With lap after lap of side-by-side racing for the lead, a late race green-white-checkered shootout for victory, and an in depth margin of victory, the first-ever Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup offered by Michelin race on an oval lived as much as the hype at Martinsville Speedway. Jared Thomas (No. 96 JTR Motorsports Engineering) took house $25,000 and a Martinsville clock on the finish of the 105-lap exhibition race.
Thomas was almost good within the single-day occasion at ‘The Quick Observe.’ He turned the quickest observe lap, set the pole time and led 82 laps, however coming to the ultimate restart, he was behind Westin Workman (No. 13 BSI Racing).
Workman, who certified second, was Thomas’ largest opponent the whole race. The 2 have been capable of hole the remainder of the sphere within the first half of the race, however Workman was on the assault with 20 laps to go and took over the lead after the duo dazzled as they ran facet by facet preventing for the lead with out making contact earlier than Thomas reclaimed the purpose.
“We have been, I’d say pacing is an efficient phrase,” Thomas mentioned. “We have been making an attempt to not use our stuff up, as a result of we knew it was going to be the final 25 when it was going to get scorching and heavy. I might inform a few of the guys round me have been pushing actually onerous, so I used to be making an attempt to play the sport the place I pushed a little bit bit after which would journey a little bit bit and type of stability it out and make them use their stuff as much as catch me. The second half was a distinct story.”
The Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup used a whole lot of conventional oval racing guidelines, together with the “Select Rule.” When getting ready for a restart from yellow, automobiles get to decide on which lane they restart in, left or proper. Drivers can achieve positions by selecting a lane with much less automobiles, however will likely be within the “slower” lane for the restart. For the ultimate restart, Workman selected the left lane and Thomas opted to remain behind Workman on the left facet.
The pair sped into Flip 1 nostril to tail, Workman appeared to get free, and Thomas took speedy benefit.
“The surface right here from practising it and going again and watching a whole lot of video from all the opposite NASCAR sequence that run right here, you understand you’re by no means gonna get across the man on the highest except one thing excessive occurs,” Thomas mentioned of his alternative. “So, I figured my greatest wager was on the underside, run with him after which see if we are able to make a transfer on him.
“I used to be making an attempt to not get bumped and run myself,” Thomas mentioned. “As a result of the 31 [Landen Lewis] was coming down. He was proper on my bumper, and all of us went in there and Weston obtained in a little bit scorching.”
Workman almost fell off the rostrum all collectively, however was capable of accumulate himself and reclaim second. There was not sufficient time to catch Thomas although, who received by 0.374s.
Together with a $25,000 test, Thomas additionally picked up a famed Martinsville clock for his history-making win.
“[The clock] is gonna go within the store for some time, and it’s going to remain there for a pair weeks, so all these guys that made this happen-all my crew guys-so they will get pleasure from it too.”
Not like Thomas, who got here into the occasion with a strong background in oval racing, Workman was racing on an oval for the primary time ever. The 2024 Rookie of the Yr didn’t even take a look at at Martinsville. Workman was a fast learner, which most likely helped him safe the 2023 Mazda MX-5 Cup Shootout Scholarship. He didn’t get the clock or the large test, however Workman did earn a powerful $10,000 for ending second.
“I believed we ran fairly nicely,” Workman mentioned. “I believed we did just about all the pieces proper tonight. I felt like I wasn’t given an opportunity there in Flip One on the restart to essentially maintain the place. There was actually nothing I might do, however proud of second place 10 grand in my pocket.”
The best ending driver with out Mazda MX-5 Cup expertise was Landen Lewis (No. 31 McCumbee McAleer Racing). Lewis certified fourth however struggled to remain within the prime 5 for the primary half of the race. He excelled at restarts nevertheless, and almost bested Workman for second on the ultimate restart however went on to complete third in his first MX-5 Cup race and picked up $7,000.
“I used to be type of driving round, making an attempt to bide my time, watching the laps go down, after which impulsively, I used to be getting shipped and moved and beat and banged,” Lewis mentioned. “I come on the radio and I’m like, ‘I have to man up. That is no joke. These guys are racing onerous each single lap.’ I simply manned up and tried to get in there as a lot as I might. It was actually enjoyable.
“I felt like we had a top-three automobile proper there on the finish for positive. Earlier than that warning come out, the chief and second, they have been in a distinct zip code, so we simply had what we had, however I discovered lots and would love to do that once more.”
Veteran Mazda pilot Tom Lengthy (No. 8 McCumbee McAleer Racing), who’s often working in race management throughout MX-5 Cup races, couldn’t resist the prospect to race at Martinsville and ended the day one spot shy of the rostrum, however $5,000 richer.
One other MX-5 Cup newcomer, however Spec Miata ace, Capers Zentmeyer (No. 99 Spark Efficiency) accomplished the highest 5. It was a fairytale ending for Zentmeyer, who’s a Martinsville native and certified 14th, however performed his hand properly and ended up with a fifth-place end and $4,000.
