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.

Rookie leaders yield to experienced runners on new pavement

On a freshly repaved Road America circuit, rookie Jonathan Neudorf (No. 55 Hixon Motor Sports) claimed his first-ever Idemitsu Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by BFGoodrich® Tires pole on Friday. He will start alongside fellow rookie Nate Cicero (No. 83 McCumbee McAleer Racing).

With eight races in the books and six more to go, the Idemitsu Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by BFGoodrich® Tires Championship is coming into focus. Rounds Nine and 10 at Wisconsin’s Road America might be where the 2023 title favorites make themselves known.