SPM Motorsports Confirms First Mustang Challenge Entry

Photo: Southern Paley Motorsports

Southern Paley Motorsports has become the first team to officially announce its entry into the new IMSA-sanctioned Mustang Challenge series.

The newly formed team, known as SPM Motorsports, will be operated be operated by Sam Paley and John Paul Southern Jr., who have a combined 30 years of motorsports experience.

The team will be situated in a brand new, state-of-the-art facility at the Motor Enclave in Tampa.

Southern Jr, the 2020 Trans-Am TA2 Southern Cup champion, has spent the last three years racing in Europe in series such as ADAC GT4, DTM Trophy, and ADAC GT Masters, while also serving as a Lamborghini-affiliated driver last year.

Paley, the 2021 Mazda MX-5 Cup rookie of the year, achieved nine podiums and four poles across the last three years in the IMSA-sanctioned series.

The pair also have backgrounds in managing and operating race team programs.

Southern managed the 2022 T3 Motorsport entry in the Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona while Paley is currently the team principal and a managing drector for TKG Motorsports’ Spec MX-5 program.

“Having experience both as a driver and a team manager at the highest levels of sports car racing gives our brand an upper hand in the Mustang Challenge,” said Southern.

“Sam and I can use our expertise in both of these areas to create a reliable and competitive package for any customer.”

SPM Currently plans to enter one car in Mustang Challenge, but with ideas of expansion.

“This is something that JP and I have been talking about for a couple years, and I could not be more excited to see it coming into fruition,” Paley said.

“The Mustang Challenge will be one of the most exciting racing series in the United States, and it’s fantastic to see Ford’s commitment to building purpose built race cars.

“We are looking to grow our Mustang Challenge program in the years to come.”

Southern added: “I’m extremely excited to start this new endeavor and happy to be able to provide a great product to future customers.

“I’m a racer at heart, and I love the sport so much. I believe our hard work in the paddock will pay off.

“We have big plans for the future with SPM, and I believe we will achieve great things not only this year but in the years to come.”

SPM will work with TKG Motorsports to complete a “comprehensive and revolutionary” ladder system, meanwhile, beginning at the karting level.

The inaugural Mustang Challenge season kicks off at Mid-Ohio in June.

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John