BRASELTON, Ga. (October 6, 2026) – Wheels America Racing’s Max Stallone – racing with support from PT Autosport – saved the best for last, running in the top five in the Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup Presented by Michelin season finale at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta and bringing home his first top 10 finish of the season.
The highly competitive 31-car field saw more than its share of incidents through two 40-minute races, sharing the weekend racing card with the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship’s Motul Petit Le Mans. Stallone scored his second-best starting position of the year and despite getting caught up in a last-lap multi-car incident, brought his No. 3 Mazda MX-5 Cup car home in 10th.
Stallone came into the weekend with a good amount of Michelin Raceway muscle memory from several Spec Miata races, and the 19-year-old Austin, Texas native came out of the box strong, posting a quick early time in Wednesday’s first practice before finishing 12th. He posted the 14th quickest time in second practice later in the afternoon while on used tires – and in both sessions, less than a second off the leader.
The Mazda MX-5 series was the first series on track Thursday morning, in damp and foggy conditions. Both Stallone and teammate Logan Stretch were quick once again, but the duo found themselves mired in the pack late in the 20-minute session. At the checkered, Stallone would settle for a 15th place race one start, with Stretch 17th.
Stallone’s race one plans were derailed on lap two, as the youngster was hit heading into turn one at the start of lap two, shoving him into the dirt. Stallone kept his foot on the gas, hung onto the car and keep it facing forward – though coming back on track in 25th position.
Keeping his head down, Stallone set about regaining positions, moving into 16th before a caution for a car spinning into the front straight wall – a car that Stallone only just managed to avoid. The race returned to green with 17 minutes remaining as Stallone continued. Unfortunately, after typical MX-5 side-to-side action, Stallone’s front crash bar pressed against his right front tire and began acting like a damper, holding him to 16th position at the checkered flag.
“The pace was good and I was in a good spot early, so the contact was really unfortunate,” said Stallone. “I lost spots in the end when we had the tire issue but my driving – just the theme of the year, not much luck. This series is so competitive, with just crazy battles. All the guys in the top 12 are phenomenal drivers that can win, so to battle toward the front like that hopefully shows that I have some fight.”
Stallone continued that fight in race two, starting in eighth position – directly behind Stretch on the starting grid. Gaining a position on the first lap, Stallone made a pass on Stretch, who tucked in behind his teammate as the pair moved forward.
Two laps later, Stallone made another pass to take fifth position, setting the race’s quick lap to that point – and pacing several tenths quicker than the four cars ahead. Jostling with much more experienced competitors for positions seven through 12, Stallone fell back and moved forward, looking for rhythm as a full course caution came out with 10 minutes remaining.
Predictable chaos ensued on the restart, with Stallone caught up in a multi-car incident on the final lap. Hit from behind and knocked into the car ahead, Stallone kept his foot on the gas, motored away and brought the car home in 10th position – his best finish of the season.
“Another positive race where we were up near the front,” said Stallone. “I know I’ve got to do a little learning on my own end to figure out how to stay up at the front and get to the lead, but that just comes with time. It took me a bit of time to figure things out, and it took them a bit of time as well. Definitely bumper cars out there today, but I know these are lessons that I’ll take forward.
“Just super thankful to PT Autosport, Mazda Motorsports, Rambler sparkling water, Hope Farm, everybody who supports me, for all they’ve done to get me here. I’m grateful to have had this opportunity and hope we can come back and contend in 2027.”
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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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.
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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.
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