe Rainey rounded out the podium.

In Time Attack, last season’s champion Jeff Koning returned after missing round one and earned the top spot, followed by round one’s winner Star Sawalqah (sa-wall-kah) and Bret Voelkel who sits second in points now behind Sawalqah.

Round 3 of the Scottsdale Ferrari Apex Challenge series presented by Coffin & Trout is up next on December 14. If you’re interested in becoming an Apex member and racer and getting involved, please reach out here. Here’s a look at the early season standings:

Radical Gold

52 - Chris McMurry

33 - Andy Voelkel

32 - Ralph Gilles

22 - Jason Plotke

20 - Jace Bacon

Radical Silver

51 - Ryan Fisher

31 - Jason Dyer

31 - Evan Wolf

29 - Niko Kourouglos

27 - Carl Fredrickson

GT3

25 - Brannan Hankins

20 - Chris Hanson

16 - Ralf Ludwig

13 - Jordan Darling

GT4

51 - Joey Rainey

36 - Joe Rainey

29 - Matt Williams

23 - Scott Dehlendorf

22 - Bill Lawrence

Mazda Miata

39 - Jessica Rainey

29 - Joey Rainey

29 - Joe Rainey

27 - Jacob Rainey

26 - Tom Tait

Time Attack Street Car

45 - Star Sawalqah

32 - Brett Voelkel

25 - Jeff Koning

20 - Jordan Sawalqah

13 - Kent Kirimli