Igniting the Spark – Sportscar365

Photo: Wes Duenkel/Ford

By: Alex Bachoura

I’m an oral surgeon and do it for fun, so it was a dream to have the opportunity to take part in the Mustang Challenge this year.

I have been with Spark Performance for three of my eight years in racing and during that time my driving skills and confidence have grown. So much so that Nathanial “Sparky” Sparks and I decided to throw our hats in the ring for the chance to face Dark Horse R.

The first Mustang Challenge season was an unforgettable journey for me.

I actually flew from Italy to the series opening event at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and sat in on practice there for the first time. Can you imagine the anticipation I felt during that plane ride?

Our championship in the Dark Horse Legends class shows that you don’t always have to be the fastest, but rather the most consistent. Sparky has been very meticulous in providing me with a consistent car and this series has pushed me to give my best as a driver at every stop.

Mustang Challenge with Dark Horse R teaches you to drive smoothly, which makes you a better driver overall. It’s back to popular sports.

The car doesn’t have traction control, so you really have to feel the car in low traction. To be fast, you always have to be at the limit. If you’re not on that rough edge, you’re slow. But you can’t be at that limit if you’re not a good driver.

I love the real-world application of motorsports; There are failures, downfalls and moments of disappointment. All of these moments have led to the growth of my business and taught me patience and perseverance.

A great example of this was the second event of the season at Watkins Glen International.

Unfortunately, a penalty sent us to the back of the field, but I have such a vivid memory of pushing that car for the first four laps until there was nothing left, all the way to second place.

The last race in Indy was bittersweet. Zach (Zachry Lee), such a good friend of mine, unfortunately had an accident in qualifying and honestly should have won the title if it hadn’t been for that incident.

But (Mike) Stillwagon and I saw it through to the end. There were exciting, close races between the two classes. You pay for every mistake you make because these cars have a low margin of error.

Winning the championship was the most epic motorsport moment of my life.

It was a defining moment because it showed that all the hard work and refusal to quit really paid off. It’s a moment I’ll take to my grave, and it motivates me for what lies ahead in 2025.

Ford has been a great supporter in making all of these opportunities possible for its customers, especially next year’s Le Mans Invitational.

It’s reassuring that they are investing in motorsport. So much so that even their CEO, Jim Farley, joined us at the Mid-Ohio race. It simply shows their commitment to motorsport and its future.

The latest news, photos and video features from Sportscar365’s trusted web staff.