It’s been six years, but the Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by Michelin is back at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It’s at this hallowed motorsport shrine that the true 2026 championship contenders will rise above the rest.

The Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by Michelin finish at VIRginia International Raceway was one of the best so far this season. Noah Harmon (No. 12 Hendricks Motorsports) beat Jared Thomas (No. 96 JTR Motorsports Engineering) to the finish line by a slim 0.07-second in a one lap dash to the checkered flag.

The current Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by Michelin championship leader extended his point lead with a race victory on Saturday at VIRginia International Raceway. Justin Adakonis (No. 23 McCumbee McAleer Racing) held off Jared Thomas (No. 96 JTR Motorsports Engineering) and Jeremy Fletcher (No. 22 McCumbee McAleer Racing) to win his third race of the season.

William Wallis will make his Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by Michelin debut this weekend at VIRginia International Raceway, bringing together several of the relationships that have helped shape his young racing career.

Time is running out on the 2026 Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by Michelin. The season is now past the halfway point, making the championship picture clearer. It’s the time of the year when those going for a championship think more about points during the race, while those not in contention are looking purely for race wins.