2007 Formula Mazda Challenge/Mazdapalooza
Rounds 9-10
June 9-10, 2007
Infineon Raceway

Chuck Hulse captures victory on Series Debut
McCormack and Lemmon split Mazdapalooza class victories

June 10, 2007. Sonoma, California. Making his Formula Mazda Challenge debut in a car borrowed from a friend, Chuck Hulse, from Yorba Linda, California, pulled away to victory in Round Nine of the Formula Mazda Challenge on Saturday, June 9th, while Patrick O'Neil, returned from Saturday's Star Mazda Championship event alongside the Champ Car World Series to take the victory on Sunday.

Hulse, a regular in the Jim Russell Racing School Championship, as well as the Pacific F2000 series, quickly adjusted to the Pro Formula Mazda owned by friend Max Maxedon and captured the pole position on his first attempt, edging out Pau LaHaye who had his strongest qualifying run to date.

While Hulse was rolling to victory LaHaye and Jim Mashburn were battling for second place with Mashburn getting the upper hand to finish second while LaHaye captured his second consecutive podium.

In the Mazdapalooza class for Standard Formula Mazda drivers, Bob McCormack and Chaz Lemmon would finish first and second in class respectively.

Sunday saw the return of points leader O'Neill but it was Mashburn who would lead qualifying to capture his first Formula Mazda Challenge pole position with O'Neill lining up second and LaHaye third.

The early stages of Sunday's sixteen lap event would see Mashburn building a large lead on the field before a slip in turn ten would send him off the track and out of the race due to damage, allowing O'Neill to collect his ninth victory of the season ahead of Ze'ev Drori, his best finish of the season, and LaHaye. Lemmon would claim the top spot in Sunday's Mazdapalooza class.