Fletcher Dominates MX-5 Cup at VIR, Takes Championship Lead
In a repeat performance at Virginia International Raceway, Jeremy Fletcher (#22 McCumbee McAleer Racing) clinched his fourth consecutive victory in the Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by Michelin on Sunday, earning a win behind the safety car. This result solidifies Fletcher’s position at the top of the championship standings.
Starting from pole position was rookie Helio Meza (#27 BSI Racing), who faced challenges after Saturday’s polesitter, Justin Adakonis (#23 McCumbee McAleer Racing), had to begin from the back in a backup car. Fletcher wasted no time, seizing the lead by lap two while Meza defended against Ethan Goulart (#29 Saito Motorsport Group).
The race was punctuated by multiple caution periods, with Fletcher benefiting from a late full-course yellow that concluded the event prematurely. “Sweeping the weekend for the second time was definitely a nice feeling,” Fletcher commented. He credited his spotter, Dalton Dow, for guiding him through the race, and acknowledged the assistance of his crew. “This means a lot to me, especially getting the points lead,” he added.
Fletcher’s victory places him 150 points ahead in the championship race as he inches closer to the $250,000 prize from Mazda. In a show of sportsmanship, Fletcher noted, "I definitely owe Gresham [Wagner]; he should have probably won that race."
Meza trailed Fletcher until contact during a lap 17 restart forced him into the grass, ultimately hindering his performance. Gresham Wagner (#81 RAFA Racing by MMR) managed to navigate his way back into contention after being shuffled to the edge of the top ten early on. However, a final caution left him without an opportunity to challenge for the lead. “I’m happy to see it be my teammate, Jeremy, who needs that win going into the finale,” he remarked.
Westin Workman (#13 BSI Racing), starting from 13th, benefitted from a series of events, moving up to third by the final caution. He remarked on the rapidly changing dynamics throughout the race, expressing a desire for more green-flag racing to challenge the leaders.
Adakonis displayed remarkable skill, recovering from a last-place start to finish fourth, earning him the Penske Shocking Performance Award and recognition as the highest-finishing rookie. In contrast, Goulart, a Mid-Ohio winner, led one lap but ultimately fell to fifth.
Meanwhile, Peter Atwater (#26 JTR Motorsports Engineering) captured the Takumi Award for drivers over 40, finishing 15th. Charlotte Traynor (#43 Parker Delong Racing), in only her fourth race, finished 22nd and received the award for the highest finishing female. Traynor expressed satisfaction with her progress and team morale.
The MX-5 Cup teams are set to test at Martinsville Speedway on Monday, preparing for their return to the oval on October 23. The series will take a break in September before resuming with two final races at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, streamed live on the RACER and IMSA YouTube channels.
