On-track performance was just part of the criteria (Richard S. James photo) The thing about amateur racing is that there's no prize money. Racers race purely for the fun of it, and perhaps a little contingency money to help with the expenses. And winning at the club level isn't the...

From left to right, Kenton Koch, Christian Szymczak, John Dean, Patrick Gallagher and Elliott Skeer show off their trophies adorned in Playboy Hugh Heffner-style smoking jackets.Credit: Alison Merion PadronChristian Szymczak, of Palos Verdes, Calif., was the man of the hour at the Sonesta Gwinnett Place, in Duluth, Ga., as he...

John Dean, of Sebring, Fla., notched his second SCCA Pro Racing Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup race of the season in Round 11 of the 2013 season, part of the 16th Annual Petit Le Mans Powered by Mazda. James Vance, of Toronto, finished second, followed by Christian Szymczak, of Palos Verdes,...

John Dean (LEFT) will be only the third different polesitter in 2013, as he will take to the grid in first for Round 11 of the SCCA Pro Racing Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup, part of the 16th Annual Petit Le Mans Powered by Mazda at Road Atlanta. Elliott Skeer will...

Round 10 of the SCCA Pro Racing Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup has been cancelled by the promoter of the Shell and Pennzoil Grand Prix of Houston, following damage to the circuit's catch fence. The damage was caused by a last-lap collision during the IndyCar race. As a result, track promoters...

Christian Szymczak, of Palos Verdes, Calif., captured his 10th consecutive SCCA Pro Racing Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup pole position in preparation for Sunday's race. Elliott Skeer, of Carlsbad, Calif., and Jeff Mosing, of Austin, Texas, will start second and third, respectively. Driving the No. 34 ALARA Racing MX-5, Szymczak recorded...

John Dean notched his first SCCA Pro Racing Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup win of the season at San Diego's Coronado Island. Championship leader Christian Szymczak finished second, ahead of Elliott Skeer. The 35-lap race, which averaged 80.132 mph, was slowed by one caution period that lasted three laps. The yellow...

John Dean notched his first SCCA Pro Racing Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup win of the season at San Diego's Coronado Island. Championship leader Christian Szymczak finished second, ahead of Elliott Skeer. The 35-lap race, which averaged 80.132 mph, was slowed by one caution period that lasted three laps. The yellow...

For the 24th straight year, a selection of talented young American drivers will vie for prestigious Team USA Scholarships which will potentially allow them to follow in the footsteps of former winners such as Jimmy Vasser, Bryan Herta, Buddy Rice, A.J. Allmendinger, Charlie Kimball, Josef Newgarden and Conor Daly.Eight candidates...

Christian Szymczak snatched the pole position for Round Seven of the SCCA Pro Racing Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. Elliott Skeer will start second, followed by John Dean.While Szymczak winning the pole in the No. 32 ALARA Racing MX-5 is nothing new, the way in which...