17-year old Elliott Skeer is currently a junior at High Tech High in San Marcos, California. His racing resume already includes a decade of racing karts. When told that he had won the shootout, he noted, "Without this shootout and the MAZDASPEED ladder, the path to the top looks like a giant maze. This just changed my life and is helping me realize that it is possible to make my dream a reality and become a professional driver. I can't wait for the adventure to begin."

The driving sessions were conducted at Buttonwillow Raceway Park using a Mazda MX-5 Playboy Cup Car prepared by Tri-Point Motorsports. Mazda invites a panel of outside judges to make the selection. The judges brought a wealth of both on- and off-track expertise to the selection process.

The total prize package is valued at over $75,000, the largest prize in club racing and includes:
- $50,000 for the running of his car for the season, - $10,000 in parts support
- A MAZDASPEED driving suit and helmet - Professional media training
- Ten sets of BFGoodrich tires, one set per race - Ten entry fee waivers

Steve Sanders, MAZDASPEED Competition Manager: "Mazda enjoys a leadership position within the grassroots motorsports world. We have chosen to promote outstanding club racers to the professional ranks as the best way to clearly demonstrate our commitment and responsibility to both our customers and the sport at large."

Charles Espenlaub, Mazda racer: "Each year I'm more and more impressed with the quality of the racers. All three of the finalists showed skills both on and off the track, but the judges landed on Elliott Skeer as the driver they would hire if they were running a team. "

Peter Calhoun, Motorsports Program Manager, BFGoodrich: "BFGoodrich shares Mazda's passion for motorsports. Helping to promote drivers from club racing to the professional ranks is a great honor and we look forward to the opportunity with Elliott Skeer in 2012."