...and Dino makes 5: Team StopTech Tally Soars

Team StopTech has surged in the last few days, with five more "podium or pole position" achievements over three races on two tracks.

Four of those came from the SCCA SPEED World Challenge, where the Road America Grand Prix (coincidentally presented by StopTech) served as Round 8 of the 2009 season. Stoptech CEO Dino Crescentini made it to the podium along with Charles Espenlaub of Tri-Point Motorsports, who also served up a top qualifying time along with James Sofronas of GMG Racing. (read release)

A whole country (sort of) away, Turner Motorsport was taking the checkered flag with tag-team drivers Matt Bell and Don Salama. Sure it's two drivers but it only counts as one victory for Team StopTech.

Here's a two minute recap. The yellow (some say "gold") beemer in front for most scenes is our boys charging to victory...



That puts the season total to 22, with a long break before we see the last few races of the season.

Is 25 in range?

StopTech Television Commercial

As teased over at The StopTech Blog before the weekend, StopTech's first national commercial has been posted to their website through the Centric Parts YouTube channel.

Here it is...



The footage for the commercial was shot at Watkins Glen while, coincedentally, Dino Crescentini was winning the race. Does having a camera on you make you a better driver?

Team StopTech Driver Focus: Jason Saini

Jason Saini is unstoppable. He joined the SCCA Pro Racing SPEED World Challenge Touring Car series last year for Tri-Point Motorsports and made his mark by landing the Rookie of the Year designation in 2008. This year looks to be an even stronger one after landing his third victory of the season and his second in a row this weekend at Mid-Ohio. Considering that was Round 7, that makes 3 out of 7 in 2009.

The victory in his StopTech-equipped Mazda6 added to his lead in the Drivers’ Championship and put Mazda in the lead for the Manufacturers’ Championship. It also pushed Team StopTech to 18 in its “Podium or Pole Position” season, fueled by Saini’s three wins and a third place podium visit for Round 4.

Before going pro in 2004, Saini made his mark as an autocross driver with a nearly 70% winning percentage. He scored back-to-back National Championships in B-Stock in 2003, and A-Stock in 2004. He was the Pro Solo Champion in 2003 where he went undefeated, and has numerous wins in Tour, Pro Solo and Divisional Solo events. He hit the pro scene in 2004 as part of the Mazda Miata Cup pro-series, finishing in the top five in his fourth ever race. He went on finished seventh in the 2004 championship, and fifth in the 2005 championship.

With Saini squarely in the lead just over halfway through his second SCCA season, it appears the sky could be the limit. Keep an eye on this dynamic, gutsy, successful driver.