James Goughary Wins First Formula Mazda National Championship

TOPEKA, Kan. (Oct. 13, 2006) – James Goughary, of Jupiter, Fla., dominated the Formula Mazda field for the 2006 SCCA National Championship Runoffs®, Presented By Kansas, As Big As You Think, to claim his first National Championship. Mike Anderson, of Anza, Calif., and Scott Rettich, of Camden, Ohio, completed the podium.

After being a Runoffs runner-up three times, James Goughary followed in his father’s footsteps, two-time GT-2 National Champion Jim Goughary Sr., by winning his first SCCA National Championship in Formula Mazda. Driving the No. 72 Red Line Oil Mazda, Goughary started on pole, led the field through Turn One and never looked back, sailing to the checkered flag with fists pumping in the air.

“I don’t think it’s sunk in yet,” said Goughary. “I don’t even know how it feels right now. It’s been a longtime coming for me. I’ve sat in both of these [second and third place] chairs too many times. I’ve come so close so many times. It’s just an awesome feeling.”

With Goughary checking-out on the rest of the field, all eyes turned to the battle for second where the No. 42 Hasa Pool Products/White Flyer Mazda of Anderson was stalking the No. 17 Keirn Motorsports Enterprises Mazda of Rettich. Anderson carefully planned his attack, and moved into second place with only two laps to go, not enough time for a reply from Rettich.

Closing out the top five were the No. 48 Ski Motorsports Mazda of Jeremy Grenier, from Point of Rocks, Md., and the No. 25 Hoosier/Boblanphere/Oldcastle Mazda of Sean Mataya, from Vancouver, Wash. No. 99 Ken De Nault, of Cedar Falls, Iowa, was awarded the Sunoco Hard Charger award for advancing his H. C. & L. Railroad Mazda five positions during the race.

Now in its 43rd year, the SCCA National Championship Runoffs Presented by Kansas, As Big As You Think annually crowns the best amateur road racers in North America as Champions. More than 750 competitors have gathered this year to battle for 25 class titles, with nine races on Friday and eight Saturday and Sunday. This marks the first year that the Runoffs is held at Heartland Park Topeka.

Celebrating its 62nd anniversary, Sports Car Club of America is a 55,000 member organization that sanctions and promotes grassroots and professional motorsports events in a variety of disciplines, including road racing, Solo, road rally and rallycross.