Chris Cumming crowned Star Mazda Expert Champion with 2 races to go

Chris-CummingDriving the #16 Inviro Medical Pro Formula Mazda, World Speed Motorsports’ Chris Cumming took the Road Atlanta circuit during the Petit Le Mans weekend as the newly crowned Expert Class champion for the Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear after recording his seventh class victory of the season at New Jersey Motorsports Park. A late race tangle with a competitor would thwart his bid for class victory number eight but couldn’t stop his enthusiasm at winning the title.

“This has been an incredible season. I came into the season hoping to run well and to be able to clinch the championship with two races left and to have a shot at the top ten overall in points is awesome,” revealed the Vancouver, British Columbia based driver.

“Everybody at World Speed Motorsports has been at the top of their game from the beginning of the season and I need to thank them for all their hard work in getting me to this place. It is an incredible feeling to come into a series as competitive as this and to know that you have a shot at climbing the podium.”

Cumming, who joined the World Speed Motorsports stable in 2006, has earned his second championship in two seasons with the team, capturing the 2007 Star Mazda West Coast Series Championship in a shootout with Patrick O’Neill. “Chris has been working hard all year, and really made some marked improvements,” stated Team Owner Telo Stewart. “We are very proud of him and excited for his second championship in as many years.”

Chris’ Standing Start coach Mikel Miller had this to add, “Chris is really starting to take a close analytical look at what he needs to do to improve, and he is implementing what he learns session by session. Taking the time to pour over data and videos can be tedious but when you see the results the very next session you begin to see it is time well spent.” Cumming has one remaining chance to add to his victory total before the 2008 championship comes to a close when the Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear heads to Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca on October 16-18.