Buttonwillow, California (April 27, 1999) — Jeff Bucknum, lead driver for the World Speed Motorsports Star Formula Mazda Pro Series team, captured his third consecutive podium this year by finishing second at Buttonwillow Raceway Park last weekend. After qualifying third, he moved into second behind eventual race winner Joey Hand.
“We had a solid race this weekend,” said Bucknum, who now resides in Las Vegas, Nevada. “We have a new engineering team featuring Mike Miller (who was Bucknum’s Star Mazda teammate at World Speed last year). We’re still just beginning to tap into our full potential, which is going to be great as the season progresses. Right now, staying as close to Joey is going to be key. Eventually as we start to finish in front of him, these points, hopefully, will equate into a championship.”
World Speed Motorsports’ dominance of the Formula Mazda series includes six championship and five pro series Rookie-of-the-Year titles since 1991. Most recently, the team captured five wins (Mike Miller – 4, Bucknum – 1) and two poles (Bucknum) en route to second (Miller) and third (Bucknum) in the 1998 Star Formula Mazda Pro Series championship.