Mad Man Motorsports Secures Pole Position and Podium Finish at The Circuit at Buttonwillow

BUTTONWILLOW, CA – Andy Chittum and the Mad Man Motorsports team marked a triumphant return to the United States Touring Car Championship (USTCC) this past weekend, April 24–26, delivering a dominant qualifying performance and a hard-fought podium finish at the newly inaugurated Circuit at Buttonwillow.

Navigating the Storm

The weekend began under the threat of volatile Central Valley weather. While early practices were held under cold conditions, the atmosphere shifted dramatically as Saturday afternoon’s qualifying session approached. As the field of 26 drivers lined up on slick racing tires, the skies darkened, and a light precipitation began to coat the technical track surface.

In addition to the deteriorating grip, Chittum faced an immediate mechanical hurdle when his windshield wipers malfunctioned at the start of the session, locking in a halfway position. Forced to physically adjust his driving posture to peer around the obstruction through both left and right-hand apexes, Chittum showcased veteran composure.

A Defiant Pole Position

Despite the visibility issues and the damp track, Chittum relentlessly pushed his Hankook tires to temperature. While initial times hovered in the 2:05 range, Chittum delivered a "full send" performance on his final flyer.

Clocking a blistering 2:03.4, Chittum secured the pole position for the USTCC Sportsman (SP) class. Most impressively, the lap time eclipsed the entire USTCC field—including high-horsepower entries in upper classes—and earned him the top starting spot for the SpeedSF B Endurance class, placing him 4th overall in the combined 26-car grid.

The Sunday Showdown

Sunday morning brought clear skies but a treacherous, damp track with standing water. Starting at the front of the pack alongside high-powered machinery, Chittum’s #99 Mazda MX-5 lost initial ground at the green flag as the heavier cars leveraged their raw power through the standing water.

The race evolved into a 40-minute tactical duel between Chittum and Reza Arsham in the #30 GoGoGear K24 Civic. Arsham established an early five-second lead, but Chittum remained relentless, keeping the gap between four and eight seconds throughout the duration of the sprint. After a grueling battle through traffic, Chittum crossed the finish line in 2nd place, just five seconds behind the leader.

Looking Ahead to Sonoma

"The Circuit at Buttonwillow challenged us with everything from the weather to mechanical visibility, but the car had the pace to beat the giants today," said Chittum.

Mad Man Motorsports now shifts its focus to May 23–24, as the series returns to Sonoma Raceway. The team heads into the event with high expectations; Chittum currently holds the USTCC SP class lap record at Sonoma, and the team looks to capitalize on that home-track advantage to reclaim the top step of the podium.

About Mad Man Motorsports

Mad Man Motorsports is a premier racing team competing in the United States Touring Car Championship. Led by driver Andy Chittum, the team campaigns the #99 Mazda MX-5, bringing home Championship winning performances with incredible racecraft over much more powerful machinery.