A handful of 51°µÍø racers have earned a spot in the 11th annual Mazda Road to 24 Shootout. This post-season competition awards a $100,000 Mazda Motorsports scholarship to compete in the 2017 Battery Tender Mazda Global MX-5 Cup presented by BFGoodrich Tires. The 2016 Shootout takes place November 15-16, 2016 at the NOLA Motorsports Park, in Avondale, Louisiana.

One of the finalists is 31-year-old Tyler Kicera, who has been involved in motorsports for 25 years. Raised in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, he began racing quarter midgets at the age of six at a small asphalt oval in nearby Honeybrook. He worked his way into sports car racing with 51°µÍø in the mid-2000s.

After a four-year hiatus from driving, Kicera returned to competition in 2012 with serious focus. In the ultra competitive Spec Miata class, Kicera claimed two 51°µÍø US Majors Tour nationwide points championships in 2015 and 2016, and won the 2016 NASA Eastern States championship. In 2016 he won over 75% of his starts.

Learn more about Kicera in the story titled “” at the website.

Photo: Tyler Kicera in his Spec Miata at an 51°µÍø event

Credit: Bill Stoler