Famous track pushes drivers ‘to the limit’
Need for Speed—Simi Valley’s James Landry won the Honda Challenge 4 Challenge on September 18th at the 2022 National Auto Sports Association Championships at Monterey’s Laguna Seca Raceway.Courtesy of James Landry
Simi Valley’s James Landry won the Honda Challenge 4-class championship on September 18 at the 2022 National Automobile Sports Association Championships. Landry scored the pass at the final corner on the last lap to win the title.
Over 350 amateur and semi-professional drivers from across the country converged on WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca to compete for championships in over 30 race and time trial classes. This is his second time this year that NASA will host the championship at Monterey’s prestigious racetrack.
Drivers competed in time-based qualifying events and one qualifying race before the championship race. NASA is one of the largest amateur motorsports accrediting agencies in the United States, and many drivers are moving into the professional ranks.
“The guys at the front are fast. Keith and I had a really great battle,” Landry said in a statement. I don’t know why but he turned me down and banged we hit and he went in the dirt I stepped forward go to the video what happens Let’s see.”
The incident was investigated and Landry, who was driving a 1998 Acura Integra, emerged victorious, NASA said in a statement.
Landry has driven for NASA SoCal since 1999 and has competed in the Honda Challenge since 2006.
Racers used the same 2.2-mile road course that International Motorsports Association and IndyCar drivers run each year. With a variety of tricky turns, blind rises and the need to carry as much momentum as possible, the track pushes amateur and professional drivers to their limits.
“WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca was a fantastic venue for our championship event,” said NASA Vice President Jeremy Croiset. “It’s a track on every racer’s wish list and we are proud to have hosted the 2022 championship here. The memories we made at Monterey will last a lifetime.”