Freedom Autosport Mazda MX-5 Wins 5th Consecutive Mazda Raceway Round - Speedway Digest

In another fairytale finish for Freedom Autosport, U.S. Marine Staff Sergeant Liam Dwyer and co-driver Andrew Carbonell won round three of the IMSA Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca on Saturday. The ST class victory in the No. 26 Mazda MX-5 came under the watchful eye of Sergeant Aaron Denning, who saved Dwyer’s life in Afghanistan.

Freedom Autosport also finished second in the race, thanks to a stellar performance by Tom Long and 17-year-old Britt Casey, Jr., in the No. 25 Mazda MX-5.

The win marks the fifth consecutive year that Freedom Autosport has been victorious at Mazda Raceway, and this is the fourth time that the team has taken a 1-2 finish there. It is a fitting result for Mazda’s home track.

Dwyer qualified 8^th in the No. 26 Mazda, and it was an emotional race for him because it was the first time that Sgt. Denning has been there to cheer him on. Denning performed immediate lifesaving assistance after Dwyer stepped on an IED in Afghanistan. On Saturday, Denning helped Dwyer in another way: he pitched in as part of the crew.

Dwyer, who also scored a victory for Freedom Autosport at Lime Rock last year, said, “I’m really happy with how our Freedom Autosport Mazda MX-5 performed at Mazda Raceway. When you go back to our win at Lime Rock last year, a lot of people said it was like a movie script and couldn’t get any better. Somehow, it did get better. This year’s win was really about the collective of everyone who has gotten me to this point: it’s not about me wining, it’s about the team getting us there and having Sgt. Denning there to see it.”

The team pitted under green flag conditions, and Carbonell began carving his way through the field. In the closing laps, Carbonell moved up to second and then, just two turns before the checkered flag, he passed teammate Long to claim the victory.

“We couldn’t have asked for a better race than this one,” said Carbonell. “To have both of the Freedom Autosport Mazda MX-5s on the podium at a place like Mazda Raceway, where we have so much history, is perfect. Having Sgt. Denning as part of our team today makes this an especially memorable win.”

Long and Casey also had a flawless day. Casey started third on the ST grid after a phenomenal qualifying effort that put him among the pacesetters despite it being his first visit to Mazda Raceway. He held down second for much of his stint, and after an hour, Long took over and moved up to first. The race was the first time this season that either driver has been behind the wheel of a Freedom Autosport MX-5.

Long said, “There wasn’t a more deserving driver and team in the field than Liam Dwyer and Freedom Autosport. I had a ton of fun racing for Mazda in the tried and true Freedom Autosport MX-5, which fit like a glove when strapping back in for the first time this season. Britt Casey, Jr., drove an outstanding first stint to hand over a perfect car that allowed us to lead the entire rest of the race. I couldn’t be more thrilled to be a part of the effort!”

Casey added, “It was a really big deal to have Mazdas finish 1-2-3 at Mazda Raceway. I really have to thank the crew: that car was built a week before the race. Without Tom, I’d just be a normal 17-year-old kid; I wouldn’t be here. I also appreciate ClothingShopOnline.com helping me get to the track this weekend.”

Fans can watch the broadcast of Freedom Autosport’s 1-2 finish at Mazda Raceway on Fox Sports 1. The race airs at 9:00 a.m. ET on May 17. Fans can also interact with the team on Facebook and Twitter.

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Adam Sinclair

NHRA, IHRA, Motocross and other forms of motorsports Staff writer
About Me: Adam has been a race fan since the first time he went through the tunnel under the Daytona International Speedway almost 30 years ago. He has had the privilege of travelling to races all across the state of Florida (as well as one race in Ohio), watching nearly everything with a motor compete for fame and glory, as well as participating in various racing schools to get the feel of what racecar drivers go through every week. Adam has spent the last three years covering motorsports for Examiner.com., where he had the opportunity to see the racing world from behind the scenes as well as the grandstands. He invites everyone to follow him on Twitter, Facebook, and Google Plus, and looks forward to sharing his enthusiasm for all things racing with the readers of SpeedwayDigest.com.Be sure to tune in for his weekly sports talk program, Thursday Night Thunder, where he discusses the latest in motorsports news with drivers, crew members, and fans. The show takes place every Thursday at 8:00 pm EST on the Speedway Digest Radio Network.