TOPEKA, Kan. (Dec. 6, 2007) 聙聯 SCCA Pro Racing and Mazda North American Operations announced at the Performance Racing Industry show that Playboy Enterprises Inc. will be the new title sponsor of the MX-5 Cup series.The most exciting spec series in North America today, MX-5 Cup puts up-and-coming road racers into identically equipped Mazda MX-5s and lets them showcase their driving skills at eight prestigious North American racing venues.The series experienced thirty percent growth in 2007, boasting fields of 25 to 30 cars at each race. Its fast-paced and vibrant attitude is a perfect match with Playboy.聙聹We are excited to be working with Mazda on this program and can聙聶t wait for the season to begin,聙聺 Playboy Vice President and Publisher Lou Mohn said. 聙聹We look forward to putting all of Playboy聙聶s brand assets into high gear to leverage this initiative and reach racing enthusiasts and Playboy fans alike.聙聺 With the support of Playboy, MX-5 Cup will continue to put on one of the best, and most affordable, shows in racing. MX-5 Cup remains an integral part of the MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development Ladder, awarding an MX-5 Cup car to one outstanding Mazda club racer for the past two years and presenting the MX-5 Cup Champion with a Mazda ride in the SCCA Pro Racing SPEED World Challenge Touring Car Championship. 聙聹This is a great way for us to grow the series and reach an audience of enthusiasts who may not have had the chance to see an MX-5 Cup race in person聙聺, noted Jim Jordan, Alternative Marketing Manager, Mazda North American Operations. This isn聙聶t the first time SCCA Pro Racing has sanctioned a series with the Playboy name, the Playboy United States Endurance Cup brought four classes of showroom stock cars to six events in 1985. Twenty three years later, one of the world聙聶s best know publishers has joined up again with SCCA Pro Racing.聙聹We聙聶re thrilled to have such an established brand associated with what is quickly becoming one of the most exciting new series.聙聺 SCCA Pro Racing President and CEO Bob Wildberger said. 聙聹MX-5 Cup gets better every year and I聙聶m eager to see what the 2008 season has in store.聙聺A new title sponsor isn聙聶t the only upgrade for MX-5 Cup in 2008. Expect track records to fall all season long with the introduction of the new Kumho ECSTA V710 spec tires."We're excited to be back with the Mazda MX-5 Cup series," Rudy Consolacion, Motorsports Manager for Kumho Tires U.S.A said. "This series features some of the closest racing in the U.S., and we've made some improvements to the ECSTA V710 that should help make the races even tighter. We simply tweaked the compound and construction to improve the tire聙聶s performance.聙聺Despite the fact that 2007 hasn聙聶t even come to a close, the 2008 MX-5 Cup season is on track to be the best yet. Visit for more information. If you can聙聶t wait until April for more MX-5 Cup racing, watch SPEED, Saturdays at 2 p.m. (EST) in December, to relive the 2007 season.
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