With 44 cars entered in Rounds One and Two, the Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by Michelin 2026 season is set to commence in spectacular fashion at Daytona International Speedway this week. The sizeable field sets a new record for the series and includes a deep roster of talent with three former champions as well as more than a dozen rookies.

JTR Motorsports Engineering will kick off the 2026 Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup Presented by Michelin season in a big way, bringing an impressive nine-driver lineup to the iconic Daytona International Speedway for the championship’s opening round, January 21–23.

Championship contenders return alongside rising stars and exciting new entries

Texas native and Mazda scholarship winner- who finished third in the 2024 PT Autosport Aspiring Driver Shootout – is set to start the Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup Presented by Michelin season

Hendricks Motorsports will kick off the 2026 Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by Michelin season with two powerhouse drivers at Daytona International Raceway. The team will field Noah Harmon in the No. 12 Cube 3 Architecture and Westin Workman in the No. 21 with Stor-It Self Storage/Cavo's Bar + Kitchen and Hawkeye Brothers Graphics for Rounds One and Two of the championship.