Racing on the 3.0-mile counterclockwise configuration at Thunderhill Raceway Park, 40 NASA NorCal drivers showcased impressive racecraft in the region’s highly competitive Spec Miata race series, which includes nine Teen Mazda Challenge drivers —the largest contingent of young drivers among all NASA regions.
TMC driver William Wallis emerged victorious, leading the Spec Miata pack and setting a best lap time of 2:06.639. Wallis was closely followed by fellow TMC driver Lincoln Larson, who stayed within striking distance with a best time of 2:06.989. The battle for the podium was fierce, with 2022 NASA Spec Miata National Champion and current MX-5 Cup driver Aaron Jeansonne claiming third place, putting in a strong drive and recording a best lap of 2:06.691, the second fastest time among the top three. Driver Russell Scott finished third in TMC.
Throughout the six-lap sprint race, the top drivers engaged in a nail-biting battle, maintaining tight gaps, often less than a half second apart at the finish line. This intense competition made for some truly edge-of-your-seat moments. The midfield battles were equally fierce, with competitors like Wa Huong, Team RAmotorsports, and Aaron Braverman fighting it out for valuable finishing positions.
Even those outside the top 10 showed remarkable resilience, with many setting personal bests and pushing their cars to the limit, a testament to the fierce competition and the unwavering commitment of every driver in the Spec Miata race series.
The Sunday morning Spec Miata race at Thunderhill was packed and highly competitive, with a full field of drivers battling through 11 intense laps on the 3.0-mile counterclockwise course.
Aaron Jeansonne drove a commanding race to take the Spec Miata class win, posting a best lap of 2:06.652. He was closely trailed by William Wallis, who clocked the fastest Spec Miata lap of the race with a 2:06.458 and finished just 0.228 seconds behind, setting up a nail-biting finish. Rounding out the podium, Lincoln kept the pressure on, recording a quick 2:07.035 lap and staying within just over four seconds of the lead. Scott again finished third in TMC.
Midfield battles were fierce, with drivers like Wa Huong, Russell Scott, and Team RAmotorsports dicing for critical positions. Gaps between competitors were often less than a second, highlighting the tight and aggressive racing for which Spec Miata is known.
Further back, a dense pack featuring Nathaniel Spitz, Evan Jacobs, Gregory Smoot, and Team LaBouff Racing demonstrated their strategic racecraft, fighting tooth and nail, with best laps ranging from 2:07 to 2:09. The pack remained nose-to-tail for much of the race, showcasing incredible car control and tactical racecraft.
The final race of the weekend at Thunderhill brought even more intensity to the Spec Miata class, with drivers battling closely across all 11 laps of the 3.0-mile counterclockwise track.
William Wallis capped off a strong weekend by taking his second win, laying down a best lap of 2:08.383 and staying just ahead of a hard-charging Russell Scott, who finished second overall and in TMC. Scott was relentless, posting a near-identical best lap of 2:08.621, but ultimately crossed the line only 2.342 seconds behind Wallis in a thrilling finish.
Wa Huong and Team RAmotorsports were right in the mix for the podium, finishing within a couple of seconds of each other and putting up some of the quickest times in the field at 2:08.219 and 2:08.210 respectively, the fastest laps among the leaders. Huong finished third.
Midfield action saw Nathaniel Spitz, who finished third in TMC, Evan Jacobs, and Team LaBouff Racing locked in a tight battle, trading positions and lap times in the 2:08–2:09 range. Just a few seconds separated these drivers, showing the true door-to-door nature of Spec Miata racing.
Further down the order, the likes of Gregory Smoot, Curtis Zhi, and Milas Mills fought hard to stay within the top 20, with incredibly close finishes, including a margin of just 0.008 seconds between Zhi and Mills.
Unfortunately, the race wasn’t without incident: Aaron Jeansonne and Lincoln Larson, who had shown great speed earlier in the weekend, tangled mid-race, and Larson was disqualified for causing the contact.
In true Spec Miata fashion, the final race delivered plenty of side-by-side action, drafting battles, and tight finishes, an excellent way to close out a packed weekend of racing at Thunderhill. The combination of clean racing, tactical overtakes, and spirited defense made it a standout event for Spec Miata fans. The entire field showcased the essence of grassroots motorsport, tight racing, competitive spirit, and a whole lot of heart.
