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Social Media Fans, now you can check out and follow MC Racing on Facebook to keep up to date on the latest information, and get live updates during events.
Check us out at Facebook.com/MCSpeedRacer
2021 Schedule
Sonoma May 29-30
Sonoma Raceway Sonoma, CA racesonoma.com Laguna Seca July 31 -August 1 (103dbA) Laguna Seca Raceway Monterey, C Laguna - WeatherTech Raceway Sonoma August 28-29 Sonoma Raceway Sonoma, CA racesonoma.com Buttonwillow October 16-17 Buttonwillow Raceway Buttonwillow, CA buttonwillowraceway.com Thunderhill November 13-14 Thunderhill Raceway Willows, CA West Region thunderhill.com |
MC Racing Steps Back on the PodiumApril 25, 2021 (Fontana, CA) –
Michael McColligan, driving the #36 MC Racing Mazda RX8 stepped back on the podium with a third place finish in Round 2 of the Hankook Tires United States Touring Car Championship at California Speedway. MC Racing was happy to be racing near their home base and at a track where they have historically performed very strong. Team driver Michael McColligan built speed throughout practice as the team had the tires and chassis working well. The teams and drivers faced the unique challenge in qualifying of single car single lap qualifying, meaning drivers have one chance to get it right. McColligan did not disappoint, laying down his personal best when it counted missing pole by less than 0.2 seconds. “The car was flying and I am super happy with my lap. I am looking forward to starting from the front row!” smiled McColligan. At the drop of the green flag, McColligan got a bit of wheel spin and slotted into third after the long run to turn 1. A fierce battle of out of class cars started in front of McColligan slowing his forward progress and allowing the front two sportsman cars to pull a gap. “I was much faster on the infield sections but they had the power to pull me on the oval so it was really challenging to make a move”, stated McColligan. He battled furiously throughout the race bringing the car home in a solid third place. “It is a bit frustrating that we were not able to use our pace to challenge the front runners today but that is racing and we will keep working to improve. It feels great to stand on podium again and taste the champagne!” summed up McColligan. MC Racing Starts 2021
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MC Racing Solidifies Second in the Points with
Podium Finish in the Season Finale
October 11, 2020 (Sonoma, CA) – Michael McColligan, driving the #36 MC Racing Mazda RX8 closed out the season with a third place finish to solidify second in the season points in Round 6 of the Hankook Tires United States Touring Car Championship at Sonoma Raceway.
MC Racing was in second place in the Sportsman Series Points by a slim margin heading into the season finale. The team decided to continue their strategy of conserving tires for the feature race using Saturday as practice. Team driver Michael McColligan struggled getting the car to work in the cooler Saturday conditions with the team hoping fresh tires and warmer Sunday conditions would bring stronger pace. This proved to be the case as the car balance and lap times improved significantly when the sun came out. Unfortunately, McColligan was not able to get a clean lap in the crowded mixed- group qualifying and was only able to place the RX8 in P6 on the starting grid with their chief rival on the front row. McColligan got a great standing start and was able to take the inside heading into turn 2 in fourth place. The battles for position were intense and unfortunately McColligan slipped back to fifth after a few laps. “My crew chief kept giving me the gaps to everyone and we quickly figured fifth would not keep us in second in the points so it was time for maximum attack”, stated McColligan. He regained his focus and soon began running fast and consistent laps. As the front wheel drive cars started to struggle with their tires McColligan worked his way back to fourth and was soon battling for the final position on the podium. After an intense battle McColligan was finally able to make a stellar move around the outside of turn 7 a lap and half from the checkered flag. “Wow that was a crazy race withsome tight battles. What a great way to close out the season and celebrate second place in the Sportsman Season points. Thank you to my team and our awesome partners who make this all possible. The champagne tastes really good!” smiled McColligan. The team will take a bit of break and then get back to work for next season.
MC Racing was in second place in the Sportsman Series Points by a slim margin heading into the season finale. The team decided to continue their strategy of conserving tires for the feature race using Saturday as practice. Team driver Michael McColligan struggled getting the car to work in the cooler Saturday conditions with the team hoping fresh tires and warmer Sunday conditions would bring stronger pace. This proved to be the case as the car balance and lap times improved significantly when the sun came out. Unfortunately, McColligan was not able to get a clean lap in the crowded mixed- group qualifying and was only able to place the RX8 in P6 on the starting grid with their chief rival on the front row. McColligan got a great standing start and was able to take the inside heading into turn 2 in fourth place. The battles for position were intense and unfortunately McColligan slipped back to fifth after a few laps. “My crew chief kept giving me the gaps to everyone and we quickly figured fifth would not keep us in second in the points so it was time for maximum attack”, stated McColligan. He regained his focus and soon began running fast and consistent laps. As the front wheel drive cars started to struggle with their tires McColligan worked his way back to fourth and was soon battling for the final position on the podium. After an intense battle McColligan was finally able to make a stellar move around the outside of turn 7 a lap and half from the checkered flag. “Wow that was a crazy race withsome tight battles. What a great way to close out the season and celebrate second place in the Sportsman Season points. Thank you to my team and our awesome partners who make this all possible. The champagne tastes really good!” smiled McColligan. The team will take a bit of break and then get back to work for next season.
MC Racing Storms Back to the Podium
September 12, 2020 (Buttonwillow, CA)
Michael McColligan, driving the #36 MC Racing Mazda RX8 put in a strong drive to finish third in Round 4 of the Hankook Tires United States Touring Car Championship at Buttonwillow Raceway.
The MC Racing Team worked overtime in the three weeks between Round 3 and the Double-header at Buttonwillow Raceway including replacing and re-calibrating most of the steering system. Fortunately the fix worked, allowing team driver Michael McColligan to focus on going fast at his home track from the opening practice. McColligan continued improving his pace through the two practice sessions and qualified the Mazda RX8 in P4 for the standing start. “The car felt great and I really liked the setupchanges we made to the front suspension allowing me to really attack the slow speed sections”, stated McColligan. At the drop of the green flag, McColligan got a great launch and settled into third by the second turn. The first few laps were intense as there were three classes all fighting for track position. McColligan made some aggressive moves and was able to clear some out-of-class traffic and get a buffer to the chasing pack. McColligan then settled into his race pace bringing the car home in P3 at thecheckered flag. “The first few laps were super intense as I had big pressure from behind before clearing the lap traffic. I am really happy to be back on the podium and thank the team for all the hard work getting the car ready”, smiled McColligan. The team has no time to rest as there is another race in 24 hours time.
Michael McColligan, driving the #36 MC Racing Mazda RX8 put in a strong drive to finish third in Round 4 of the Hankook Tires United States Touring Car Championship at Buttonwillow Raceway.
The MC Racing Team worked overtime in the three weeks between Round 3 and the Double-header at Buttonwillow Raceway including replacing and re-calibrating most of the steering system. Fortunately the fix worked, allowing team driver Michael McColligan to focus on going fast at his home track from the opening practice. McColligan continued improving his pace through the two practice sessions and qualified the Mazda RX8 in P4 for the standing start. “The car felt great and I really liked the setupchanges we made to the front suspension allowing me to really attack the slow speed sections”, stated McColligan. At the drop of the green flag, McColligan got a great launch and settled into third by the second turn. The first few laps were intense as there were three classes all fighting for track position. McColligan made some aggressive moves and was able to clear some out-of-class traffic and get a buffer to the chasing pack. McColligan then settled into his race pace bringing the car home in P3 at thecheckered flag. “The first few laps were super intense as I had big pressure from behind before clearing the lap traffic. I am really happy to be back on the podium and thank the team for all the hard work getting the car ready”, smiled McColligan. The team has no time to rest as there is another race in 24 hours time.
MC Racing Overcomes Adversity and Brings Home Top 5 Finish
August 23, 2020 (Sonoma, CA)
Michael McColligan, driving the #36 MC Racing Mazda RX8 overcame some challenges to finish fifth in Round 3 of the Hankook Tires United States Touring Car Championship at Sonoma Raceway.
Unfortunately the electric power steering on the usually very reliable RX8 began acting up from the first practice. This is especially problematic at a track as technical as Sonoma Raceway. “The power steering was cutting in and out making it very difficult to drive. Even when it was working I had to give a bit of a margin in case it cut out mid corner”, mentioned team driver Michael McColligan. The team worked hard to solve the issue but could not completely eliminate the problem. McColligan was still able to qualify the RX8 in P5 for the feature race. McColligan had a strong standing start and was able to hold his line and move into P4 by the exit of the carousel. Some out of class cars were between McColligan and the top 3 and he soon made a strong move down the inside of the Audi at Turn 7 and around the outside of the BMW a few laps later. With clear air, McColligan ran some fast laps, soon catching on the tail of the lead pack. Unfortunately, the differential from one of the touring cars failed leaving oil allover the brake zone at turn 11. “I saw the yellow flag and slowed way down but did not see a debris flag or the oil until I was spinning around”, described McColligan. By the time he got back underway, he had dropped back to 6 . He was able to recover a position before the checkered flag bringing the Mazda RX8 home in 5th position. “We ended up running the second fastest lap in the race, so we had the pace to finish a bit higher, but considering the reliability issues and on-track excitement, fifth is not too bad”, smiled McColligan. The team will regroup and get ready for the double header at Buttonwillow, September 12-13.
Michael McColligan, driving the #36 MC Racing Mazda RX8 overcame some challenges to finish fifth in Round 3 of the Hankook Tires United States Touring Car Championship at Sonoma Raceway.
Unfortunately the electric power steering on the usually very reliable RX8 began acting up from the first practice. This is especially problematic at a track as technical as Sonoma Raceway. “The power steering was cutting in and out making it very difficult to drive. Even when it was working I had to give a bit of a margin in case it cut out mid corner”, mentioned team driver Michael McColligan. The team worked hard to solve the issue but could not completely eliminate the problem. McColligan was still able to qualify the RX8 in P5 for the feature race. McColligan had a strong standing start and was able to hold his line and move into P4 by the exit of the carousel. Some out of class cars were between McColligan and the top 3 and he soon made a strong move down the inside of the Audi at Turn 7 and around the outside of the BMW a few laps later. With clear air, McColligan ran some fast laps, soon catching on the tail of the lead pack. Unfortunately, the differential from one of the touring cars failed leaving oil allover the brake zone at turn 11. “I saw the yellow flag and slowed way down but did not see a debris flag or the oil until I was spinning around”, described McColligan. By the time he got back underway, he had dropped back to 6 . He was able to recover a position before the checkered flag bringing the Mazda RX8 home in 5th position. “We ended up running the second fastest lap in the race, so we had the pace to finish a bit higher, but considering the reliability issues and on-track excitement, fifth is not too bad”, smiled McColligan. The team will regroup and get ready for the double header at Buttonwillow, September 12-13.
MC Racing’s Strong Drive Matches Career Best Finish
August 2, 2020 (Willows, CA)
Michael McColligan, driving the #36 MC Racing Mazda RX8 continued his strong form with a second place finish in Round 2 of the Hankook Tires United States Touring Car Championship at Thunderhill Raceway.
Thunderhill Raceway has always been a challenging track for MC Racing and Team Driver Michael McColligan but they headed to Round 2 with optimism. Saturday’s first practice was all about bedding- in a brand new set of Raybestos brakes. The team took a strategic gamble and decided to skip the first qualifying to conserve precious tires. In qualifying two, McColligan was able to deliver a time good enough for P6 on the competitive grid. Standing Starts are always a bit tense and exciting and this race would be no different with one of the BMW’s from farther back jumping the start and stopping in the gap directly in front of McColligan. “When the green flag dropped, I got a great start but had nowhere to go, so it was either back out of it or hit the wall”, stated McColligan. McColligan lost an additional position to the Dodge and then settled into his race pace. As the race progressed, McColligan kept a steady pace and began to reel the Dodge back in. “I could see that he was starting to struggle with tires and the RX8 continued to feel good as I could really push. I was much faster in the handling sections but his power advantage made it difficult to stay in touch on the open sections”, described McColligan. The battle raged for a few laps and McColligan was able to pull off a stellar passing move into turn 6. A few laps later, he caught and passed the yellow Civic that was having engine problems and then caught the silver Civic right at the white flag. “I showed my nose to let him know I was there into turn 2 and was able to pull off another strong pass in turn 6”, said a smiling McColligan. This put McColligan third at the checkered flag, moving up to second via the BMW’s penalty for jumping the start. “This was one of my best races ever as I drove hard, consistent, and mistake free. I pulled off some great overtakes and had a blast out there! Thanks to the team for giving me a car that was strong and reliable despite the extreme 100 degree plus temperatures. The champagne tasted good”, summed up McColligan. McColligan and the MC Racing team will celebrate the result and right get back to work as Round 3 is only three weeks away.
Michael McColligan, driving the #36 MC Racing Mazda RX8 continued his strong form with a second place finish in Round 2 of the Hankook Tires United States Touring Car Championship at Thunderhill Raceway.
Thunderhill Raceway has always been a challenging track for MC Racing and Team Driver Michael McColligan but they headed to Round 2 with optimism. Saturday’s first practice was all about bedding- in a brand new set of Raybestos brakes. The team took a strategic gamble and decided to skip the first qualifying to conserve precious tires. In qualifying two, McColligan was able to deliver a time good enough for P6 on the competitive grid. Standing Starts are always a bit tense and exciting and this race would be no different with one of the BMW’s from farther back jumping the start and stopping in the gap directly in front of McColligan. “When the green flag dropped, I got a great start but had nowhere to go, so it was either back out of it or hit the wall”, stated McColligan. McColligan lost an additional position to the Dodge and then settled into his race pace. As the race progressed, McColligan kept a steady pace and began to reel the Dodge back in. “I could see that he was starting to struggle with tires and the RX8 continued to feel good as I could really push. I was much faster in the handling sections but his power advantage made it difficult to stay in touch on the open sections”, described McColligan. The battle raged for a few laps and McColligan was able to pull off a stellar passing move into turn 6. A few laps later, he caught and passed the yellow Civic that was having engine problems and then caught the silver Civic right at the white flag. “I showed my nose to let him know I was there into turn 2 and was able to pull off another strong pass in turn 6”, said a smiling McColligan. This put McColligan third at the checkered flag, moving up to second via the BMW’s penalty for jumping the start. “This was one of my best races ever as I drove hard, consistent, and mistake free. I pulled off some great overtakes and had a blast out there! Thanks to the team for giving me a car that was strong and reliable despite the extreme 100 degree plus temperatures. The champagne tasted good”, summed up McColligan. McColligan and the MC Racing team will celebrate the result and right get back to work as Round 3 is only three weeks away.
MC Racing Kicks-off the Season with a Podium Finish
June 14, 2020 (Buttonwillow, CA)
Michael McColligan, driving the #36 MC Racing Mazda RX8 started the Covid-19 delayed season off right by finishing in third place in Round 1 of the Hankook Tires United States Touring Car Championship at Buttonwillow Raceway. With the first two rounds of the 2020 USTCC season cancelled due to Covid-19, MC Racing was excited to be back at the track. “Other than virtual racing, I have not driven in competition since the fall of 2019, so I knew I would be a bit rusty. It was awesome to finally run the RX8 at the limit again!”, stated MC Racing Team driver Michael McColligan. Saturday was all about getting some practice and gradually back to race pace. The team had not been to Buttonwillow in over 3 years so the setup was off a bit initially but the team dialed it in as the weekend progressed. McColligan and the team were able to continue their improvement in qualifying putting the car in P4 on the grid. The green flag dropped very quickly for the race standing start causing a bit of chaos for the field as they headed into the hairpin. McColligan kept his cool but dropped back to P5 at the end of the first lap. He didn’t panic and started clicking off personal best laps as the race progressed working his way up to third at the checkered flag. “It feels great to start the season with such a strong finish. It took us a bit to get back in the groove but awesome to put the RX8 back on the podium”, summed up McColligan. The team is focused on continued improvements as they get ready for Round 2 to be held at Thunderhill in early August.
Michael McColligan, driving the #36 MC Racing Mazda RX8 started the Covid-19 delayed season off right by finishing in third place in Round 1 of the Hankook Tires United States Touring Car Championship at Buttonwillow Raceway. With the first two rounds of the 2020 USTCC season cancelled due to Covid-19, MC Racing was excited to be back at the track. “Other than virtual racing, I have not driven in competition since the fall of 2019, so I knew I would be a bit rusty. It was awesome to finally run the RX8 at the limit again!”, stated MC Racing Team driver Michael McColligan. Saturday was all about getting some practice and gradually back to race pace. The team had not been to Buttonwillow in over 3 years so the setup was off a bit initially but the team dialed it in as the weekend progressed. McColligan and the team were able to continue their improvement in qualifying putting the car in P4 on the grid. The green flag dropped very quickly for the race standing start causing a bit of chaos for the field as they headed into the hairpin. McColligan kept his cool but dropped back to P5 at the end of the first lap. He didn’t panic and started clicking off personal best laps as the race progressed working his way up to third at the checkered flag. “It feels great to start the season with such a strong finish. It took us a bit to get back in the groove but awesome to put the RX8 back on the podium”, summed up McColligan. The team is focused on continued improvements as they get ready for Round 2 to be held at Thunderhill in early August.
Raybestos to Help MC Racing Attack the Brake Zones in 2019
February 3, 2019 (Simi Valley, CA) – “MC Racing will be using Raybestos® brake products exclusively to enhance the stellar braking of the Mazda RX8 as they chase the USTCC Sportsman Class Championship in 2019,” stated MC Racing Team Principal Michael McColligan.
“We are very proud to partner with Raybestos this season. We have been a big fan of their race compounds for a while and will be counting on their products to allow us to attack the brake zones with confidence. They are now making their compounds more accessible to amateur and professional racers by offering a variety of race compounds in pad shapes to fit many of the popular cars raced In the USTCC and other series,” said McColligan.
About Raybestos Brakes
Raybestos® has been known as the best in brakes for over 100 years. With a demonstrated commitment to research, development and testing, Raybestos is widely recognized for quality brake components, including friction, rotors, drums, calipers and hydraulic products. The brand was the first to introduce Enhanced Hybrid Technology (EHT®) with its Element3® brake pads, delivering the best attributes of ceramic and semi-metallic for optimal performance, improved pad wear and durability, and increased stopping power during aggressive braking. Raybestos is the flagship brand of Brake Parts Inc, a global supplier to major auto parts organizations. To learn more, visit www.Raybestos.com
“We are very proud to partner with Raybestos this season. We have been a big fan of their race compounds for a while and will be counting on their products to allow us to attack the brake zones with confidence. They are now making their compounds more accessible to amateur and professional racers by offering a variety of race compounds in pad shapes to fit many of the popular cars raced In the USTCC and other series,” said McColligan.
About Raybestos Brakes
Raybestos® has been known as the best in brakes for over 100 years. With a demonstrated commitment to research, development and testing, Raybestos is widely recognized for quality brake components, including friction, rotors, drums, calipers and hydraulic products. The brand was the first to introduce Enhanced Hybrid Technology (EHT®) with its Element3® brake pads, delivering the best attributes of ceramic and semi-metallic for optimal performance, improved pad wear and durability, and increased stopping power during aggressive braking. Raybestos is the flagship brand of Brake Parts Inc, a global supplier to major auto parts organizations. To learn more, visit www.Raybestos.com
MC Racing and Idemitsu Collaborate for 2019
January 21,2019 (Simi Valley, CA) – MC Racing will be using Idemitsu lubricants exclusively to provide the ultimate performance and protection to the drive-train of the Mazda RX8 as they chase the Sportsman Class Championship in 2019.
Stated MC Racing Team Principal Michael McColligan, “The team is super excited to use and promote Idemitsu products. We are counting on their superior quality and technical excellence to keep us running at the front. In addition, their specialized knowledge of rotary engines could be our secret weapon this year as we develop a unique power-train layout. ”
About Idemitsu Lubricants America
Idemitsu began supplying lubricants in the United States in the late 1970s and built the state-of-the-art blending facility in Jeffersonville, IN in 1992 to meet increased production demands. Idemitsu Lubricants America (ILA) has sales offices in Detroit and Los Angeles, and has continued to expand its business in the United States and worldwide. It is the eighth largest lubricant manufacturer globally with over a century of unsurpassed quality, innovation and superior product development. www.idemitsulubricants.com
MC Racing and Napier Outdoors Collaborate for 2019
December 06, 2018 (Simi Valley, CA) – MC Racing and Napier Outdoors announce partnership to display and utilize the Sportz Truck Tent at all United States Touring Car Championship events in 2019. Stated MC Racing Team Principal Michael McColligan, “The team is super excited to use and promote this awesome product. Napier invented the Truck Tent category and their Sportz Tent is by far the market leader. It is super easy to setup and take down, full of really innovate features, and provides a ton of comfort at a reasonable price. The driver and crew are looking forward to putting it to good use in 2019!”
Napier is the world’s largest developer and distributor of Vehicle Camping Tents. Since 1990, Napier has been changing the way people view camping, by reshaping and merging the automotive and outdoor industries together. Napier was the first to revolutionize the camping industry with innovative and exciting Vehicle Camping Tents. Napier distributes Vehicle Camping Tents to automotive manufacturers and retailers across North America, Europe, and Australia. Napier Vehicle Tents are the number one selling Truck and SUV Tents in the World!
www.napieroutdoors.com
www.napieroutdoors.com
Career Best Finish for Michael McColligan and MC Racing
September 9, 2018 (Sonoma, CA) – Michael McColligan, driving the #36 MC Racing Mazda RX8 finished a career best second place in the Sportsman Class at Round 5 of the 2018 United States Touring Car Championship at Sonoma Raceway.
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Read the full Story here
About MC Racing
MC Racing competes in the Hankook Tires United States Touring Car Championship aboard a Mazda RX8 with support from Idemitsu, Raybestos, Mazda USA, Mazdatrix, Racing Beat, Konig Wheels, Orafol, Eibach Springs, and Napier Outdoors.
MC Racing competes in the Hankook Tires United States Touring Car Championship aboard a Mazda RX8 with support from Idemitsu, Raybestos, Mazda USA, Mazdatrix, Racing Beat, Konig Wheels, Orafol, Eibach Springs, and Napier Outdoors.