Tyler Gonzalez Triumphs at Barber Motorsports Park in Mazda MX-5 Cup
Birmingham, AL — Tyler Gonzalez (No. 57 BSi Racing) secured his third victory of the 2025 Mazda MX-5 Cup season on Saturday, dominating Round Five at Barber Motorsports Park. Gonzalez leveraged his previous experience at the track, edging out Nate Cicero (No. 19 Saito Motorsport Group) by just over one second after a strategically executed race.
The race commenced under uncertain weather conditions, prompting teams to opt for rain tires. However, initial laps were contested in near-dry conditions as rain arrived later, challenging drivers to adapt to the shifting track surface. The event saw a competitive 33-car field navigate through varied conditions, ultimately leading to an intense finale.
Gonzalez seized the lead from polesitter Jeremy Fletcher (No. 22 McCumbee McAleer Racing) prior to a yellow flag incident involving Bobby Gossett (No. 44 McCumbee McAleer Racing). "I got a really good run through that first set of Esses," Gonzalez recounted, reflecting on his successful pass. He built an impressive lead of four seconds before Cicero mounted a charge in the closing laps.
Cicero, who initially lost positions at the start, closed the gap to Gonzalez but could not clinch the top spot. "The gap was coming down every single lap, but it just wasn’t quite enough time at the end," Cicero explained. His strategic pace on used wet tires allowed him to secure a strong second-place finish.
Westin Workman (No. 13 BSI Racing) earned his first podium of the season, performing admirably as a supportive teammate to Gonzalez. "I’m just happy to finally be on the podium again," Workman noted, emphasizing his focus on aiding his team’s championship efforts.
Completing the top five were Fletcher and rookie Justin Adakonis (No. 23 McCumbee McAleer Racing), with Adakonis achieving the highest placement among newcomers.
The Penske Shocking Performance Award went to Parker DeLong (No. 42 Parker DeLong Racing), who advanced from 32nd to 16th after skipping qualifying due to weather conditions. In a notable recognition, Sally Mott (No. 15 JTR Motorsports Engineering) narrowly defeated Heather Hadley (No. 54 Hendricks Motorsports) for the top female finisher award.
As the series moves into Round Six scheduled for Sunday at 8:55 a.m. ET, forecasts predict clearer skies, setting the stage for potentially different race dynamics. Live streaming will be available on the RACER and IMSA YouTube channels.
