Monterey, Calif. - Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca was home to the final round of the Pro Mazda Championship presented by Cooper Tires, which proved to be an eventful triple header weekend for twenty-one year-old Will Owen as he claimed two second place finishes.
The finale weekend of the championship didn’t start off as the Castle Rock, Colorado native had planned after qualifying his #23 Juncos Racing machine in sixth position and then suffering a rear suspension failure during race one. Despite the mechanical issue, Juncos Racing was able to get the car back on track allowing Owen to finish 11th.
Race two held on Sunday was the catalyst to Owen’s bright side of the weekend. Starting from fourth, Owen was forced back two positions on the first lap after an incident involving championship leaders Pato Oward and Aaron Telitz from Team Pelfrey. Able to avoid contact, Owen pushed on making back his positions as Oward and Telitz were awarded penalties due to their collision. After putting 13 laps of pressure on the second and third place cars, Owen’s work was rewarded as Jake Parsons of Juncos Racing and TJ Fischer of Team Pelfrey made contact and spun as they entered the famous cork screw which allowed Owen to claim second. A full course yellow ensued soon after giving Owen the chance to challenge race leader and teammate, Nicolas Dapero. Dapero was able to hang on to his lead as he crossed the finish line with Owen right on his rear wing in second.
The pilot of the #23 Juncos Racing machine kept his momentum going in race three, the final race of the 2016 Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires. In fifth position as the green flag waved, Owen was able to make up one spot before his next opportunity to strike came in the 22nd lap when teammate, Dapero made a mistake at turn two giving Owen enough room to charge by into third place. Shortly after, Owen took advantage of a crippled Oward to move himself into second. Owen was able to run free towards the checkered flag, crossing the line just over a second behind race leader and 2016 Pro Mazda Champion, Aaron Telitz.
Owen’s efforts in race three earned him the Quarter Master Hard Charger Award. With a total of 317 points, the 21-year old ended his second year of the Pro Mazda Championship presented by Cooper Tires in fourth place. Every race, with one 11th place finish as the exception, was in the top ten of the field with eight of those finishes being on the podium.
Will Owen Driver #23 AMR Juncos Racing
"A lot of different things happened this weekend, but I’m to have finished in second place for two of the races. The second place in race three felt much, much better than the one in race two. I did everything that I could and pushed as hard as I could without making too many mistakes. I’m disappointed I didn’t get a race win this weekend, but I’m so happy the season worked out this way. Having no big crashes and no big damage is something to be proud of in my second year of the championship. I’m really proud of Juncos Racing as well for giving me a really great, fast car.”