Caddell Leads Opening MX-5 Cup Practice at Portland

PORTLAND, Ore. (July 25, 2008) – Defending race winner Andrew Caddell, of Graham, Wash., led the first of two practice sessions for Round Three of the SCCA Pro Racing Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup, part of the Mazda Grand Prix of Portland. Brad Rampelberg, of San Jose, Calif., and Portland’s own Brad McAllister, were second and third fastest, respectively, at Portland International Raceway.

After missing the first two rounds of the 2008 MX-5 Cup season, Caddell was excited to be back in the seat of his No. 30 Victory Lane Data/Traxxas MX-5 at PIR, site of his first MX-5 Cup victory.

“It feels great to be back in MX-5 Cup, especially here in Portland where I won my first MX-5 Cup race,” Caddell said. “It’s cool that we’re fastest in practice right away. I’m looking forward to a fun weekend.”

Caddell waited until the closing moments of the 30-minute session to clock his fastest lap around the 12-turn, 1.997-mile course, a 1:27.674 (80.767 mph). Rampelberg in the No. 14 Mazda/Hooverspeed/Patron MX-5 also waited until his final lap to enter a time of 1:27.785 (80.665 mph) and end the session in second.

Local driver and polesitter for last year’s race, McAllister led most of the session with a 1:27.842 (80.613 mph) in the No. 39 ACE Surgical MX-5, before being bumped to third by the last minute fliers of Caddell and Rampelberg.

Current point leader Eric Foss, of Fort Worth, Texas, was fourth quickest. Driving the No. 28 Autobarn Mazda MX-5, Foss’ fastest lap of the session was a 1:27.858 (80.598 mph). Robert Huffmaster, of Clarkston, Mich., completed the top five in the No. 27 Huffmaster Companies MX-5 with a lap of 1:27.898 (80.561 mph).

Ryan Schimsk, Todd Buras, Robert Michaelian, Elivan Goulart, and Christian Franck completed the top ten.

The second practice session for MX-5 Cup at PIR will take place at 2:15 p.m. (PDT). Qualifying is set for Saturday, July 26, at 11:30 a.m., and the race will go green at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, July 27. Live timing and lap notes are available at www.mx-5cup.com