Campbell Opens Season 7 With Daytona Double
Author
The Delta
Date Published
The opening round of Chasing The Delta Academy Season 7 delivered two closely contested Mazda MX-5 races at Daytona International Speedway, where drafting strategy and late-race execution defined the outcome.
Race 1
The season opener began with a tightly packed field and an early emphasis on cooperation in the draft. While the opening laps were largely clean at the front, an early incident disrupted several contenders and reshuffled the running order behind the leaders.
At the front, the lead group remained intact through the middle portion of the race, with frequent position changes driven by draft momentum rather than outright pace. As the race entered its closing laps, the battle for the lead narrowed to a small group running nose-to-tail through the infield and onto the oval.
In the final run to the line, Jim Campbell positioned himself effectively and executed a decisive draft-assisted move, edging Nick Drucks by just 0.04 seconds to claim the opening victory of the season.
Race 2
Race 2 followed a similar pattern, though with increased intensity and a larger lead pack. Multiple drivers traded the lead throughout the race as the field remained tightly grouped, with the bus stop once again serving as the primary overtaking opportunity.
As the race reached its final lap, the lead pack expanded to several cars, all within striking distance. Contact in the closing moments eliminated multiple frontrunners, dramatically altering the running order.
Campbell avoided the incident and emerged at the front, crossing the line first to secure his second victory of the night and complete a clean sweep of the opening round.
Summary
The Daytona opener showcased the strengths of the MX-5 platform, producing sustained pack racing and placing a premium on racecraft and positioning. Campbell’s ability to manage the draft and remain clear of late-race incidents proved decisive, earning maximum points to open the championship.
With Season 7 underway, the early benchmark has been set as the field looks ahead to the next round.