The Mazda scholarship winner endured disappointment in race one, but came back for a solid finish in race two, with plenty of positives to take away from his debut weekend

Jeremy Fletcher launched his 2026 Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup Presented by Michelin campaign in winning fashion, capturing his first victory of the season at Daytona International Speedway and immediately setting the tone for his title defense. The weekend also delivered a rare honor, as Fletcher was invited by Mazda Motorsports to compete in the HSR IMSA Classic, driving the iconic 1991 Mazda RX-7 GTO from the Mazda Motorsports Heritage Collection.

Defending Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by Michelin Champion Jeremy Fletcher recovered from a heartbreaking Race 1 DNF at Daytona International Speedway with a win in Race 2 on Friday. He was followed across the line by another driver looking for redemption, Tyler Gonzalez (No. 57 BSI Racing), who finished Thursday’s race at the back of the field because of a tire puncture.

Since 2021, Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by Michelin has never disappointed when it comes to outstanding racing at Daytona International Raceway. The start of the 2026 season continued this trend with another photo finish, where Noah Harmon (No. 12 Hendricks Motorsports) won his first-ever Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup race by 0.039-second over Justin Adakonis (No. 23 McCumbee McAleer Racing).

Reigning Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by Michelin Champion, Jeremy Fletcher (No. 22 McCumbee McAleer Racing), began his quest for title number two by winning the Motul Pole Award at Daytona International Speedway.