Teen Mazda Challenge Mid-Atlantic got a change of scenery in Wampum, Pa., at the 2.78-mile Pitt Race Complex. The forecast was calling for rain, but there were clear skies and near perfect racing conditions for the day. This event saw 16 cars from the Mid-Atlantic, Great Lakes, and Northeast division take the track. Peter Ensor paved the way once again for the weekend by taking pole with a 2:05.116. Zach Rubin qualified ninth with a 2:08.703 and Andrew Balgoyen qualified eleventh with a 2:09.608. At the start of the race, Ensor was already pulling away from the rest of the field, taking the overall win and the Teen Mazda Challenge win. The only way anyone made up distance on him is when Ensor was held up by out-of-class cars. Rubin had contact early on with another Spec Miata that caused his car to overheat and lose positions. Balgoyen was able to capitalize on this and finish in front of Rubin in 10th overall and second in Teen Mazda Challenge, with Rubin finishing in eleventh overall and third in Teen Mazda Challenge.
The next day continued to be dry. The grid for Sunday was determined by the race times from Saturday’s race, putting Ensor on pole again with a 2:06.078, Rubin in 10th with a 2:08.977, and Balgoyen right behind him in 11th with a 2:09.078. Ensor once again was able to walk away from the entire field to claim the overall win and the Teen Mazda Challenge win. Ensor also was able to set yet another track record for Spec Miata on Toyo RR’s with a 2:04.606! Rubin and Blagoyen had a great back-and-forth, with Balgoyen keeping Rubin at bay after making a good move to get around him early. Rubin struggled with the two uphill turns, but was able to regain that lost time through the back section of the track. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough and the constant battling between the two allowed Will Dodd to pass Rubin on the last lap. Balgoyen finished second in Teen Mazda Challenge and ninth overall. Rubin finished third in Teen Mazda Challenge and eleventh overall.
