Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup Championship Concludes at Road Atlanta
The 20th season of the Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by Michelin culminates this week at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta with Rounds 13 and 14. The championship battle is tightly contested, involving three drivers all vying for their inaugural title and the accompanying $250,000 prize.
Jeremy Fletcher (No. 22 McCumbee McAleer Racing), returning with a slim championship lead, knows the stakes all too well. Last year, he faced heartbreak with a DNF in the finale while leading the standings. “I’m feeling good going into Road Atlanta this year,” Fletcher stated. “The MMR team will provide me the car I need. I just have to keep calm and do my job.”
Nathan Nicholson (No. 56 Advanced Autosports), who spent considerable time at the summit of the points standings, is trailing Fletcher by 50 points after a commanding performance by Fletcher in recent races at VIRginia International Raceway. Nicholson remarked, “I’m looking forward to the season finale. We just have to continue doing what we’ve been doing all season.”
In contrast, Tyler Gonzalez (No. 57 BSI Racing) enters the final round third in points despite winning five races this season—the most of any driver. However, inconsistency due to two DNFs and several subpar finishes has hampered his title chase. “We’re going to fight for this championship until the last corner,” Gonzalez affirmed, emphasizing confidence in his team’s speed.
The stakes extend beyond the championship title, as the Rookie of the Year will receive $80,000, with Ethan Goulart (No. 29 Saito Motorsports Group), Helio Meza (No. 27 BSI Racing), and Noah Harmon (No. 7 BSI Racing) as the frontrunners. Goulart leads the rookie standings after achieving a victory at Mid-Ohio, entering the final weekend with a significant points cushion.
Notably, two-time champions Jared Thomas and Gresham Wagner are absent from this year’s title fight, though they remain threats for podium finishes in the finale alongside former Rookie of the Year contenders Westin Workman and Nate Cicero.
The MX-5 Cup has consistently delivered thrilling finishes, and this season promises to be no different. Both races will be streamed live on the RACER YouTube channel, with Race 1 scheduled for Thursday at 2:10 PM ET and Race 2 following on Friday at 9:35 AM ET. As the championship race nears its conclusion, drivers will be compelled to fight for every position, making Road Atlanta a must-watch event.
