Mazda Motorsports has announced the names of the 12 drivers who have been selected to participate in the 18th running of the Mazda MX-5 Cup Shootout, but here’s the twist: All 12 drivers hold ties to the Sports Car Club of America®.
The Shootout has historically featured drivers with successful amateur racing careers ready to make a leap to pro racing, specifically boosted by a scholarship valued at $150,000 to participate in the 2025 Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by Michelin.
This season’s finalists came from a pool of drivers with success primarily in Spec MX-5, Spec Miata, and karting. Each driver was asked to submit a racing resume with career highlights, a bio explaining why they are a great fit for Mazda, and a video detailing their interest in MX-5 Cup, what makes them successful, and how they plan to support their racing career long-term. A panel of racing professionals and Mazda Motorsports staff reviewed the entries before selecting 12 individuals to invite to the Shootout.
Drivers selected for 2024 Mazda MX-5 Cup Shootout (along with their SCCA filiation) are:
- Justin Adakonis – New England Region member and Hoosier Racing Tire SCCA Super Tour champion in Spec MX-5
- Stephanie Andersen – Milwaukee Region member and longtime SCCA racer in Spec Miata and B-Spec
- Ethan Goulart – New England Region member who, at 15-years-old, became the youngest ever SCCA National Championship Runoffs® winner this fall, taking the Spec Miata title at Road America
- Ethan Jacobs – Milwaukee Region Member who finished second in both the Hoosier SCCA Super Tour standings and the Runoffs in Spec MX-5
- Noah Harmon –Central Florida Region member who finished fourth in both the Hoosier Super Tour standings and the Runoffs in Spec MX-5
- Ethan Lampe – San Francisco Region member who came from seemingly nowhere in just his fourth career Spec MX-5 start to take the 2024 Runoffs victory.
- Helio Meza –Houston Region member and a 2024 Spec MX-5 competitor
- Christian Sarnecki – New England Region member who earned back-to-back Northeast Division U.S. Majors Tour® Championships in Spec Miata
- Ashlyn Speed – Texas Region member who captured the 2023 FX Southern Conference Championship
- Logan Stretch – Texas Region member and a second generation Spec Miata racer
- Luke Pullen – Atlanta Region member
- Camryn Reed – Central Louisiana Region member who has races in Super Touring® Lite, Spec Miata, and Formula F
These finalists will travel to Homestead-Miami Speedway for the Nov. 11-12 Mazda MX-5 Cup Shootout. Each driver will be fitted to one of three Mazda MX-5 Cup cars prepared by Flis Performance. All drivers will have several timed lapping sessions around the track and receive data to debrief with a driving coach afterwards.
The winner of the Shootout will receive a scholarship valued at $150,000 to compete in the 2025 Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup season. A runner-up will receive a $100,000 value scholarship. As part of the Mazda Women in Motorsport Initiative, the best performing female driver will also receive a $100,000 scholarship.
“The long history of the Mazda MX-5 Cup Shootout demonstrates the brand’s commitment to making racers dreams come true,” said Jonathan Applegate, Senior Manager, Mazda Motorsports. “Since 2007, we’ve witnessed the MX-5 Cup Shootout Scholarship become the extra weight that tips the scales in a driver’s favor and helps launch their professional racing careers. As always, it’s going to be a tough call, picking three scholarship recipients, let alone one winner.”
Lap times are not the sole determining factor in choosing a winner; drivers will also be judged on their ability to understand data, implement recommendations from coaches, media savvy and general attitude – all qualities that shine through from backgrounds in SCCA racing.
Photo courtesy Mazda Motorsports
