Two months have passed since the series’ last race event at St. Pete. In that span of time, Stallone and teammate Logan Stretch participated in a pair of MX-5 Cup series tests last month: one at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the other at Mid-Ohio. The 19-year-old Austin, Texas native also contested a Spec Miata doubleheader at Mid-Ohio – with very positive results, which have buoyed his confidence. 

 

“I won the Spec Miata doubleheader there last year, and then won both races last month from pole,” said Stallone. “So I’m actually undefeated in Ohio! I’d love to keep that going. I really do love the track, and it’s clearly a track that I mesh well with.”

 

“Our MX-5 Cup test at IMS was positive as well,” continued Stallone. “I think Logan and I are both now finally at a place where we're at least relatively comfortable in the car. We were able to get out on track and push it, just about to the limit, almost immediately. There's a natural familiarity and comfort with the car now that I don't think was there at Daytona or St. Pete, at least not fully. So that’s a good place to start. There were a couple other quick guys at both tests, and we were right in the window with them on pace. We worked through setups and found a happy place that we're going to start at for practice one this week.”

 

Mid-Ohio suits Stallone’s driving style, with its 13-turn, 2.258-mile layout ranking as one of the country’s most technical and challenging circuits. Most corners involve both radius and elevation changes, with only two of its 13 turns (Turn 1 and the Keyhole) standing alone; the rest are in combinations or sequences.

 

“Mid-Ohio has only one semi-long straight, the rest is just really tight twisting sections, so there’s much less drafting there than at some of the other tracks we go to,” said Stallone. “That could lead to less passing and maybe, in some sense, less of the typical MX-5 chaos. But on the other hand, with only one legit passing zone, I think it could also lead to drivers getting impatient and forcing moves they probably shouldn't force. It’s also unique in that you really have to rely on feel, with the left/right/left/right tight corners. I feel as though I do better at the tight twisting tracks, so it should be interesting!”

 

PT Autosport team principal Jason Myers looks forward to getting back in the groove with the series, after the long layoff post-St. Pete.

 

“We are really looking forward to getting back to Mazda MX-5 Cup racing after the very long break, and to seeing how Max does in the next round of MX-5 Cup competition,” said Myers. “Max has been doing a ton of testing and driving during the break, so he’s coming in ready to win.”

 

The Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup Presented by Michelin series will contest two 45-minute races at Mid-Ohio. Race one takes the green flag Saturday at 3:05 p.m. ET, with race two Sunday at 10:10 a.m. Both races will be streamed live on the IMSA and Racer magazine YouTube channels.

 

 PT Autosport would like to thank our Partners for their continued support:

 

Mazda Motorsports has been winning races around the world for 50 years. From Le Mans, France to Daytona International Speedway in Florida, Mazdas have been a constant presence at racetracks around the globe, garnering wins and championships in races too numerous to list – and the list keeps growing.

 

Mazda Motorsports is responsible for all auto racing initiatives within the North American market, from promoting and servicing grassroots racers to developing sports car professionals of the future. 

 

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Facebook:      MazdaMotorsports

 

Stallone supports Hope Farm, founded in the Dallas/Fort Worth area in 1997 as a long-term leadership development program that guides at-risk boys, without the benefit of a positive male role model in their homes, from the time they are 5-7 years old until high school graduation and beyond. Staff and volunteers are dedicated to meeting the spiritual, nutritional, academic, emotional, and recreational needs of each young man to break the cycle of fatherlessness.

 

Instagram:    @hope.farm

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Facebook:      Hope Farm, Inc.

 

About PT Autosport — Discover Unique Talent. Develop Champions.

 

PT Autosport provides merit-based motorsport industry opportunities for diverse individuals with high integrity, grit, and coach-ability, achieved through a development program for young aspiring drivers, engineers, mechanics, and other professionals. The first step of this process is applying for the annual Aspiring Driver Shootout, in which aspiring drivers aged 18-23 can compete for a team racing partnership with the team.

 

A rigorous evaluation process of applicants determines the final competitors for the driver shootout. The winner earns financial support of up to $250,000 ($50,000 guaranteed) to pursue their racing career. The review process also provides the team the chance to identify unique talent for other roles in motorsport, including race engineers, mechanics, and professionals.

 

PT Autosport currently supports two drivers: Max Stallone, Mazda MX-5 Cup scholarship winner, racing in the Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup Presented by Michelin, and Luis Beilicke, racing in the UK-based Ginetta GT Academy (Beilicke is the 2025 Aspiring Driver Shootout winner).

 

PT Autosport is building a community that fosters the development of young talent to find a place where they can make an impact in the motorsport community as a career.