The 1998 west division Star Mazda Series - now in its eighth year - schedule has been finalized with the $150,000 (including cash and contingencies) 13-race championship kicking off Feb. 21-22 at Thunderhill Park. In March, the series visits the P.I.R. oval over the 21-22 weekend; April 25-26 at Buttonwillow Raceway Park; May 23-25 for a double event at Seattle; June 6-7 at Laguna Seca; July 11-12 at Pikes Peak; back at Laguna Seca on July 25-26; another double event at Portland over the Aug 1-2 weekend; Sept. 5-6 at Buttonwillow Raceway Park; Oct 10 on the Las Vegas Motor Speedway oval; and the finale on Nov. 14 on the P.I.R. road course. Central, East, Southeast, and Northwest schedules are pending.

Of these 13 west division races, three - March 21, P.I.R. (with IRL); July 11, Pikes Peak (with USAC); and Oct. 10, Las Vegas (with IRL) - are SCCA Pro Racing-sanctioned events and will be televised on espn2. A total of six Star Mazda races across the country will be televised on the sports cable network, including the May 23 race at IRP, for the night before the Indy; the June 27-28 date at Watkins Glen with NASCAR's Busch Grand National series; and the Aug. 22-23 race at Heartland Park, again with NASCAR.