Eight of the top grassroots competitors will compete November 15 & 16 at NOLA Motorsports Park for the Mazda Road to 24 scholarship valued at $100,000. Today, we feature Daniel Langon, a Teen Mazda Challenge champion.

Daniel Langon, aged 21, is currently a senior at the University of Oregon working on a major in Finance as well as a minor in Spanish, a language that he is also fluent in. On a daily basis he works diligently in order to balance racing and education along with handling his position as the Treasurer of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity at the university.

At the age of 9, Langon began to race go-karts in Sonoma, CA, and was able to power through the karting ranks in his quest to become a professional race car driver. He has won some of the most prestigious karting races around, including the coveted SKUSA Supernationals title in the junior shifter class in 2010, and the streets of Lancaster Grand Prix as a rookie in the pro class in 2011.

In 2015 Langon made his debut in the Teen Mazda Challenge where he was able to quickly adapt to the new driving style, scoring a win in his rookie year late in the season. Taking what he had learned from his first season in a Mazda, he was ready to take control in 2016. This was exactly what Langon would do. Blending consistency and speed, Langon would podium in 9 out of 10 races in a very competitive field on his way winning the championship and title as the 2016 Teen Mazda Challenge champion.
Throughout the 2016 season Langon has enjoyed working closely with his partner Bigge Crane & Rigging coaching at track days, teaching safe driving techniques, and supporting its promotional events such as the 100th year anniversary party last month.

“Having this opportunity to pursue a professional racing career while continuing my education at the university is something that I cannot thank Mazda enough for,” commented Langon. When asked about what he has learned from the experience thus far, he replied, “Racing in the Teen Mazda Challenge this year has not only taught me valuable skills that I can use on and off the track, but also about how to win a championship.” Langon’s on-track experience tethered with his off-track drive is what has earned Daniel Langon a spot in this year’s Mazda Road to 24 Shootout.