Unhappy with his car’s performance in Friday’s practice sessions, Aaron Jeansonne (No. 24 JTR Motorsports Engineering) switched to a backup car Saturday morning for Idemitsu Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by BFGoodrich® qualifying. It paid dividends on his final flying lap around VIRginia International Raceway when he jumped to pole position.

The quickest driver in Idemitsu Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by BFGoodrich® Tires practice at VIRginia International Raceway was Virginia-native Gresham Wagner (No. 5 Spark Performance). Wagner’s best lap in the first session could not be bested in the afternoon session.

The Idemitsu Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by BFGoodrich Tires took part in two days of testing with four cars and eight total drivers, including NASCAR Hall of Famers Bobby Labonte and Dale Earnhardt Jr., as well as Martinsville Speedway track president Clay Campbell, to determine the feasibility of bringing the IMSA-sanctioned series to the half-mile track.

Mazda has a well-established history of helping talent connect with opportunity, and the field for Rounds 11 and 12 of the Idemitsu Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by BFGoodrich® Tires demonstrates the results of that support, as six previous winners of the MX-5 Cup Shootout are set to do battle at the fabled VIRginia International Raceway this weekend.

Starting from sixth on the Road America Race Two grid, reigning Idemitsu Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by BFGoodrich® Tires Champion Jared Thomas (No. 96 JTR Motorsports Engineering) captured his second win of the season, making it a double podium weekend for him. Thomas swapped places with Race One winner Gresham Wagner (No. 5 Spark Performance) who finished second.