January 28, 2026 — JTR Motorsports Engineering completed a productive opening week of the 2026 Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by Michelin season at Daytona International Speedway, fielding a ten-driver lineup and gathering valuable early-season momentum.
Competing on the iconic 3.56-mile, 12-turn Daytona road course during the week leading into the Rolex 24 at Daytona, JTR took advantage of the high-profile event to evaluate performance across a deep roster and execute two demanding races to kick off the year.
The team’s ten-car effort featured returning JTR drivers Jared Thomas, Peter Atwater, Justin Gravett, Glenn McGee, and Woody Heimann, alongside new additions Gresham Wagner, Chris Hutter, Jamison Riley, Chris Allen, and John Salerno all making their first Mazda MX-5 Cup starts with the organization.
Race One delivered the intense, tightly packed competition the series is known for. Jared Thomas led the way for JTR with a strong fourth-place finish after spending much of the race inside the lead group. Behind him, several JTR drivers produced steady forward progress, highlighted by Chris Allen and Glenn McGee each gaining ten positions by the checkered flag. Peter Atwater and John Salerno also worked their way through the field, both climbing 13 positions in a race that demanded patience and consistency.
Race Two offered more of the same ultra-competitive action, with JTR continuing to show their ability to advance through traffic. Gresham Wagner turned in one of the team’s most notable drives of the weekend, charging from 33rd on the grid to finish fifth. Justin Gravett also delivered a strong recovery drive, gaining 23 positions to finish 12th after starting deep in the field.
“Having ten cars on track gave us a lot of valuable data to work with,” commented Dave Thomas of JTR Motorsports. “Daytona gave us a solid baseline to start the season, and we saw good progress across the board this week. Now we’ll take what we learned and build on it as we head to St. Petersburg. Overall, I’m proud of the effort from our drivers and the entire JTR crew.”
With the opening rounds complete, JTR Motorsports Engineering will now turn its focus to Rounds Three and Four of the Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by Michelin, set for February 27–March 1 on the Streets of St. Petersburg, where the team looks to convert early-season lessons into continued progress.
For more information on JTR Motorsports Engineering, please contact Dave Thomas via email HERE or visit their website at www.JTRMotorsportsEngineering.com.