Posted (04/07/2012) -
The Nonnamaker Family’s fantasism for Mazda started when Joe 1st drove a Mazda RX-7 race car in 1992.
The passion for the brand expanded as the family raced a fleet of Mazda MX-6s in the early 90’s. This evolved into racing the Mazda 626, that led to winning the 1999 ST Driver’s Title by Will & Wayne Nonnamaker.
Most recently in the ST class, the family has raced the Mazda RX-8 ad the Mazdaspeed3 in the Continental Tire Series.
Currently, the Nonnamakers drive the Team Sahlen Mazdas in the ROLEX GT Series. Team Sahlen’s 3 SpeedSource built RX-8s assisted Mazda in winning the 2010 GT Manufacturers crown.
The family also has 2 1986 Mazda RX-7s that are raced in Chump Car Racing. But it’s hard to count these as race cars, even though they truly are Mazdas.
But what most race fans don’t know is that the Nonnamaker family and the employees that work at the race shop / office are Mazdafanatics when it comes to their street vehicles as well.
Though the years, The Nonnamakers have had 626s and MX-6 street cars for both their own personal cars and for the fleet vehicles driven by the company employees
Recently, the fleet of Mazdas has grown with the addition of more zoom zoom cars that includes 1 Mazda5, 2 Mazda6s, 3 CX-7s, and 3 Mazda3s
The picture attached to this article represents the 23 Company owned Street Car Mazdas.
Additionally, since the picture was taken, three more Mazda3s were added to the company fleet.
“The Mazdas are great cars. Amazingly, our early 626s just keep running, with some in our fleet up to 300,000 miles. And the newer model Mazda cars we have run really great, with our Mazda3s getting over 40 mpg.” – shared Joe Nonnamaker
The Mazdafanatasism goes beyond just our the company owned vehicles. Even office and race shop employees have chosen Mazdas as their personal cars. On any given day, there are 4-5 employees driving to work in a Mazda. And the Mazdafanatasism is spreading to the Sahlen family, as Joe Sahlen’s son Billy has a Mazda3 as his personal street car.
Zoom Zoom forever on the track and on the street for the Nonnamaker family
The 2012 Team Sahlen campaign in the
GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series is supported by:
Mazda, Mazdaspeed, SimXperience, Alcon, Racetech, NGK, Cool Shirt, Racing Print Media, Mothers Polish, TheRaceSite.com, Western New York Flash, Grassroots Motorsports, ASC Industries, Iannetti Design Ideas, CM Racing, Quarter Master, BBS Wheels, MSI Racing Products and Endurance Karting
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