The KONI Challenge Series Test at Daytona will be brimming with Mazdas in the ST class.   In fact, of the 11 ST class entrants, 6 of them will be Mazdas.  One of those Mazdas will be the #43 Team Sahlen racer.

"We are excited to be back at Daytona with the RX8.  In last year's Test Days, we ended up only ¹/₂ second of the fastest time.  Then in the 2008 Daytona race, the Team Sahlen Mazda had a great run.  In a full 51 car ST field, Joe qualified in 13^th spot, and we had the #43 up to 5^th place with a few laps remaining.  And then we ended up a lap short on fuel.  This was an unfortunate incident that had we had a few more laps of yellow would have been a great weekend." - states Will Nonnamaker

With 2009 marking the 2^nd season for Team Sahlen in campaigning the Mazda in ST, having previously ran the Dodge SRT-4

"The Mazda is really fun to drive.  I certainly miss the straightline speed of the Dodge, but braking and going through the turns, there is no comparison.  The RX8 feels like a really big go-kart." - states Joe Sahlen