The Mazda MX-5 Cup cars are renowned for delivering some of the most thrilling competitive racing globally. Meanwhile, short oval tracks are celebrated for providing exceptional experiences for spectators. Combining the two forms of racing is akin to mixing chocolate and peanut butter—it’s a natural fit. This pairing is set to take place later this year at the historic Martinsville Speedway, signaling the potential start of something remarkable.
IMSA, the governing body for the Mazda MX-5 Cup series, announced on Wednesday that the championship will join forces with the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour for a doubleheader event on October 26, coinciding with the latter’s season finale. Both racing series will compete on the half-mile Martinsville Speedway, with the Modifieds racing for 200 laps and the MX-5s for 100 laps. This will be a historic occasion as it marks the first time open-top cars have raced at Martinsville since the 1950s and the inaugural full oval race for the MX-5 Cup series, a departure from earlier roval events.
While this race won’t be part of the official MX-5 Cup calendar—concluding two weeks earlier at Road Atlanta—it will serve as an exhibition event. Nevertheless, there is a reward: a $15,000 purse along with a custom-made grandfather clock, which is likely one of the most coveted trophies in motorsports.
This initiative reportedly originated from the top executives at both IMSA and NASCAR, following a seemingly successful test conducted last August. Mazda Motorsports’ senior manager, Jonathan Applegate, indicated that there is considerable interest from NASCAR drivers aspiring to expand their racing experience.
Given that the testing phase was promising enough to lead to a full race, it seems likely that this event could serve as an effective trial for future endeavors. There’s even the potential for the creation of an MX-5 speedway series, following a similar path to the series’ origins. The MX-5 Cup was born from the popularity of the Miata in SCCA races, which led to the establishment of a subclass and eventually an exhibition race at Road Atlanta in 1999, paving the way for regional championships in 2000 and the series we know today.
While history may not repeat itself exactly, it often presents similar trends, suggesting we could be on the verge of launching a new racing series. The notion of “NASCAR Miatas” carries a certain allure and could serve as an ideal supporting race for upcoming NASCAR street events.
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