< Back to News Home Team Sahlen has enjoyed a long and enjoyable partnership with MAZDASPEED

Posted (08/25/2012) -

Dating all the way back to1992, the Nonnamaker family 1st found themselves racing in Mazdas.  This was in a Turbo Mazda RX-7 that Joe Nonnamaker drove in the Firestone Firehawk Endurance Series (i.e. Continental Tire Series) ST Class.  Then in 1994, Team Sahlen made the competition debut of the Gen2 Mazda MX-6.  At one point, this fleet of Mazdas included over 4 Continental Tire Series ST class racers, a World Challenge Touring Car and a SCCA SSA class National racer.

  

“Those were some great times in those Mazdas.  I still say that the lines of that MX-6 are some of the best of any Sports Sedan ever.   There was a lot of development that went into those V6 Mazdas, and everyone at MAZDASPEED were a great partner in that process. “ – shared Joe Nonnamaker

 

The team campaigned the Mazda MX-6 and 626 through 1999, winning many races, securing both a Drivers’ and Team Championship, as well as narrowly missing out on a few ST Manufacturer’s Titles for Mazda.

 

Several years past from 1999 through 2007, when Team Sahlen was campaigning for other brands that included Acura, Chevrolet, Porsche and Dodge.   These partnership resulted in successes on track that included titles in both the Continental Tire Series ST and GS classes, as well as ROLEX Manufacturer titles. 

 

But the draw of “Zoom Zoom” was too much for Team Sahlen, and in 2007, a ST class Mazda RX-8 found its into their race shop.  Then soon, in 2009, Team Sahlen trading in their ROLEX GT Chevrolet Corvettes for three Mazda RX-8s.  Along the way Team Sahlen also added the brand new MAZDASPEED3 for the Continental Tire Series ST Class.

 

Will Nonnamaker shared his thoughts. “This renewed partnership in 2007 led to further discussions between MAZDASPEED and Team Sahlen to further engrain us into their GT program.  With SpeedSource Engineering and Dempsey Racing, MAZDASPEED already had 2 great teams in GT.  But with the combo of our three teams, this saw Mazda be able to capture the 2010 GT Manufacturer’s title,,,and then narrowly miss out on the title last year by 1 point.”

 

Added Wayne Nonnamaker - “When we came back to Mazda in 2007, one of the big positives for us was the partnership we already had with MAZDASPEED’s SpeedSource Engineering.  Over the years I think we have purchased over 10 race cars from Sylvain and have had a great relationship of open communication and sharing information back and forth.  This has also included everyone at MAZDASPEED, from John Doonan to the Steve Sanders and the parts department.”

 

For 2012, Team Sahlen will be moving up to Daytona Prototypes Class, in a pair of BMW – Rileys.  But the team won’t be making the move without heavy hearts to not be having the “Zoom Zoom” nation rooting them on around the track.  This will be especially true for the Nonnamaker whom own over 30 street Mazdas used in the company's fleet of street vehicles.

 

The 2012 Team Sahlen campaign in the

GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series is supported by:

 Mazda, Mazdaspeed, SimXperience, Alcon, Racetech, NGK, Cool Shirt, Racing Print Media, Mothers Polish, TheRaceSite.com, Western New York Flash, Grassroots Motorsports, ASC Industries, Iannetti Design Ideas, CM Racing, Quarter Master, BBS Wheels, MSI Racing Products, Endurance Karting and Akron Aeros

 

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