NEW ORLEANS, LA - Matt Million pushed through weekend long adversity to come home with a win during Rounds 7 & 8 of the 2018 Spec MX-5 Challenge Series Central.
Friday saw Million's first impressions of the NOLA Motorsports Park circuit, "It's certainly a different challenge compared to the past races at Road Atlanta and COTA. It's very flat, slick, short lap with a high average speed!"
Series testing on Friday saw plenty of mixed condition practice sessions. From dry in the morning, to raining by afternoon, and drying again by the final sessions of the day. Million felt that these challenges added positively to his learning curve this season and at this circuit.
Saturday saw a much more calm weather forecast, with no rain expected. Million had topped the time charts in a few sessions on Friday and was ready to transfer the speed into qualifying. However, a whining gearbox that had been prevalent for much of the day before had finally found its end, failing at the end of Saturday's qualifying session. Million would start the race in fourth position, but his current car was unable to be repaired in time, he was reverted to a backup car. Million's first laps in the backup would occur in the race, where it quickly became obvious that it was not in a competitive form, and Million fell back from the lead group throughout the race. Million finished fifth.
Sunday was looking to see fortunes change for Million, as it was elected to repair the main car instead of use the noncompetitive backup. Million tested the repaired car in warm up, and everything felt alright. There was no qualifying session on Sunday, therefore the grid would be set by the previous day's qualifying session, meaning Million would again start fourth. The race got underway, and the difference from Saturday's race was immediately noticeable. On the opening lap, Million found himself passing for third, only to shift down again to fourth, and back up to third before the line. A three car breakaway formed at the front, as Million sat patiently behind the two leaders fighting each other hard each lap. A little over halfway, and Million began to make moves, with an outside pass right before the start/finish on second place before passing for the lead on the exit of turn 1. From there, Million maintained his lead and grew the gap into over 3 seconds before crossing the line for his second victory of the 2018 Spec MX-5 Challenge Series.
Less than a week after this, the Spec MX-5 Challenge Series headed to Circuit of the Americas for the second rounds of a two weekend double header at the 2018 NASA National Championships.