Watkins Glen, N.Y. (2 September, 2017) - Drivers in the Battery Tender Global Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by BF Goodrich Tires put on an impressive race Saturday morning at Watkins Glen International. Polesitter and championship point leader Patrick Gallagher (No. 29 McCumbee McAleer Racing) took the victory, but spent the 45-minute race trading spots within a train of nine cars.

He waited until the last lap to make his move for the lead and earn his sixth win of the season. He dedicated the win to his Aunt Mary Ellen Gallagher and friend Chris Patrick, both of whom he lost recently.

“Everyone wanted to be in second, but that wasn’t right,” Gallagher said. “You had to back up, get the fourth-place car on your bumper, let the front two get away and then let everyone shove you forward. Third was the place to be. I figured being in front, early in the race, would show me where they were coming from and every time somebody went by they were coming from third, so I dropped back and when they said ’10 to go’ I just tried to get in third place and wait for the last lap.” 

Gallagher’s teammate Robert Stout (No. 28 McCumbee McAleer Racing) finished second ahead of rookie Robert Ortiz (No. 4 Copeland Motorsports), who had the drive of the race, after an early spin knocked him back to 17th.

Defending Champion Nathaniel Sparks (No. 8 Sick Sideways Racing) was fourth. Todd Lamb (No. 84 Atlanta Speedwerks) completed the top five and Alex Bachoura (No. 33 Slipstream Performance) was the Battery Tender Hard Charger.

“We’ve had some very tight Global Mazda MX-5 Cup races so far this year and our race this morning at Watkins Glen was another great show,” said David Cook, Mazda Motorsports Business Development Manager.  “Bryan (Ortiz) and Ken (Stout) are now tied for the lead in the $50,000 rookie battle and we’ve still got one more race to go so we are looking forward to another round this afternoon!”