MX-5 Cup Returns to Barber Motorsports Park for Exciting Races
After a two-month hiatus since the season opener in St. Petersburg, the Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by Michelin descends upon Barber Motorsports Park this weekend. The picturesque 2.38-mile circuit, which has not hosted the series since 2019, offers a unique challenge as many drivers lack prior race experience here.
Recent Highlights and Series Overview
To bridge the gap during the break, the docuseries First to the Finish premiered on Prime Video, providing an inside look at drivers Heather Hadley and Sally Mott, along with team owner Shea Holbrook. Both Mott and Hadley return to Barber, albeit with different teams than shown in the series.
Current Standings and Key Drivers
As the series enters Rounds Five and Six, only two drivers have secured wins this season: Jared Thomas (No. 96 JTR Motorsports Engineering) and Tyler Gonzalez (No. 57 BSI Racing). Thomas leads the championship standings, while Gonzalez, despite being in fifth after a DNF in Race 2 at Daytona, boasts prior experience at Barber, having raced there in 2019 at age 14.
Only one other driver familiar with Barber is Alex Bachoura (No. 33 Spark Performance).
Technical Insights
"The track is tight, originally designed for motorcycles, lacking heavy braking zones," Gonzalez stated. "This could lead to close racing, potentially resulting in breakaways similar to St. Pete."
The MX-5 Cup cars have undergone significant upgrades since their last visit to Barber, including increased horsepower and the introduction of a sequential SADEV transmission. Gonzalez anticipates that these enhancements will make the learning curve easier for newcomers.
Rookie Performance
The rookie class continues to impress, with four first-year drivers in the top ten for points. Notably, Noah Harmon (No. 77 AAG Racing), the Mazda MX-5 Cup Shootout Scholarship recipient, currently sits fourth in the standings. Conversely, last season’s Rookie of the Year, Westin Workman (No. 13 BSI Racing), despite leading in race laps, finds himself 30th due to a series of mishaps at Daytona and St. Pete.
Upcoming Races
The MX-5 Cup aims to introduce a new winner this season. Race 1 is scheduled for 3:20 PM CT on Saturday, May 3, followed by Race 2 at 7:55 AM CT on Sunday, May 4. Both races will be streamed live on the RACER and IMSA YouTube channels. Fans and competitors alike are poised for an engaging weekend of racing action at Barber Motorsports Park.
