Brett Smrz, of Coeur D’Alene, Idaho, completed the top five in the No. 6 Smrz Racing/In Touch Physical Therapy MX-5. The 18 year-old was running fifth before getting caught in the incident with Copeland, spinning at Turn Five and dropping to 15th. Smrz rocketed to ninth on the lap following the restart and continued to pick off cars for a remarkable comeback.

Zach Ply finished sixth ahead of Kent’s ailing MX-5, which had started on pole.

Chris Rhoades, Stan Wilson and Ara Malkhassian completed the top 10.

Round One of the SCCA Pro Racing Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup will begin airing on syndicated cable networks May 25. A full television schedule will be posted shortly on www.mx-5cup.com. Round Two will take place May 15 – 17 at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, Calif.

1. (5), Marc Miller, Holland, Mich., MX-5, 22.
2. (3), Mark Jenkins, Fairview, Texas, MX-5, 22, -2.474.
3. (4), Justin Piscitell, Patterson, N.Y., MX-5, 22, -2.850.
4. (10), Mike Jenkins, Fairview, Texas, MX-5, 22, -3.511.
5. (8), Brett Smrz, Couer D'Alene, Idaho, MX-5, 22, -5.144.
6. (9), Zach Ply, Joliet, Ill., MX-5, 22, -6.975.
7. (1), Lyonel Kent, Powell, Tenn., MX-5, 22, -7.666.
8. (7), Chris Rhoades, Dallas, Texas, MX-5, 22, -8.133.
9. (14), Stan Wilson, Mt. Juliet, Tenn., MX-5, 22, -8.351.
10. (2), Ara Malkhassian, Sonoma, Calif., MX-5, 22, -13.314.
11. (16), Tim Probert, Houston, Texas, MX-5, 22, -14.249.
12. (20), Randy Hale_III, Haddam, Conn., MX-5, 22, -30.775.
13. (12), Rick Maki, Alpharetta, Ga., MX-5, 22, -43.397.
14. (18), Marc Hoover, Cameron, Calif., MX-5, 22, -44.774.
15. (19), Brian Audet, Alexandria, Va., MX-5, 22, -44.960.
16. (17), Alfred Caiola, New York, N.Y., MX-5, 22, -49.025.
17. (15), Robert Michaelian, Seal Beach, Calif., MX-5, 22, -1:55.400.
18. (13), Harrison Williams, Houston, Texas, MX-5, 12, Mech.
19. (6), Dean Copeland, Bowie, Md., MX-5, 1, Crash.
20. (11), Jeff Mosing, Austin, Texas, MX-5, 1, Mech.
21. (22), Nick Mancuso, Mettawa, Ill., MX-5, 0, Crash.
22. (21), Michael Vitarelli, Brooklyn, N.Y., MX-5, 0, DNS.

Time of race: 45 minutes, 32.124 seconds
Average speed: 73.630 mph
Margin of victory: 2.474 Seconds
Lap leaders: Laps 1-8, #11 Ara Malkhassian; laps 9-13, #25 Mark Jenkins; laps 14-14, #28 Marc Miller; laps 15-15, #25 Mark Jenkins; laps 16-16, #28 Marc Miller; laps 17-17, #25 Mark Jenkins; laps 18-22, #28 Marc Miller
Cautions: One for four laps
Fastest race lap: #25 Mark Jenkins, 1:42.517 (89.195 mph)
Fastest qualifier: #13 Lyonel Kent, 1:41.237 (90.322 mph)
Carbotech Hard Charger: #47 Jenkins advanced six positions in the race

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