SEBRING, Fla. (March 11, 2024) – Back on a track that has had some surprising finishes, the Mazda MX-5 Whelen Cup presented through Michelin is set to level two more impressive races at the mythical Sebring International Circuit this week. . The addition of Xfinity series star Jesse Love to the grill adds to the excitement.
The Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup hasn’t raced at Sebring since 2021, but everyone remembers the final three-way photo that concluded the first race; Selin Rollan, Michael Carter and Gresham Wagner crossed the baseline together, but the scoreboard showed that Rollan had won by 0. 001 seconds over Carter.
Rollan (No. 87 Rollan Racing/BSI Racing) is back at Sebring, as is Wagner (No. five McCumbee McAleer Racing). Wagner won the second race at Sebring in 2021 and the two are the only former Sebring winners on the grid this year.
Wagner, the 2021 Mazda MX-5 Cup champion, is lately tied for the championship lead with teammate Jeremy Fletcher (No. 22 McCumbee McAleer Racing). Fletcher has never raced at Sebring in an MX-5 Cup car, but he has plenty of others delight in there to call it home.
“I’m at Sebring, at my home track,” Fletcher said. “It’s about two hours from my space and I quite enjoy the Spec Miata there. We did some testing there. We came off two podiums at Daytona and tied for the championship. “It gives me a personal boost, so I’m looking forward to Sebring and building on that momentum. “
Another driver who has made Sebring his home is Julian DaCosta (No. 78 BSI Racing). The rookie hails from Myakka City, Florida, just an hour from Sebring.
The rookie with the most problems coming out of Daytona is Mazda Shootout scholarship winner Westin Workman (No. thirteen BSI Racing). If it had been due to an incident on the final lap of the second race at Daytona, Workman would be up from sixth overall, where he currently sits.
Another rookie to watch at Sebring is Jesse Love (No. 2 Hendricks Motorsport). Love drives the No. 2 NASCAR Xfinity Series Chevrolet Whelen and is the reigning ARCA Menards Series champion. Co-sponsor Whelen Engineering brought Love to the MX-5 Cup and after what we saw at Daytona, it’s all about to debut.
“I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to race at Sebring for the first time,” said Love. “Our season with the No. 2 Chevrolet Whelen got off to a smart start and a weekend off at the start. of the Xfinity Series calendar, allowed it all to come together. I’ve driven a lot of other cars in my career, from dashboard cars to inventory cars, so this is another tool I can use in the future.
It will be supported by Hendricks Motorsports, a new team led by second-generation driver Kimberlee Hendricks, owner of the Daytona-based prep shop.
If Connor Zilisch (No. 72 BSI Racing) turns out to have extra shine at Sebring this week, it will likely be thanks to the Rolex watch he now owns thanks to an LMP2 class win at the Rolex 24 Hours. of Daytona. Su debut in the outstanding enduro was bigger than his MX-5 Cup races. Despite leading the maximum laps at Daytona, Zilisch left in 5th and 25th place, the latter due to a mechanical issue. Lately he is 12th in the standings.
Zilisch will once back up at Sebring, competing in the MX-5 Cup and WeatherTech Championship.
“I enjoy Sebring,” Zilisch said. It has a lot of character and is one of the most unique circuits in the country, so racing there in the Mazda MX-5 Cup is going to be a lot of fun. There was a lovely finish they had there in 2021. I’m super excited. I’ll also be doing a double project there, so it’s going to be a very busy week for me.
It will be a very busy Wednesday for all MX-5 Cup competitors, as there are 3 sessions on track that day; the two practice sessions and qualifying. If someone has a challenge with their car, there’s little time between sessions.
Both MX-5 Cup races will be broadcast on RACER. com and IMSA. tv. Race 1 is scheduled for Thursday, March 15 at 1:05 p. m. ET. La Race 2 will take place on Friday, March 16 at 11:15 a. m. m. ET.
About: The Mazda MX-5 Whelen Cup presented through Michelin is the flagship series of Mazda Motorsports. The series has been operated through Andersen Promotions since 2017 and is most recently sanctioned through IMSA. Champions with Mazda engines can win Mazda scholarships for this professional-level series. . The Mazda MX-5 Whelen Cup awards more than $1 million in prize money and purses.
For more information, http://www. mx-5cup. com.