MARTINSVILLE, Va. (Oct. 23, 2024) – McCumbee McAleer Racing (MMR) is set to make history this weekend as the Mazda MX-5 Cup takes on its first-ever oval race at Virginia’s iconic Martinsville Speedway. The race, part of the Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by Michelin, will feature six MMR entries for the much-anticipated 100-lap event.
The race kicks off on Saturday, October 26, at 6 p.m. ET, with the MX-5 Cup as the opener for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour season finale. Fans can catch the action live on IMSA’s YouTube channel as the MX-5 Cup drivers showcase their skills on the historic short track, with a boosted total purse of $63,000 thanks to Sunoco Race Fuels.
MMR's six-car lineup features a mix of talent:
#5 Gresham Wagner: The 2024 MX-5 Cup champion looks to cap off his remarkable season with another strong performance.
#22 Jeremy Fletcher: Fresh off a third-place finish in the 2024 championship standings, Fletcher is hungry for more success after winning the final race of the regular season.
#02 Brandon Pierce: A seasoned veteran of the CARS Tour Late Model Stock Series, Pierce is making his MX-5 Cup debut and bringing his extensive oval experience to the mix.
#31 Landen Lewis: A rising star in the CARS Tour and a development driver for Kevin Harvick Inc., Lewis is eager to translate his recent success into a strong showing at Martinsville.
#8 Tom Long: A Mazda factory driver and veteran of IMSA’s WeatherTech and Michelin Pilot series, Long brings his wealth of experience to this historic race.
#44 Bobby Gossett: At just 16 years old, Gossett is the 2024 Southeast Division Sports Car Club of America South Atlantic Road Race Champion in SM. He will make his MX-5 Cup debut, combining his circle track and road course racing expertise.
Quotes from MMR drivers:
Jeremy Fletcher (#22): “I am super excited for this weekend In Martinsville, coming off an extremely successful season with MMR. As well as, winning the last race of the season. I have confidence in the team and I can come away with a win, so I am excited and ready!”
Gresham Wagner (#5): “I have been racing in the MX-5 Cup for a long time, so I’m always excited for a new challenge and to see the series evolve. I grew up around short-track racing in Virginia, so it’s pretty cool and special to be able to have our first oval event at a track like Martinsville. This year’s regular season was super successful, so it’ll be a lot of fun to go put on one more show around without the stress of points and our other normal considerations. I got the chance to drive at the first MX-5 Cup test at Martinsville over a year ago, and since then I’ve been anticipating and looking forward to getting back there for some real wheel-to-wheel racing.”
Brandon Pierce (#02): “I am excited to announce my Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cub debut with McCumbee McAleer Racing. I am excited to get to Martinsville this weekend. I think that this race is going to be a lot of fun and put on a great show for the fans. I am a rookie when it comes to these cars, but I am not a rookie in regards to Martinsville Speedway. I hope to be able to have success this weekend and battle with the top guys in this series. There are a lot of great drivers so it is not going to be easy, however, I know that I am getting an opportunity to drive for the Championship team. Everyone at MMR is going to give me a great chance at having a shot to win and I hope that my oval experience will give me a shot and that’s all you can ask for. Super thankful to Chad and everyone at MMR for this opportunity and I hope to go out and give them a strong showing this weekend.”
Landen Lewis (#31): “I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to race the MX-5 with McCumbee McAleer Racing at Martinsville. Testing the car there a couple of weeks ago was a blast, and we were very fast, so I’m hopeful we can have a clean race and a strong, finish. I’ve known Chad for a long time, and running for him at such a prestigious event is truly a dream come true. I can’t thank Chad, the team, and everyone involved enough for making this opportunity possible. I’m looking forward to it.”
Tom Long (#8): “I’m so excited to see the Mazda MX-5 Cup series racing at the famed Martinsville paper clip, let alone be competing in it! This event has been in the making for a long time with special thanks to Mazda Motorsports, IMSA, and NASCAR for promoting this unique idea. I think Flis Performance has done a phenomenal job adapting these “road course” racecars to work so well on the oval with minimal adjustments necessary. McCumbee McAleer Racing is one of the best teams in the business, and I’ve had the privilege of racing with Chad and Stevan for many years, I’m honored to be joining the MMR lineup!”
Bobby Gossett (#44): “I’m beyond excited to race at Martinsville. It’s a big challenge, but I’m ready for it, and I’m thankful for the opportunity.”
The MX-5 Cup action will kick off on Saturday with two practice sessions, followed by a qualifying. The MX-5 Cup field takes on the famed paperclip-shaped oval at 6 p.m. ET on Saturday, October 26, the 100-lap race will be live-streamed on IMSA’s YouTube channel.