News:
Photos at FACEBOOK.com
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2009 The year I get to sit back, coach
and consult....
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With budgets so tight I'm sitting out the 2009 season other than
a few one off events. I'm taking coaching gigs and having
fun with some friends and their programs. I've raced for
someone since 2003, is surprisingly refreshing having some time
off (not to mention cheaper....). BUT, I do have the itch
and am looking around for 2010, see you somewhere in
something......
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Jim Daniels to Pilot Third
Tri-Point MAZDA6 alongside Espenlaub, Saini
Beginning with the Utah round of the SCCA Pro
Racing SPEED World Challenge Touring Car series,
Mazda veteran Jim Daniels will be piloting a MAZDA6
sedan for Tri-Point Motorsports. Daniels, the 2006
MX-5 Cup Champion, will join forces with Charles
Espenlaub and 2007 MX-5 Cup Champion Jason Saini.
While Jeff Altenburg and Tri-Point have enjoyed many
successful years together, including a championship
year in 2007, they have decided to part ways.
Tri-Point will also welcome a new sponsor to one
of their MAZDA6s at Miller Motorsports Park –
FidoWash. FidoWash is a self-service dog washing
machine which offers everything you need to bathe
and dry your dog for one low price.
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Dec. 31st, 2007
2007 was a strange year for Jim
He qualified for the Runoffs in SM early with four events in
three different cars with poles and wins. He then jumped
into the 2007 MX5 SSB and dominated the Mid-Div for the
title. The limited effort (minimum events in each class to
qualify) was enough to secure Jim as the Runoffs favorite
and he was picked to win both SM and SSB by Sportscar
magazine. Then SCCA pulled the SSB car from competition and
Jim lost all motivation for the Runoffs in either class.
2007 looked to be over at that point. But wait, there’s
more… Jim drove the Meathead Racing ’99 Spec Miata to a
championship in the ARRC sprint race and backed it up in the
Enduro with the class and overall win the next day in the
Whitis Motorsports ,99 Spec Miata. On to 2008 with two
teams in two different series and maybe the ARRC too…….
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Sep. 2, 2006
Daniels
Clinches Inaugural MX-5 Cup Drivers’ Championship with Win
at Miller
On nearly a perfect day for racing at
Miller Motorsports Park, Jim Daniels, of Germantown, Tenn.,
had a perfect day on the track winning his fourth
consecutive SCCA Pro Racing SIRIUS Satellite Radio Mazda
MX-5 Cup Presented by Hankook race, while clinching the
Drivers’ Championship in the process. Daniels’
teammates Jason Saini, of Fort Worth, Texas, and Anders
Hainer, of Hidden Hills, Calif., finished second and third,
respectively.
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Sep. 2, 2006
Daniels
Clinches Inaugural MX-5 Cup Drivers’ Championship with Win
at Miller
On nearly a perfect day for racing at
Miller Motorsports Park, Jim Daniels, of Germantown, Tenn.,
had a perfect day on the track winning his fourth
consecutive SCCA Pro Racing SIRIUS Satellite Radio Mazda
MX-5 Cup Presented by Hankook race, while clinching the
Drivers’ Championship in the process. Daniels’
teammates Jason Saini, of Fort Worth, Texas, and Anders
Hainer, of Hidden Hills, Calif., finished second and third,
respectively.
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Aug. 6, 2006
Daniels Takes
Flag-To-Flag MX-5 Cup Win At Trois-Rivieres, Closes On Title
Jim Daniels, of Germantown, Tenn.,
started from the pole and led every lap of today's SCCA Pro
Racing SIRIUS Satellite Radio Mazda MX-5 Cup Presented by
Hankook Round Six race, part of Le Grand Prix de
Trois-Rivieres, to take his fourth win on the season inch
even closer to the inaugural series championship. Anders
Hainer, of Hidden Hills, Calif., and Todd Buras, of
Melbourne, Fla., completed the top three.
...read complete story at www.mx-5cup.com
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Jul. 22, 2006
Daniels Wins
MX-5 Cup Round Five Race At Portland
Jim Daniels, of Germantown, Tenn., was out for a Saturday
afternoon drive as he drove flag-to-flag to capture his
third SCCA Pro Racing SIRIUS Satellite Radio Mazda MX-5 Cup
Presented by Hankook victory of the season. Daniels’ Round
Five victory was part of the Portland Grand Prix at Portland
International Raceway. Local driver Brad McAllister, of
Portland, Ore., finished second, 17.911-seconds behind
Daniels.
...read complete story at www.mx-5cup.com
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Jun. 24, 2006
Daniels
Captures Second MX-5 Cup Win of 2006 at Mid-Ohio, Takes Over
Points Lead, Team MER Finish 1-2
Jim Daniels, of Germantown, Tenn., held
off Team MER teammate Jason Saini, of Forth Worth, Texas, by
0.174-second to win Round Four of the SCCA Pro Racing SIRIUS
Satellite Radio Mazda MX-5 Cup Presented by Hankook Saturday
at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Daniels moved into the
championship lead by a thin margin of one point. Team
MER looks to have momentum heading into the second half of
the season.
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May. 29, 2006
Daniels
Finishes Wild Weekend With MX-5 Cup Win at Lime Rock
After missing practice for his children's
graduations and then losing a transmission during
qualifying, a clean race just would not have fit the type of
weekend Jim Daniels, of Germantown, Tenn., had. So, it
seemed right that the driver had to overcome more
transmission problems, along with several lead changes, to
take the checkered flag in Memorial Day"s SCCA Pro Racing
SIRIUS Satellite Radio Mazda MX-5 Cup Presented by Hankook
race, part of the Rolex GT Series Challenge at Lime Rock
Park. Todd Buras, of Melbourne, Fla., finished second,
0.161-sec. behind, followed by Erik Stearns, of Van Buren,
Ohio.
...read
complete story at www.mx-5cup.com
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03-06-06
Daniels to lead 7 car MX5 Cup team! |
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 Cresson, TX,
Team MER Shops. The late “silly” season driver seat swapping
has settled at Team MER. The final driver lineup for the 2006
MX5 Cup presented by Hankook has Jim Daniels, Jason Saini, Eric
Stearns, Deborah Loth, Todd Lamb, Ben Hohn and John Kuitwaard
completing the season roster for Team MER. It was also
announced that a 8th car is available although plans to rent or
sell it have not been determined. Team MER will be launching
their new website in the coming weeks. Watch for more exciting
news regarding sponsors and promotional events at
www.motorsportenterprises.com. |
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03-06-06
Daniels to lead 7 car
MX5 Cup team! |
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Cresson, TX,
Team MER Shops. The late “silly” season driver seat swapping has
settled at Team MER. The final driver lineup for the 2006 MX5 Cup
presented by Hankook has Jim Daniels, Jason Saini, Eric Stearns,
Deborah Loth, Todd Lamb, Ben Hohn and John Kuitwaard completing the
season roster for Team MER. It was also announced that a 8th car is
available although plans to rent or sell it have not been
determined. Team MER will be launching their new website in the
coming weeks. Watch for more exciting news regarding sponsors and
promotional events at www.motorsportenterprises.com. |
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03-06-06
Daniels selected to
drive for SCCA Enterprises Inc! |
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Cresson, TX,
Team MER Shops. Recognized as an accomplished driver in a verity
of cars, Jim Daniels has accepted an offer to assist SCCA
Enterprises Inc. with a “Myth Busting” project. The mission of this
project is to see if a talented driver can be competitive in a
mediocre car. Thus busting the “myth” that only those who know the
secrets, buy the secrets or have been racing in the SRF class for
many years have a chance to be competitive.
“He wanted to do it anyway and as
a non-regular to the class I am able to try something interesting.
We are going to build him a motor
that is at the very bottom of the dyno window and publicize this
fact. Jim’s job is then to go out and do as well as he can with a
“worst case” motor.” - Erik Skirmants, SCCA Enterprises Inc..
Team
MER will field chassis #150 on loan from John Weisberg at Berg
Racing. Jim will be racing Nationals at Memphis, Topeka and
Roebling Road. Visit
www.jimdaniels.com,
www.s3mag.com
or the soon to be launched Team MER website,
www.motorsportenterprises.com,
for more news regarding the “Myth Busting” SRF project.
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03-06-06
New School Cars Added! |
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Cresson, TX,
Team MER Shops. The carrier truck will soon be loaded up and headed
to Texas with two Mazdaspeed Miatas slated for use in the Team MER
driving school. This brings the total school cars to 12 which
include the existing 10 Mazda 6s. Team MER is actively building
their fleet of school cars which is scheduled to be 20 by 2007, 10
Mazda 6s and 10 Mazda MX5s. Along with the “arrive and drive”
curriculum in TX, Team MER will be conducting “bring your own SM”
training events in TX and at tracks across the country. Team MER
plans to be fully operational with their driving school in 2007 with
a limited 2006 schedule due out soon. More information regarding
the coaching staff, schedule and curriculum will be available at
www.motorsportenterprises.com
in the coming weeks. |
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03-06-06
DYNO DYNO DYNO! |
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Cresson, TX,
Team MER Shops. On Friday march 3rd Team MER took
delivery of a Dynojet Dynamometer. It is now fully operational for
retail and internal use. Dynamometers are valuable measuring
devices used for tuning power plants of various vehicles. Call Team
MER directly for more information regarding tuning your car.
817-396-4831 |
1-1-06
A New Era! |
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Ft. Worth, TX.,
Daniels and McMasters make plans for the future by
combining their efforts in Texas... Read more over at
MotorsportEnterprises.com!
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11-18-05
Jim Daniels added
to all star team!! |
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Germantown TN., Jim Daniels will join drivers Charles Espenlaub, Scott Bradley, Ken Dobson, Johnny Kanavas, Robert
Davis, Tim Buck, Jeremy Barnes, Scott Kaluza, Andy Bornhop
(of Road & Track Magazine), and Mark Gilles (of Automobile
Magazine) for a factory-backed, 2-car assault on the
National Auto Sport Association (NASA) 25 Hours of
Thunderhill Endurance Race Presented by the U.S. Air Force,
Dec. 2-4 2005.
With Mazda’s announcement of the 2006 Mazdaspeed MX-5 Cup
Presented by Hankook Tires, which will utilize the brand new
and redesigned 2006 Mazda MX-5 Miata, the team plans to use
The 25 as development ground for the brand new race
car(s). Mazdaspeed Motorsports will field a pair of brand
new MX-5 Miatas for the event. The 25, held at
Thunderhill Raceway Park, in Northern California, brings on
all types of conditions, close competition and, of course,
an extreme test of endurance…
This will
be the eighth year NASA has organized this unique race and
believes it will be one of the best years ever. Last year's
starting grid saw over 60 cars take the green flag! This
prestigious west coast event brings teams from all over the
world to compete. The green flag is set to fly at 12:00 pm
on Saturday, December 3 at Thunderhill Raceway Park. |
11-12-05
The last ARRC Showdown! |
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 BRASELTON,
Ga., Road Atlanta. Jim ran a great race finishing 4th out of 48 cars in the last ARRC
event to be held. With SM gaining National status for 2006 competitors
flocked to Road Atlanta to participate in arguable the most prestigious SM event
to date. In the 6 years the event has been held Jim is the
ONLY TWO TIME WINNER and has never finished out of the top 5 while being the all
time ARRC lap leader. A frustrating week for Jim was over shadowed by the
camaraderie and festivities of the week. Jim would fight a straight line
speed issue that would later be reviled as a faulty front brake caliper creating
drag on the car.
The #47 PSM has been sold, stay tuned for news of our 2006
Club and Pro season!!
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10-01-05
East Vs. West Pro Event (Last SM Pro Miata race) |
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BRASELTON, Ga. (Sept. 30, 2005) – Jim Daniels, of Germantown, TN.,
finished fourth after starting 11th in his No. 47 SpecMiata.com entry. Daniels
made the biggest move early, taking the lead on lap nine and remaining in the
top five for the remainder of the day in today’s SCCA Pro Racing Mazdaspeed
Miata Cup Presented by Hankook North American Championship win at Road Atlanta.
We unloaded for the event at the nearby dyno shop and quickly
learned that we had a motor problem. After two days of hard work, missing
the test day and official practice, we unloaded at Atlanta in time for the
qualifying session. Needless to say we were behind on setup and tuning for
the event. Compounding this, Jim stuck the car in the turn 5 gravel trap 5
minutes into his first on track session ruining the session. In the pits
it would be discovered that a nail was in the left rear tire causing Jim to spin
at turn 5. The second qualifying session would be used for gathering
valuable setup information that Jim missed during the week due to the motor
problems. Jim would start 11th only to burn up his tires and fade from the
lead to 4th by the checkered flag. |
08-01-05
New car does well!! (mud courtesy of the 56 BSI car) |
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The new car did well in it's first outing at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.
Jim lead the most laps of the weekend, had several FTDs and brought home a 9th and 2nd place finish. In both Pro SCCA events Jim would be leading on the
white flag lap.
The car did have some bugs but all in all it is a great
piece and should be at the front of many events to come. Our next
event is the National Pro championship at Atlanta 10-01-05. It is surely
going to be one heck of an event!! |
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For Immediate Release:
Germantown TN 6-21-05
Veteran SM driver / car builder and owner of the SpecMiata.com web site, Jim
Daniels, has decided to leave BSI Racing, effective immediately. Jim's
season has not gone as he would have liked and he feels a change in car and
team is needed to prepare for the East vs. West and ARRC championships along
with the 2006 Pro/National season. Jim will once again be preparing and
driving a 1.6 for the remainder of the Pro and ARRC events.
Jim commented "I suppose I underestimated how important tinkering with the
cars myself was. Having the car one thousand miles away and not being able
to touch it between events has affected me for sure. I enjoy doing the setup
work and the synergy it creates for me as a driver. That is missing in the
environment I find myself in right now. Also, as I said earlier this year, I
do not feel the 1.8 is the car for my style. The car is sluggish and does
not have the feel that fits me. I had a great time with the BSI gang and
wish them the best. This move should not reflect negatively upon them. They
are a very capable and professional group of folks. I value the friendships
I made there".
For the remainder of 2005, Jim will campaign a white 1.6 Miata, car number
not yet determined. Please direct your questions or comments to
jim@jimdaniels.com. |
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Daniels, Hall Split Mazda Raceway
Miata Cup Season-Opening Doubleheader
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MONTEREY, Calif. (May 2, 2005) – Jim Daniels, of
Germantown, Tenn. and Justin Hall, of Davis, Calif., split the
season-opening SCCA Pro Racing Mazdaspeed Miata Cup Presented by Hankook
doubleheader this weekend at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, part of the U.S.
Sports Car Invitational weekend.
... Sunday again provided close, clean racing action, with Daniels
taking the win in his BSI Racing Mazda Miata 1.8 after a race-long
battle with Hall. After a DNF on Saturday, Daniels started from the
pole, but it was McCarthy that held the point for much of the beginning
of the race in his FMG/880 Trailer/Rebello Racing Engines entry until a
quick spin in turn nine relegated him to the bottom half of the top 10.
Daniels was able to spoil Hall’s attempt to sweep the doubleheader by
beating him to the checkered flag by just 0.302sec.
Read the complete
story at SCCA.com |
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Brazelton, GA. (November, 2004)
Daniels wins second American Road Race Of Champions (ARRC).
Jim becomes the first person in Spec Miata class history to repeat as National
champion. In a controversial race, Jim finishing second on track but would
later be declared the winner when the first place car Driven By Professional
Driver, Bob Stretch, would be deemed out of compliance and disqualified.
Jim, being the first car to pass technical inspections, earned the right to be
champion. In doing so, Jim becomes the only driver to repeat as National
champion in the Spec Miata class.
Jim was quoted saying; "Based on the qualifying results and drawing on my
experience in this class, I knew the real race would be for second on track".
"As it turned out, I was right". "The battle for second on was the
customary race the fans have come to enjoy". "I wish we could have given them
the proper show with the first place car also being the legal one".
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September, 2004
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Provisional winner Daniels
delegated to second with controversial penalty.
September 26, 2004 - Jim Daniels, of Germantown, Tenn., took the
checkered flag in first place Sunday, taking the Showroom Stock C class win
at the 2004 SCCA National Championship Runoffs® Presented by Kohler at
Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Later, the win would be taken away with a one
position penalty.
continued... |
2004 Runoffs
"Full Race" and "Keyhole Incident"
videos (click one).
Daniels is the provisional winner
of the Showroom
Stock C National Championship
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| SSC Provisional National Champion Jim Daniels |
LEXINGTON, Ohio (Sept. 26, 2004) – Jim Daniels, of Germantown, Tenn.,
took the checkered flag in first place Sunday, taking the Showroom Stock C class
win at the 2004 SCCA National Championship Runoffs® Presented by Kohler at
Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Later, the win would be taken away with a one
position penalty.
Driving the No. 76 jimdaniels.com/Mazda/Hoosier 04 Mazda 3, Daniels topped the
39-car field to capture his first National Championship. Starting fourth,
Daniels got a good jump at the green flag to move into third. After running in
tight formation for several laps, Daniels passed Schroer to move into second
position. Conserving his tires, he began to close on the leader in the late
stages of the race. On lap 18, the lead duo went side-by-side into the Keyhole
turn. Making contact, leader Ryan Ciechanski spun off-course, while Daniels took
the lead. At the checkered flag, Daniels had captured the win by 4.757 seconds
and an average speed of 73.748 mph.
“Ryan [Ciechanski] was coming back to me,” said Daniels. “I didn't have to push
my car hard. He was slowing. He had a big push at turn one and I was able to get
alongside going into the keyhole turn. He started inching over on me and we
touched, I got by.”
After passing the post race technical inspections, SCCA officials would
penalize Daniels one position for the side-to-side contact that occurred with
the #56 car. Final results list Daniels as the second place finisher.
Daniels was quoted saying "I do not agree with the decision as impeding a
pass is equally an illegal move" also "maybe I'm wrong, watch the race and
decide for yourself", "I'll be back next year to try it again".
Now in its 41st year, the SCCA National Championship Runoffs annually crown the
best amateur road racers in North America Champions. More than 700 competitors
have gathered this year to battle for 24 class titles this year, with eight
races being run each day from Friday through Sunday.
Celebrating its 60th Anniversary, Sports Car Club of America is a 60,000 member
motorsports organization that sanctions and promotes grassroots and professional
motorsports events of a variety of disciplines, including road racing,
autocrossing, road rally and performance rally. |
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