Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup Returns to Martinsville for 2024 Event
The Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by Michelin will make its highly anticipated return to Martinsville Speedway on Thursday, October 23, 2024, following a successful debut in 2023. This event will coincide with the NASCAR Cup, Xfinity, and Craftsman Truck series championships, further enhancing its significance on the racing calendar.
In its inaugural outing, the 2023 race featured 18 competitors in a 100-lap showdown, concluding with a dramatic green-white-checkered finish. Jared Thomas emerged victorious, securing a $25,000 prize and the prestigious Ridgeway clock.
Jonathan Applegate, Senior Manager of Mazda Motorsports, expressed enthusiasm about the event’s fan reception: “We were delighted by the fan reaction and feedback from our first visit to Martinsville. We immediately knew we needed to do it again.” He highlighted collaborative efforts with NASCAR and IMSA leadership to facilitate this return.
The format for the 2024 event will mirror that of its predecessor, with two practice sessions leading into single-car qualifying and a 100-lap race divided into two 50-lap stages.
Martinsville Speedway President Clay Campbell emphasized the race’s historical significance: “The Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup race really captures everything this place represents. It brings us back to some of our earliest days of racing in the ’50s, blending it with the intensity of modern-day competition.”
Fans can catch the action live through IMSA’s YouTube channel, with an open test scheduled for August 25 at Martinsville, following the series’ doubleheader at VIRginia International Raceway.
