A familiar and respected face around the Mazda Road to Indy Presented by Cooper Tires paddock, Jonny Baker will join Andersen Promotions in a newly created position as Series Development Director for all three levels of the world renowned ladder system.

Porter, Texas – Premium synthetic lubricant manufacturer, Royal Purple Synthetic Oil, Royal Purple®, awarded one driver in each of the three Mazda Road to Indy Presented by Cooper Tires Series with the Royal Purple “Slickest Pass” Award which included a $5,000 check to aid each driver in reaching their goal of racing in the Verizon IndyCar Series and Indianapolis 500. Royal Purple presented the awards to Patricio O’Ward, Sting Ray Robb and Calvin Ming at the September 3 Mazda Road to Indy awards banquet.

Following a cocktail reception on a glorious summer’s evening overlooking the Columbia River and with Mt. Hood looming in the distance, over $2.6M was distributed in the Mount St. Helens Ballroom at the Red Lion On The River, Jantzen Beach, just a mile or so away from Portland International Raceway which this past weekend hosted a hugely successful return of major-league open-wheel auto racing to the Pacific Northwest after an absence of 11 years.

David Malukas grasped the advantage at the start from pole-winner Rinus VeeKay, then led throughout this afternoon’s Pro Mazda Grand Prix of Portland Presented by Cooper Tires. It was the rookie teenager from Chicago’s third victory of the year for BN Racing

Rinus VeeKay, 17, secured the championship – plus a Mazda Scholarship prize worth almost $800,000 to progress into Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires in 2019 – with a conservative drive to second for Juncos Racing, while Oliver Askew, 21, scored an overdue maiden victory for Cape Motorsports