September 25, 2025 – Seventeen-year-old racing driver Justin Gravett is set to make his Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup debut at Road Atlanta during the iconic Petit Le Mans weekend, joining JTR Motorsports Engineering in a Tunnel to Towers–branded entry. Gravett, a promising young talent, continues to accelerate his career trajectory while carrying a cause greater than racing itself.
“I feel incredibly honored to carry the Tunnel to Towers Foundation on my car and in my heart,” explained Justin Gravett. “I wasn’t alive on 9/11, but I know the impact it has had on our country and the sacrifices that were made that day. To represent the Siller family’s mission—‘While we have time, let us do good’—is something I take very seriously. Competing at Petit Le Mans weekend is a dream come true, and I can’t wait to make my MX-5 Cup debut with JTR Motorsports Engineering.”
Dave Thomas, Team Owner of JTR Motorsports Engineering, is equally enthusiastic about Gravett’s debut.
“Justin has shown tremendous maturity, speed, and composure in a very short amount of time,” added Thomas. “From winning a championship in his rookie season to finishing on the podium in his first SRO TC America start, he has proven that he belongs at this level. We’re thrilled to welcome him into the JTR family for Petit Le Mans weekend, and we’re proud to help amplify the message of the Tunnel to Towers Foundation through this program.”
Gravett’s motorsports journey began just two years ago at age 15, when he first learned to drive a manual transmission at Harris Hill Raceway in San Marcos, Texas. Shortly after, his family purchased a 1992 Mazda Miata, providing him the opportunity to master the fundamentals of car control and track driving.
In 2024, Gravett quickly established himself as a driver to watch. Competing in the Harris Hill Mazda Challenge Series, he captured both the Championship and Rookie of the Year honors—becoming the first driver in series history to achieve both in the same season.
This season, Gravett has broadened his horizons, competing in SCCA Spec Miata events across Texas and on the national stage in the Hoosier Super Tour. He also gained endurance racing experience with Bryan Herta Autosport in select WRL events. Most recently, he made an impressive debut in SRO TC America at Road America, finishing second in both wheel-to-wheel races.
At Road Atlanta, Gravett will proudly represent the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, a nonprofit founded by the Siller family in honor of firefighter Stephen Siller, who made the ultimate sacrifice on September 11, 2001. Tunnel to Towers supports Gold Star families, fallen first responder families with young children, and catastrophically injured veterans through mortgage-free homes and specially adapted smart homes. Beyond the racetrack, Gravett will also join first responders and 9/11 families in the annual Tunnel to Towers 5K Run & Walk in New York City on September 28th, retracing Stephen Siller’s final footsteps.
For more information on JTR Motorsports Engineering, please contact Dave Thomas via email HERE or visit them online at www.jtrmotorsportsengineering.com.