Jim’s Mission and Philosophy

” For the better part of 21 years it has been simple, WIN! “

As I’ve progressed in the sport and life a few other mentionable beliefs have come up…

• Embrace something you believe in and support those causes wholeheartedly.
• Align yourself with the best people possible and learn from them.
• Never “settle”, always be skeptical, use the systems afforded to you and NEVER whine.
• Never be so presumptuous that you forget there is always someone able to best you.
• When you forget to prioritize your life, you have no life. Family and friends are first! “

Jim wins the first ever SCCA Pro Miata race at Mid America Motorsportsplex. Tony Rivera & Steve Ott round out the podium

Winningest Pro and Club Spec Miata driver in victories, laps led, poles and track records.

National champion in SCCA club, Legends and hill climb with over 60 national victories in 7 different classes, open and closed wheel.

100cc stock Karting junior champion.

The Formative e Years

Jim spent his childhood growing up in New Orleans.  Back then Jim could be found terrorizing the neighborhood on a go-kart.  At one point, Jim received 35 tickets and was told he was going to lose his license. The only problem, he was 9 years old. In those days the phrase “speed freak” had a totally different meaning than we know today.  Let’s just say Jim was a traditional “motor head”

The antics did not stop there. At age 13 when most teens were starting to think about girls and rebellion against their parents, Jim moved to structured Karting, building motors and trading paint.   In 1989 he joined SCCA and begun his “official” love of road racing. Almost immediately Jim forged a relationship with Mazda and although he has raced several different types of race vehicles, that relationship has continued to this day.

In addition to the SCCA road racing Jim got involved with simulation racing.  He acted as test driver for many of the popular simulator software companies and raced professionally online.  His involvement and 10 year tenure in that movement was highlighted at the 1999 Runoffs with a TV piece by Tommy Kendal.  Tommy and Jim spent the better part of each night racing with Jim picking Tommy’s brain on tips to progress. The spot landed Jim a segment on ESPN 2 that also mentioned the late Greg Moore, Jacques Villeneuve and a new comer Dale Earnhardt Jr. all crediting simulation racing as a realistic training tool. To this day Jim uses simulators to train.

In 2000 Jim would embark on a quest called Spec Miata.  What started as a great idea would thrust Jim into national notoriety.  Jim effectively took 4 years out of his own racing aspirations to assist in building the Spec Miata class.  He flew across the country, pitched the class to the establishment, built the official web-site www.specmiata.com, founded and operated the first Pro Spec Miata series, which brought Spec Miata racing to the mainstream, and wrote the most popular setup guide in the Spec Miata world.  Most of the SM community would agree that if they had to pick one person to credit for the overall growth of the class, it would be Jim.   Today, the web site enjoys more than 15,000 unique impressions a month from 7 countries and Jim’s setup guide is in the tool box of most Spec Miata racers, nationally and internationally.   The class is 2400 strong in the U.S.A., races with 7 different sanctioning bodies in 3 countries……. AND GROWING!

One thing remains true about Jim, even with the distractions of off track projects and regardless of the car, class or level of competition, Jim Daniels will be at the front!!

“Talent and diversity are certainly needed but the results are what counts” – author unknown

Jim Daniels’ victories and podiums by road race class, MAZDA Only;

Jim Daniels’ victories and podiums by road race class, NONE Mazda;