Mazda MX-5 Cup 2024 | Round 11 - Virginia International Raceway | Race Highlights

Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup 2024 race highlights of Round 11 at Virginia International Raceway Watch race highlights of Round 12: https://bit.ly/3yV8SSg Tune in live October 9-11 for MX-5 Cup at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta: https://bit.ly/3B1hFCu ▬▬ Description ▬▬ Showing flashes of pace and continued improvement of his racecraft, Jeremy Fletcher (No. 22 McCumbee McAleer Racing) has been on the cusp of a Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by Michelin race win all season. After one corner of Saturday’s race at VIRginia International Raceway, it looked as though he’d have to keep waiting, but a stunning comeback finally put Fletcher on the top step of the podium for the very first time. He was joined by young rookie Westin Workman (No. 13 BSI Racing) and 2021 series champion Gresham Wagner (No. 5 McCumbee McAleer Racing). Starting second, Fletcher had the outside lane going into Turn One. He dropped a wheel and that was all it took for physics to pull him off the track and through the grass. He came to a stop just before the tire wall and was able to continue, albeit at the back of the field. Fortunately for him, a full-course caution was issued only a few moments later when three cars tangled in Turn 10. On the restart, Fletcher was able to pick up six positions in one lap to kick start his comeback. He was into the top 10 by lap six. The top 10 cars were glued nose to tail and it took everything Fletcher had to find his way through the pack, especially without another full-course caution for the rest of the 45-minute race. In a series where the draft is a huge factor and the winning pass is often made on the final lap, Fletcher made the surprise decision to execute a three-wide pass for the lead in Turn One with more than six minutes left on the clock. He was right. Even with heavy pressure from two-time series champion Jared Thomas (No. 96 JTR Motorsports Engineering) for the final four laps, Fletcher stayed out front and finally got his first MX-5 Cup win. Finishing second by 0.070-second, Workman also had a lot of work to do, to make the podium. The rookie started seventh on the grid but made a skillful restart after the full-course caution and was into second by lap six. Managing was hard work when the top eight were still nose-to-tail through the fast and technical circuit. Starting from pole, Wagner led early, but lost pace in the closing stages of the race and even fell out of the top five with four laps to go. Exiting the final corner, Wagner was fourth, but prepared for the long drag race to the finish line. Thomas was seemingly in the wrong lane at the finish and didn’t have anyone to give him a push, so he crossed the finish line in fourth. Jonathan Neudorf (No. 55 BSI Racing) had one of the best races of his MX-5 Cup career and secured a personal best of fifth place. The point leader coming into VIR, Aaron Jeansonne (No. 24 JTR Motorsports Engineering) finished seventh, right behind Nate Cicero (No. 83 McCumbee McAleer Racing) who came into the weekend second in points. Next up for MX-5 Cup is Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta for Rounds 13 and 14, October 10-11. #racer #mazda #mx5 #miata #autoracing #motorsport #imsa #virginiainternationalraceway #VIR Every event on the Mazda MX-5 Cup schedule will feature two, 45-minute sprint races to be livestreamed on RACER.com. The livestreams are produced by NASCAR Productions, and feature play-by-play and commentary from the IMSA Radio squad headed by John Hindhaugh and Shea Adam.

• #sports
• #racer
• #mazda_mx_5_cup
• #miata
• #auto_racing
• #motorsport
• #imsa
• #race_highlights
• #round_11
• #virginia_international_raceway
• #vir