by Randy Claypoole

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- A familiar participant in SCCA road racing competition, the SPEC Miatas are looking to go circle track racing and IPOWER is making that possible.

IPOWER President Buck Parker and Miata driver Peter Keane began spreading the word late last year. A private test session was held at New Smyrna Speedway during the winter months and the participating drivers knew they were on to something good.

The first race, under the IPOWER sanction, was held Saturday and it was quite spectacular.

Roy Parks, of Lake Helen (FL), led the field to green. By turn one Parks and outside polesitter, Paul Hensel were sandwiched in a four-wide duel when Joe Evans dove to the inside and John Wilding went high. To the delight of the fans, Evans made the pass for the lead in the middle of turns one and two with Hensel, Wilding, and Parks in tow.

Peter Keane, who started in 6th place moved into third by lap two and then passed Evans for the lead on lap three.

Paul Sheppard, of Daytona Beach (FL), moved through the pack, determined to get to the point. He went high on Keane into turn one, but Keane fought hard, on the bottom, to hold the position.

Sheppard was able to get a run off of turn two and took the lead down the backstretch. From that point on the battle was for second place. Chris Mason, known as DUDE, was all over Keane, but Keane slammed the door and held him off to take second place in the 15 lap feature event.

The official finishing order: 1. Paul Sheppard, Daytona Beach; 2. Peter Keane, Daytona Beach; 3. Chris Mason, Daytona Beach; 4. Paul Hensel, Palm Beach Gardens; 5. John Wilding, Winter Park; 6. Roy Parks, Lake Helen; 7. Joe Evans, Ponce Inlet.

The next event for the IPOWER Mean Miatas is planned for Hickory Motor Speedway on Saturday, April 10, 2004, as a support race for the IPOWER DASH Series.

IPOWER plans to use the Mean Miatas as a feeder series for their premiere division, the DASH Series.

“Our goal is to establish stepping stones for the young racers to work their way up to NASCAR,” says Buck Parker. “We will allow a 14 year old to enter the Mean Miatas and then move up to the DASH Series when they turn 16.”

The DASH Series has a rich history of drivers who have graduated and moved on to the top three divisions of NASCAR.

For more information, log on to ipoweracing.com.



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