Chittum Mounts Epic Late-Race Charge, Finishes Narrow Second in USTCC 2.5-Hour Enduro at Sonoma Raceway

SONOMA, Calif. – June 14, 2026 – Mad Man Motorsports driver Chittum delivered a spectacular performance at Round 3 of the United States Touring Car Championship (USTCC), missing the top podium step by a mere 3.853 seconds after two and a half hours of grueling endurance racing at Sonoma Raceway.

The weekend kicked off with a fierce qualifying session. Chittum pushed his SMX-built Mazda MX5 to a personal best lap of 1:49.496, securing pole position in the Sportsman class and establishing a blisteringly fast pace just a fraction of a second shy of the class lap record.

As the green flag dropped on Sunday, June 7th, a fascinating strategic battle unfolded among the 25-car field. While Chittum capitalized on his pole position to build an early lead with consistent, fast laps in the low 1:50s, rival Ben Penn in the #65 Cobalt California BMW adopted an extreme fuel-saving strategy designed to run the entire 2.5 hours without pitting.

A pivotal 15-minute caution period near the race's midpoint forced Mad Man Motorsports to adapt. The crew executed a flawless pit stop to fully fuel the Mazda precisely within the mandated five-minute window without spilling a drop. Returning to the track two laps down against a car that would ultimately never pit, Chittum began a relentless, hour-and-45-minute charge to catch the fuel-starved BMW.

Consistently cracking into the 1:49s late in the race, Chittum clocked an astonishing 1:49.5 on lap 58 of 68—his second-fastest time ever in the 164hp Mazda. In the closing moments of the final lap, Chittum rapidly closed the visual gap on the slowing BMW, crossing the finish line just 3.8 seconds behind after exactly 8,760 seconds of racing.

Mad Man Motorsports extends its gratitude to its dedicated crew:

Eric Schubert, Crew Chief
Jason Chittum, Fuel
Ken Ferrari, Fire

The team also recognizes its vital partners, including Hankook for exceptional tire performance, Autosport MFG for pit support, and Gyraline alignment tools.

Mad Man Motorsports will return to USTCC competition shortly and has officially announced an upcoming guest appearance at a European racing venue later this summer.

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About Mad Man Motorsports

For more information, updates, and upcoming race schedules, please visit chittum.net or follow the team's ongoing coverage.

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