The 2015 season of the Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires continued in Birmingham, Alabama this past weekend. In keeping with the theme of the season, strong storms once again rolled through the area, but this time, we were lucky. The rains came either after we were done for the day or early enough for the track to dry out.
Barber Motorsports Park is a beautiful venue. There’s nothing quite like it. There is no detail that is overlooked, and it’s a great place to race. The practice sessions went well, and I’m finally beginning to feel some confidence. This was my most competitive racing yet, and I’m excited to get back out there again.
Race 1 took about three aborted starts before we finally got under way. After some good driving, I finished 14th. I lost the lead in the Expert Class race when a car spun in front of me, but as I chased down the leader, the play-by-play announcers even took notice. In the end, I crossed the finish line 1.1 seconds behind the Expert Class winner. As a side note, prior to the race, a few Auburn University fans walked by and noticed the visor strip on my helmet. That made for a few interesting comments and gestures. (Mine was simply a “Gig’em!”)
Race 2 was the big breakthrough. I finished 14th overall again, and I picked up the Expert Class win. But this time, the start was good, and I put myself in a position to be competitive. It was a really good feeling to drive and race so hard, and I can’t wait to get back in the car. We have so many things that need to be refined and improved, but this race gave me a good glimpse of the direction we need to go. The guys over at World Speed Motorsports were absolutely fantastic!
This week, I will be heading to Texas A&M to help with judging the Engineering Project Showcase. I’m excited to get back on campus, and hopefully I’ll have time to check out what’s new with the Texas A&M Formula SAE team.
A special thanks goes out to Mazda and Cooper Tires for their continued support of the Mazda Road to Indy. These folks do so much to keep us racing, and their efforts are both welcomed and appreciated.
~ Bobby Eberle (reprinted from GOPUSA.com)