The Austin, Texas based team will continue to run it’s multiple race winning Mazda MX-5s in the ST Class of the CTSCC but the driver combinations will have an unfamiliar look to them. For 2014 the #3 CJ Wilson Mazda/Head & Shoulders car will be driven by Marc Miller and Tyler McQuarrie while the #5 ModSpace MX-5 will be driven by the combination of Stevan McAleer and Chad McCumbee. Those four drivers combined for three pole positions, two wins and one Rookie of the Year title in 2013. The driving talent will be bolstered by the addition of Mazda MX-5 Cup runner up, Elliott Skeer. The Carlsbad, California based youngster will join the team as official test and reserve driver.
The two race cars will catch the eye even when they are standing still thanks to brand new race liveries created for the team by renowned automotive artist, Andy Blackmore.
Team owner, CJ Wilson can barely contain his enthusiasm. “The new race season is here and we have been looking forward to it greatly. As a team we trended upward and won some races last season – and keeping all four of our drivers together makes our team even stronger than 2013. After two years of developing we really feel like this will be our best year yet from a partnership standpoint and from the pit crew and driver perspective everyone is amped and ready to fight for a championship.”
The addition of Elliott Skeer is another positive development for Wilson. “He has shown tremendous talent and as an engineering student will be an additional resource for us in pit lane. Being in this professional environment will show him the standards that are expected on his path to his potential as a driver and teammate. He’s a very positive guy and everyone is happy to have him as part of our team.”
The eye catching new team liveries are also helping to raise Wilson’s excitement levels. “Our MX-5s look fantastic! We have kept the same graphical shape but we have added new types of material to both wraps. The #3 and the #5 cars will be showing up in a lot of Daytona pit lane pictures for sure!”
“ModSpace is excited to be a part of this 2014 season with CJ Wilson Racing and Mazda,” stated William Mann, Vice President of Motorsports for ModSpace. Both Chad & Stevan do an amazing job representing our brand both on and off the track. We look forward to seeing the new livery on the #5 ModSpace car at Daytona and watching these driver’s performance this season.”
CJWR’s Team Manager, Andris Laivins, is also excited about getting back to the business of racing. “As we enter our third season in ST, I think we have really gelled as a team. We head to Daytona with the same four drivers we finished last season with, and there is real momentum from 2013 that we are carrying into the new year. Our shop crew has been working nonstop to ensure that we are consistently up front in 2014, and also to prepare awesome looking MX-5s. Daytona tends to favor the big horsepower cars over our Mazdas, but if we can stay out of trouble I think we’ll be in the Top 10. That should be about as low as we finish this year!”
