John Pagel, owner of Evil Genius Racing, has his mind set on taking the first two podium spots in the E2 class in this year's 25-hour Endurance held at Thunderhill Raceway Park in Willows, California on December 6th and 7th.
John's shop, already an icon in the Mazda community, has started from scratch this year, building two ITA Miatas from the ground up. With two fresh chassis, and completely fresh components, E.G.R. has delivered two incredibly well-built cars worthy of the class win.
John's shop, already an icon in the Mazda community, has started from scratch this year, building two ITA Miatas from the ground up. With two fresh chassis, and completely fresh components, E.G.R. has delivered two incredibly well-built cars worthy of the class win.
With two repeated podium finishes at the 25-hour in E2, Miller Motorsports will be instrumental in the team's success in 2008. The Miller crew will be putting the cars into motion, demonstrating once again they have what it takes to run a truly competitive team in this ever-growing and competitive class. The M.M. crew leaves nothing to chance, and has researched, tested, and proven every aspect of their operation from car setup, to driver selection.
Both EGR and Miller Motorsports rely only on the best of the best equipment for the 25-hour. With the team goal only being to win this year's 25, John and his team are relying on Kumho's tried and tested V710 tire to maintain the fast pace that it takes to lead the E2 class, and its longevity that it takes to win.
If you have ever been to a Nor-Cal NASA event, chances are you know who Evil Genius is.
John Pagel grew up in northern California, and by the age of 17 found himself autocrossing. The cone racing wasn't enough for John, and soon he found himself regularly attending NASA races in his first gen RX-7. John became well known in the large Pro-7 community, and began fabricating parts and roll cages for his car as well as some friends'. It was 2004 when John started his shop named Evil Genius Racing in Davis, California. The name had stuck after someone had commented on how John reminded them of an evil genius, with his thick lens glasses and unkempt hair. Now in 2008, the Evil Genius shop has grown to a much larger operation, with two locations including the original shop and a new 4000 sq ft. shop in West Sacramento. John now offers complete track support, including racecar transportation and storage, and has become one of the most reputable shops on the west coast.
John has been racing NASA's ever-growing enduros since the beginning, back in 2005 when the race was a mere 12-hours. With much success in his RX-7s, John is looking to build his success in a Miata, or three. This year he decided to join forces with the Miller Motorsports team, founded by Marcus Miller, and his brother Scott. While John focuses on building killer ITA Spec Miatas for the race, he turns all the logistics and planning over to Miller Motorsports. The Miller Motorsports Team also grew from the Pro-7 community, but became a real threat to the racing community with their domination in the WERC series in 2007. The Miller Motorsports/Kumho Tires Team finished on the podium at every round of the WERC, finishing 1st and 2nd in the championship with a 1-2 finish at the year's end 12-hour race. The Millers are no slouches at the 25 either, and have finished on the podium two years in a row at the 25. One thing is clear, the guys at Miller Motorsports are masters of Enduros.
This year, team manager Marcus Miller stepped down from the driving duties, and hand picked drivers for the two primary teams.
Team one is made up of four drivers, all looking for that E2 win in 2008.
Dean Thomas played a major role in the Miller Motorsports/Kumho Tires championship winning effort in the 2007 WERC season as well as the past two 25-hour races (both ending on the podium). In 2008, Dean concentrated on sprint races and finished on the podium fourteen times, including four wins five poles, and set the fastest lap three times.
Dave Vodden is probably the most experienced driver on the team, having raced midgets, sprint cars, TQ's and mini sprints before even beginning his road-racing career in 1990. Dave has several road racing season championships under his belt, including SSA, ITC, RX7, T3, and PT. In 2008, Dave was the Spec Miata Challenge Champ, and also took wins in NASA SM, SCCA SM, ITA, and T3.
Equally as impressive, Dave was hired in 1988 to construct and operate what is now known as Thunderhill Raceway Park, of which he is now the President and CEO.
Jeff Smith began his racing career in shifter karts, winning several events before eventually moving on to full-size cars. After attending Jim Russell Racing School at Infineon Raceway, Jeff competed in SM in both NASA and SCCA simultaneously. Over the next two years, Jeff secured one win and several other podium finishes. In 2007 Jeff raced on the Evil Genius Team during the 25-hour, and raced in three other four-hour enduros finishing atop the podium at one.
Dan Piña is the fourth and final driver on the EGR/Kumho Team #1. Although Dan has less experience than most of his counterparts, Dan has managed to pick the right teams for the 25. Dan finished 1st in class during the 2005 25-hour, and finished 2nd in 2006 and 2007. Dan started with auto-crossing at 17, which quickly was replaced by road racing, and later Pro Rally. More recently, Dan has dedicated his time (and money) to professional drifting. Dan hooked up with the Miller Motorsports team in 2006 for the 25-hour, and has been driving with them ever since. Dan owes several podium finishes and a championship to Miller Motorsports, Co-Driver Dean Thomas, and of course, Kumho Tires.
For team #2, Marcus filled the spots with well-known Nor-Cal Spec Miata regulars. The team is made up of five drivers.
Laura Thomas has been driving competitively for the past seven years, beginning with autocross. Autocross was replaced by time trials, which was later replaced by wheel-to-wheel road racing, which Laura has been doing (well) for the past four years in both NASA and SCCA. Laura earned several wins in all three disciplines, but most recently earned the title of NorCal Class Champion in PTE. While primarily focused on sprint racing, Laura has plenty of experience with enduros, including the 25-hour. When she's not racing, Laura enjoys providing driving coaching for NASA, and the Porsche Racing Club of America. It should be of note that Laura and Dean are purposely scheduled to drive at separate times during this year's 25-hour!
Juan Pineda is the gentleman racer of the team. Although a formidable force on track, Juan is eager to enjoy the company of his friends and competitors at the barbeques following the race. Juan finished ninth in the San Francisco Regions SCCA Spec Miata championship, during his fifth year of racing. Juans best finish to date has been sixth place, to which he'd eagerly share his in-car video footage.
Dan Gheringer began his racing career in the water, racing jet skis with the IJSBA while in high school. The next stepping-stone for Dan was shifter karts, which he raced with the IKF and finished on the podium several times. Now in his third season of Spec Miata, Dan has received eleven podium finishes (two of which were in the rain), and two pole positions. Dan is eagerly awaiting his second try at the the 25-hour.
Doug Clark began racing Spec Miatas in 2007 after attending the SCCA driving school held at Thunderhill Park. Doug built his own Spec Miata from the ground up. Using that experience, Doug put together a car and team that won the E2 class in the 2007 25-hour.
Jeremy Pike, living by the mantra, "You only live once," is 38 and getting younger every day. In the past 10 years, Jeremy has done a few track days with various street cars and has raced karts for a few years. At the end of '07 Jeremy purchased Spec Miata which he used in 2008 for his first year of racing. After meeting John Pagel of Evil Genius Racing, at the SCCA driver's school in February, Jeremy raced with an Evil Genius built transmission, differential, and track support throughout the year. Jeremy ran both SCCA and NASA events, and had an 11th place finish out of 50+ cars at the final SCCA race and three podium finishes with NASA. Jeremy is looking forward to driving in the 25 Hour with the Evil Genius/Miller Motorsports team driving in the car called "Scrappy", and in his first ever 25- hour, is eager to come out on top.
Evil Genius has prepped two incredible cars. Miller Motorsports has once again outdone themselves with their preparation and planning. It's now up to the drivers to do their jobs, keep out of trouble, and keep luck on their sides. Look for the Evil Genius/Kumho Tires team in the winners circle at the conclusion of this year's 25.
Both EGR and Miller Motorsports rely only on the best of the best equipment for the 25-hour. With the team goal only being to win this year's 25, John and his team are relying on Kumho's tried and tested V710 tire to maintain the fast pace that it takes to lead the E2 class, and its longevity that it takes to win.
If you have ever been to a Nor-Cal NASA event, chances are you know who Evil Genius is.
John Pagel grew up in northern California, and by the age of 17 found himself autocrossing. The cone racing wasn't enough for John, and soon he found himself regularly attending NASA races in his first gen RX-7. John became well known in the large Pro-7 community, and began fabricating parts and roll cages for his car as well as some friends'. It was 2004 when John started his shop named Evil Genius Racing in Davis, California. The name had stuck after someone had commented on how John reminded them of an evil genius, with his thick lens glasses and unkempt hair. Now in 2008, the Evil Genius shop has grown to a much larger operation, with two locations including the original shop and a new 4000 sq ft. shop in West Sacramento. John now offers complete track support, including racecar transportation and storage, and has become one of the most reputable shops on the west coast.
John has been racing NASA's ever-growing enduros since the beginning, back in 2005 when the race was a mere 12-hours. With much success in his RX-7s, John is looking to build his success in a Miata, or three. This year he decided to join forces with the Miller Motorsports team, founded by Marcus Miller, and his brother Scott. While John focuses on building killer ITA Spec Miatas for the race, he turns all the logistics and planning over to Miller Motorsports. The Miller Motorsports Team also grew from the Pro-7 community, but became a real threat to the racing community with their domination in the WERC series in 2007. The Miller Motorsports/Kumho Tires Team finished on the podium at every round of the WERC, finishing 1st and 2nd in the championship with a 1-2 finish at the year's end 12-hour race. The Millers are no slouches at the 25 either, and have finished on the podium two years in a row at the 25. One thing is clear, the guys at Miller Motorsports are masters of Enduros.
This year, team manager Marcus Miller stepped down from the driving duties, and hand picked drivers for the two primary teams.
Team one is made up of four drivers, all looking for that E2 win in 2008.
Dean Thomas played a major role in the Miller Motorsports/Kumho Tires championship winning effort in the 2007 WERC season as well as the past two 25-hour races (both ending on the podium). In 2008, Dean concentrated on sprint races and finished on the podium fourteen times, including four wins five poles, and set the fastest lap three times.
Dave Vodden is probably the most experienced driver on the team, having raced midgets, sprint cars, TQ's and mini sprints before even beginning his road-racing career in 1990. Dave has several road racing season championships under his belt, including SSA, ITC, RX7, T3, and PT. In 2008, Dave was the Spec Miata Challenge Champ, and also took wins in NASA SM, SCCA SM, ITA, and T3.
Equally as impressive, Dave was hired in 1988 to construct and operate what is now known as Thunderhill Raceway Park, of which he is now the President and CEO.
Jeff Smith began his racing career in shifter karts, winning several events before eventually moving on to full-size cars. After attending Jim Russell Racing School at Infineon Raceway, Jeff competed in SM in both NASA and SCCA simultaneously. Over the next two years, Jeff secured one win and several other podium finishes. In 2007 Jeff raced on the Evil Genius Team during the 25-hour, and raced in three other four-hour enduros finishing atop the podium at one.
Dan Piña is the fourth and final driver on the EGR/Kumho Team #1. Although Dan has less experience than most of his counterparts, Dan has managed to pick the right teams for the 25. Dan finished 1st in class during the 2005 25-hour, and finished 2nd in 2006 and 2007. Dan started with auto-crossing at 17, which quickly was replaced by road racing, and later Pro Rally. More recently, Dan has dedicated his time (and money) to professional drifting. Dan hooked up with the Miller Motorsports team in 2006 for the 25-hour, and has been driving with them ever since. Dan owes several podium finishes and a championship to Miller Motorsports, Co-Driver Dean Thomas, and of course, Kumho Tires.
For team #2, Marcus filled the spots with well-known Nor-Cal Spec Miata regulars. The team is made up of five drivers.
Laura Thomas has been driving competitively for the past seven years, beginning with autocross. Autocross was replaced by time trials, which was later replaced by wheel-to-wheel road racing, which Laura has been doing (well) for the past four years in both NASA and SCCA. Laura earned several wins in all three disciplines, but most recently earned the title of NorCal Class Champion in PTE. While primarily focused on sprint racing, Laura has plenty of experience with enduros, including the 25-hour. When she's not racing, Laura enjoys providing driving coaching for NASA, and the Porsche Racing Club of America. It should be of note that Laura and Dean are purposely scheduled to drive at separate times during this year's 25-hour!
Juan Pineda is the gentleman racer of the team. Although a formidable force on track, Juan is eager to enjoy the company of his friends and competitors at the barbeques following the race. Juan finished ninth in the San Francisco Regions SCCA Spec Miata championship, during his fifth year of racing. Juans best finish to date has been sixth place, to which he'd eagerly share his in-car video footage.
Dan Gheringer began his racing career in the water, racing jet skis with the IJSBA while in high school. The next stepping-stone for Dan was shifter karts, which he raced with the IKF and finished on the podium several times. Now in his third season of Spec Miata, Dan has received eleven podium finishes (two of which were in the rain), and two pole positions. Dan is eagerly awaiting his second try at the the 25-hour.
Doug Clark began racing Spec Miatas in 2007 after attending the SCCA driving school held at Thunderhill Park. Doug built his own Spec Miata from the ground up. Using that experience, Doug put together a car and team that won the E2 class in the 2007 25-hour.
Jeremy Pike, living by the mantra, "You only live once," is 38 and getting younger every day. In the past 10 years, Jeremy has done a few track days with various street cars and has raced karts for a few years. At the end of '07 Jeremy purchased Spec Miata which he used in 2008 for his first year of racing. After meeting John Pagel of Evil Genius Racing, at the SCCA driver's school in February, Jeremy raced with an Evil Genius built transmission, differential, and track support throughout the year. Jeremy ran both SCCA and NASA events, and had an 11th place finish out of 50+ cars at the final SCCA race and three podium finishes with NASA. Jeremy is looking forward to driving in the 25 Hour with the Evil Genius/Miller Motorsports team driving in the car called "Scrappy", and in his first ever 25- hour, is eager to come out on top.
Evil Genius has prepped two incredible cars. Miller Motorsports has once again outdone themselves with their preparation and planning. It's now up to the drivers to do their jobs, keep out of trouble, and keep luck on their sides. Look for the Evil Genius/Kumho Tires team in the winners circle at the conclusion of this year's 25.
