High drama, erratic weather and intense competition defined the weekend as the NASA MidAmerica and NASA Texas regions converged on Hallett Motor Racing Circuit for the Sooner Summer Shootout on June 6–7. A strong contingent of Texas racers traveled north to take over the technically demanding 1.8-mile road course. The event pushed drivers to their limits, testing mechanical endurance and tactical tire strategies alike.
The weekend saw a field of tightly grouped Spec Miatas battle through changing track conditions, transitioning from full-wet sessions to a rapidly drying racing line. While the competitive spirit remained high, the weekend was ultimately defined by standout pacing, tactical tire calls and a massive third-race incident that shook up the grid and left the paddock reflecting on safety and sportsmanship.
Saturday Racing
The opening race of the weekend took place under treacherous conditions following qualifying sessions held on a thoroughly wet track. Drivers were forced to adapt quickly to minimal grip levels, but the front-runners showed incredible pace despite the slick surface. Trevor McCallion claimed the victory in race one, navigating the wet track in his grey No. 90 Mazda Miata with a best lap time of 1:36.908 .
He was closely shadowed by Vinnie Baratta in the black No. 58 car, who finished a mere 0.551 seconds behind after a thrilling door-to-door duel . Beckett Friesen secured the final podium spot in third place, trailing the leader by 3.312 seconds.
The track dried as the day progressed, paving the way for a highly strategic race two. While many drivers remained hesitant, Baratta made a bold gamble that completely redefined the weekend’s competitive hierarchy. He elected to switch from wet-weather tires to dry slicks just 20 minutes before the green flag waved. The gamble paid off spectacularly as Baratta dominated the field, crossing the finish line with a massive 18.489-second lead over McCallion . Baratta also clocked the fastest lap of the race for the Spec Miata class at 1:33.034.
“It starts with about 20 minutes before the race and making a tire call,” Baratta said of his winning strategy. “I remember going out and thinking dry tires were the call. It was pretty clear to go dries. Made the right pressure call, went a little bit higher than usual, and went out and found a line. I wish I could bottle that race up.”
Behind the dominant Baratta, McCallion held on for second, and Manfredi Alliata climbed from the back of the grid to secure a third-place finish with a best lap of 1:34.964. Mark Curlee and Christopher Shaffer both faced major setbacks during the session, finishing four laps down after an incident where Curlee went off track and Shaffer became a “sacrificial lamb” trying to avoid a collision. Meanwhile, Krystin Jaenicke was forced to miss most of race two due to a broken exhaust that put on a major “spark show” around the circuit, finishing 11 laps down .
Sunday Racing
Sunday morning brought high tension and the most dramatic moment of the weekend during race three. As the pack thundered down the long straightaway into the bottleneck of Turn 2, Alliata misjudged his braking zone. His red No. 8 Miata locked its brakes, slid across the wet grass, hit the curbing and went airborne. The flying car struck Robert Watson’s vehicle before landing nearly on top of McCallion’s car. The frightening wreck forced an immediate halt to competitive racing.
“That was 100 percent my fault,” Alliata later stated during a post-event call. “I realized that I wasn’t going to slow down the car sufficiently. Instinctively, I didn’t want to dive into the entire pack. I looked at the left, there was a big opening. Obviously, I didn’t factor the fact that the grass would have been wet or faster than the asphalt under lockup. I went straight, I hit Robert, went above Robert, landed on Trevor.”
The incident left the paddock shaken. Remarkably, McCallion walked away from the impact, though his car suffered catastrophic frame and hardtop damage. Watson showed incredible resolve, continuing to circulate with a damaged car to be classified fifth, even as his fender rubbed his tire and his hood flew open. When the race was finalized, Baratta was awarded the win, followed by Andrew Adleta in second and Friesen in third.
Rookie Debuts and Redemption in Race Four
The final race of the weekend showcased a depleted but highly competitive field. Adleta secured a brilliant victory in race four, setting a new Spec Miata track record at Hallett with a blistering time of 1:29.993. He narrowly defeated John Hamner by just 0.301 seconds. Friesen completed his incredibly consistent weekend by taking another third-place podium finish.
The afternoon was also highlighted by the impressive professional debut of rookie Tyrone Kemper in the purple and gray No. 124 car. Graduating from go-karts into HPDE and now Spec Miata, Kemper managed to secure a fifth-place finish in his first NASA start, battling door-to-door with veteran racers.
“The rain caught me a little bit off guard, especially how much different it would feel rather than a go-kart,” Kemper said. “But it was a fun race. The start was all right. I just tried to not put it into somebody. I felt like I had some pace.”
Kemper spent the race locked in a clean battle with Jaenicke, who returned to the track after her crew welded her exhaust back together on Saturday night. Jaenicke finished just 0.040 seconds behind the rookie to claim sixth. Erin Price also capped off a highly successful weekend, claiming fourth place in race four after finishing fifth on Saturday . Price credited her strong dry-weather pace to Alliata, who had spent Friday mentoring her on track selection and braking zones before his weekend took a turn for the worse.
Conclusion
The action-packed weekend at Hallett Motor Racing Circuit concluded with Vinnie Baratta celebrating two victories, while Trevor McCallion and Andrew Adleta walked away with one win apiece. Beckett Friesen proved to be the model of consistency, taking home three podium finishes across the four races.
A few drivers will face a busy summer in the body shop rebuilding their damaged machines. The ongoing rivalries and tight personal bonds within the Spec Miata fields of the Texas and MidAmerica regions will be on full display at the next event on the calendar. Competitors will look to carry their momentum—and perhaps an extra jug of windshield washer fluid—to the spectacular natural terrain of Barber Motorsports Park.
