Martin scores second Mazda Road to Indy victory, Thompson take pole and runner-up finish

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – In motorsports, one of the most valuable components to any racing team is momentum, that intangible piece of the puzzle. Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing is certainly leveraging its considerable momentum, and the confidence that comes from winning races.

The team’s two-liter drivers have dominated the recent action, taking the victory in the last five straight events in the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda.  Canadian Parker Thompson swept both races at Barber Motorsports Park in mid-April with he and his Aussie teammate Anthony Martin splitting the wins at the Grand Prix of Indianapolis in early May.  Last weekend, it was Martin’s turn to again stand on top of the podium, passing Thompson in lapped traffic with 10 laps to go in the Carb Night Classic Freedom 75 on the 5/8-mile banked Lucas Oil Raceway to hand Cape its fifth straight win.

Thompson enjoyed a huge margin back to third to cruise to a runner-up finish, maintaining the series championship lead heading into the month of June.  The two Cape drivers now sit first and second in the overall standings.

"It was another great job by the USF2000 guys,” commented Dominic Cape, after watching Martin and Thompson dominate the evening. “We’ve won 11 consecutive poles at Lucas Oil Raceway, and this was our first 1-2 at the track in a couple of years, which is big for Nicholas and I, and the team. Both of the lads really went at it, which was awesome to watch!"

The team’s driver pairing put on the show of the night, which included the Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires and the USAC Silver Crown cars.  Thompson put his #2 Weyburn Energy / Uber / Cape Motorsports Van Diemen on the pole while Martin was second in his #8 Burgess BLA entry, as the team locked out the front row.

After Thompson and Martin ran away from the field for the first half of the race, Martin did away with the gap between himself and his teammate that resulted in a thrilling battle for the win.  On several occasions, Martin ran the low line into Turn 3 in an attempt to take the lead or at least get into a position to complete the pass in Turn 1, but Thompson was able to hold him off with better exit bite on each attack.

After running side-by-side for a several laps, it was an unpredictable lapped car that was Thompson’s undoing, as he got blocked in the high groove, which allowed Anthony to get the run off of Turn 2 to assume the lead with just 10 laps to go. Thompson tried to battle back, but at that point, the race was Martin’s and the 1-2 finish was confirmed.

With his second win in the books, Martin was able to firm up his hold on second in the point standings, just 24 markers behind the series leading Thompson. The team continues to ride the wave of momentum, having won five straight races, and will aim to extend the streak as they head back to a permanent road course event.

The next series race will be held at the famed Road America circuit in Elkhart Lake, WI on June 24-26. Series freshmen Jordan Cane will join the team for the remainder of the series, beginning at Road America, expanding the Cape Motorsports arsenal as they gun for yet another series title, as well as the Team Championship.

DRIVER PERFORMANCE – ROUND 7 - MAY 26-27, 2016
LUCAS OIL RACEWAY – INDIANAPOLIS, IN

PARKER THOMPSON - #2
Qualifying: 1st 
Race: 2nd 

Driver Quote: “The Freedom 75 was a tough one to swallow. To be 10 laps away from victory, only to get held up by a lap car and lose the lead hurts. Looking at the big picture though, it was another solid podium and good points haul taking pole, fastest lap and most laps led. These are the ingredients to winning the championship. I just need to keep my head down and continue this good form with the boys at Cape Motorsports!”

ANTHONY MARTIN - #8
Qualifying: 2nd
Race: 1st 

Driver Quote: “The race was a really tough one for me. Passing around Lucas Oil Raceway is difficult, so I had to make do with what I had, which was lapped traffic. When we came up behind some slower cars, Parker struggled a little to pass them and that's where I took the advantage that was presented. It's going to be tough road ahead, but I'm going to give it everything I’ve got to challenge Parker in the championship.”