Race to be part of doubleheader event featuring NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour championship finale
MARTINSVILLE, Va. (July 17, 2024) – Martinsville Speedway and the Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by Michelin today announced that the spec series will hold an exhibition race as part of the 2024 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour season finale event on Saturday, Oct. 26.
The event will be a 300-lap doubleheader called the ‘Virginia is for Racing Lovers 300’ with the Mazda MX-5 Cup taking to the track for 100 laps, directly followed by the 200-lap finale of the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour championship. The race will award $15,000 to the Mazda MX-5 Cup race winner.
The exhibition event will not count toward the 2024 Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup Championship, which concludes Oct. 11 at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta. It will consist of two practice sessions, single-car qualifying, and a 100-lap race split into two stages. Yellow flags will not count for the first 50-lap stage, but will be in effect for the second half. Prize money will also be awarded to the top three drivers at the stage break.
“It’s a great compliment to Mazda MX-5 Cup that NASCAR and IMSA leadership enjoy the series and want to expand its footprint,” said Jonathan Applegate, Senior Manager, Mazda Motorsports. “We’ve seen increased interest in the series from drivers with NASCAR aspirations who want to grow their skill set. Racing at Martinsville is a unique opportunity to capitalize on that and we are really excited about this opportunity.”
The concept of racing Mazda MX-5 Cup at Martinsville started amongst NASCAR and IMSA leadership, who recognized the entertainment value of the series’ incredibly close racing. Martinsville, the short track, was deemed a perfect fit for the small convertibles and a test featuring several drivers was conducted in August of last year.
“Martinsville Speedway has such a unique and rich history of racing, and we couldn’t be more excited to add another incredible event to that history,” said Martinsville Speedway President Clay Campbell. “It’ll be the first time we have open top cars racing on track since our early days in the 50s, tapping into our past and also our roots as we host the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour finale on the same weekend. We’re excited to bring the Mazda MX-5 Cup to Martinsville, and I know this will be one the fans enjoy.”
The Virginia is for Racing Lovers 300 will be the first ever race on an oval circuit for MX-5 Cup, though it has held events at roval tracks familiar to NASCAR fans, including Daytona International Speedway, Homestead-Miami Speedway and Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Entries are open for all racers and are not limited to MX-5 Cup or IMSA drivers and teams.
In addition to a $15,000 check from Mazda for the winner, Martinsville will award one of their famous grandfather clocks as well. Runner-up receives $5,000, third place receives $4,000 and payouts continue through 10th place.
To prepare for this unique race, MX-5 Cup will hold a test at Martinsville on Monday, Aug. 26. The date is exceptionally convenient for MX-5 Cup teams who will have just concluded a doubleheader at VIRginia International Raceway, an hour’s drive away.
For more details on the Virginia is for Racing Lovers 300 and to purchase tickets to the race weekend, please visit www.martinsvillespeedway.com.
About Martinsville Speedway
Founded by H. Clay Earles in 1947, Martinsville Speedway is the only NASCAR track to host NASCAR Cup Series races every year since its inception in 1949. At .526 miles in length, the track annually hosts two NASCAR race weekends featuring the NASCAR Cup Series, along with NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series races in the fall. Martinsville Speedway also annually hosts the ValleyStar Credit Union 300, the nation’s biggest, richest and most prestigious NASCAR Late Model Stock Car race. For more information about Martinsville Speedway, visit martinsvillespeedway.com.
About NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) is the sanctioning body for the No. 1 form of motorsports in the United States and owner of 16 of the nation’s major motorsports entertainment facilities. NASCAR sanctions races in three national series (NASCAR Cup Series™, NASCAR Xfinity Series™, and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series™), four international series (NASCAR Brasil Sprint Race, NASCAR Mexico Series, NASCAR Pinty’s Series (Canada), NASCAR Whelen Euro Series), four regional series (ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East & West and the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour) and a local grassroots series (NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series). The International Motor Sports Association™ (IMSA®) governs the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship™, the premier U.S. sports car series. NASCAR also owns Motor Racing Network, Racing Electronics, and ONE DAYTONA. Based in Daytona Beach, Florida, with offices in eight cities across North America, NASCAR sanctions more than 1,200 races annually in 12 countries and more than 30 U.S. states. For more information visit www.NASCAR.com and www.IMSA.com, and follow NASCAR on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat (‘NASCAR’).
About Mazda MX-5 Cup
The Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by Michelin is the signature spec series for Mazda Motorsports. The series has been operated by Andersen Promotions since 2017 and is currently sanctioned by IMSA. Mazda-powered grassroots champions can earn Mazda scholarships for this pro-level series. The Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup awards more than $1 million in prizes and scholarships.
Find out more at http://www.mx-5cup.com.
About the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA):
The International Motor Sports Association, LLC (IMSA) was originally founded in 1969 and owns a long and rich history in sports car racing. Today, IMSA is the sanctioning body of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, the premier sports car racing series in North America. IMSA also sanctions the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge, IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge and Historic Sportscar Racing, as well as five one-make series: Ferrari Challenge North America, Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America, Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by Michelin, Mustang Challenge and Porsche Carrera Cup North America. IMSA – a company within the NASCAR family – is the exclusive strategic partner in North America with the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO) which operates the 24 Hours of Le Mans as a part of the FIA World Endurance Championship. The partnership enables selected IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship competitors to earn automatic entries into the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans. For more information please visit www.IMSA.com, www.twitter.com/IMSA, www.facebook.com/IMSA or www.instagram.com/imsa_racing.
