Jacob Pearlman Racing his Mazda Pro-7 Starts Season With a Double Podium Weekend
- Jan 28, 2010
Kyle Eggleton (Crew Chief), Jacob and Rich Pearlman (father) and Kate Pearlman (sister)
Pearlman displays his first checkered flag.
Pearlman had experienced success before at the Speedway, but that was in a kart, this was his first time at the track in a racecar. It was also his first time on the fast combined infield road course and high-banked NASCAR oval track known as the 'Roval' configuration.
Pearlman was unable to run a single practice lap prior to Saturday's qualifying, five days of drenching rain leading up to the race weekend nixed that. He was left to decipher the track under full race conditions, which he did, seemly shortening the learning curve with every lap. Pearlman skillfully worked his way through the field of Spec Miatas and RX-7s, earning the third place spot on the Pro-7 podium. As intelligent racers often tend to do, he managed to imprint that experience, and to carry the speed over to Sunday, earning his first ever SCCA Pro-7 victory.
Pearlman working his way through the combined Pro-7/Miata field going into turn one on the NASCAR oval.
"Jacob became motivated to race when he was eight years old, after watching a show about kart racing on the Speed Channel" say his father Rich. "He was after us for two years to go to racing school and get a kart. For his tenth birthday, we gave him the option of having a party, or going to kart racing school. After thinking about it for half a second, he chose kart-racing school, and he hasn't stopped racing since. He started testing his Mazda Pro-7 at age 15 and began racing the car last year with SCCA when he turned 16."
Pearlman is just 17, and his intelligence on the track is a carryover from his academic prowess as a senior at Cathedral Catholic High School in San Diego. He is an outstanding first honors student and member of the National Honor Society. With a strong interest in math and science, Pearlman is very determined and motivated to study engineering, and with no surprise to anyone, his emphasis is on motorsports and automotive technology.
"Our relationship with K&N is great. Jacob has been sponsored by K&N since '06," explains Rich. "We appreciate the ongoing interest and support, as well as the exposure on the website and in K&N advertising. We also make extensive use of K&N Products in all our vehicles including:"
Mazda Pro-7 Racecar - K&N Air Filter
GMC Yukon Tow Vehicle - Cold Air Induction and Oil Filter
2006 Lexus GS300 Passenger Car - K&N Air Filter
2004 Toyota Avalon Passenger Car - K&N Air Filter and Oil Filter
Pearlman will run a full season and compete for the Championship with the SCCA Cal Club Region in the Pro-7 Class. Additionally Pearlman Motor Racing is looking at select dates with the Southern California Region of NASA (National Auto Sport Association) in the PTF Class and a few Pro-7 races with the SCCA Arizona Region. "Depending on resources and Jacob's college schedule in the fall, we would like to run the NASA National Championships at the Miller Motorsports Park," concludes Rich.
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