2007 Star Mazda West Coast Championship
Rounds 1 -2
January 11-15, 2007
Phoenix International Raceway

House and Cumming split opening rounds of Star Mazda West Coast Championship

PHOENIZ, ARIZONA. January 17, 2007.  The Star Mazda West Coast Championship kicked off the 2007 season with a double race weekend at Phoenix International Raceway and Dave House and Chris Cumming celebrated the new-year with victories on the 1.51-mile infield road course.

Running as part of the SCCA Snowbird double header, Cumming in the #26 World Speed Motorsports Pro Formula Mazda captured the pole position for both races but was edged out of the top spot in the opening event when House, in the #68 Brocade Credence Azaire Formula Mazda was able to jump into the lead and capture the checkered flag in a race that saw fellow competitor Patrick O’Neill go through a frightening crash on the fastest part of the circuit.

“Right at the fastest part of the track the steering locked and I went into the wall. The data showed that the car hit the wall at 129 miles per hour and there wasn’t much left after it came to a stop,” O’Neill explained. “It is a testament to the strength of the car that it could take a hit that hard and I was able to walk away.”

The second race of the weekend was much less eventful as Cumming, who started from pole once again, was able to hold off the advances of House and capture his first victory of the season.

With the first weekend complete Cumming holds a two point lead over House by virtue of the two bonus points awarded for capturing the pole position.  Rounds three and four of the championship will be held at Infineon Raceway on February 15-18 as part of the Russell Pro Series race weekend.