One simple mistake kept Matt Jaskol and Team Hearn from finishing in first place at Road Atlanta in the Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear. Matt was right behind the leader of the race, Raphael Matos, before he picked up a bad vibration from the front tire, and backed off, slipping th 4th place before deciding it was simply a tire blister. Matt fought his way back to finish in 3rd place. The wheel blister was ultimately due to a simple bearing that fell out in the race, causing the anti-sway bar to bind up.

"The track conditions were good, faster than last year, and cooler. We were getting 3mph faster than last year on the straights" said Richie Hearn, owner of the #70 Star Mazda car. Matt confirmed the track was fast, and was confident that he could have placed first, however, when the tire blistered, he initially did not see evidence when the patch came off the tire, so he slowed down, assuming the whole wheel was coming off. After a 1/2 lap, the blister was identified, and he was back in the race.

Matt set set the fast lap of the race at 2:00.768 and hopes this podium finish will put his sponsorship hunt into overdrive.