MX-5 Cup Shootout Nominees Announced

Drivers from numerous grassroots disciplines invited to compete for chance at a Mazda MX-5 Cup season.

October 14, 2020 – Mazda Motorsports has unveiled the list of drivers nominated for the 2020 MX-5 Cup Shootout.

The Shootout, targeted for November 16-17 at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta in Braselton, Georgia, will award the winner a $110,000 scholarship to compete in the 2021 Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by BFGoodrich® Tires. The winner’s car will carry the Mazda’s Soul Red Crystal on his or her MX-5 Cup car throughout the season.

Winning a club racing championship while driving a Mazda or Mazda-powered car is the primary way to be nominated for the Shootout, while at-large nominees are also considered. Nominated drivers will submit a written and video proposal from which the finalists will be selected for the two-day Shootout.

The 2019 MX-5 Cup Shootout winner, Jared Thomas, captured his first win of the season this past weekend at New Jersey Motorsports Park; Jared now homes in on earning the Rookie of the Year $75K award. The 2018 Shootout winner, Michael Carter, is leading the series and the bid for the $200K championship scholarship with one event to go.

Automatic nominees:

  1. Michael Borden – SCCA T4 National Champion
  2. Michael Lewis – SCCA GT-3 National Champion
  3. Spencer Brockman – SCCA FA National Champion
  4. Jacob Loomis – SCCA FX National Champion
  5. Broch Evans – Formula Mazda Southern Majors Champion
  6. Brad Yake – Formula Mazda Southeast Majors Champion
  7. Ryan McLaughlin – Formula Mazda Mid-States Majors Champion
  8. Steve Martin – Formula Mazda Western Majors Champion
  9. Jason Vinkemulder – Formula Mazda Northern Majors Champion
  10. Wyatt Couch – Spec Miata Teen Mazda Challenge NorCal Region
  11. Hannah Grisham – Spec Miata, Teen Mazda Challenge, SoCal Region
  12. Harry Voigt – Spec Miata, Teen Mazda Challenge, Rocky Mountain Region
  13. Sean Ludlow – Spec Miata, Teen Mazda Challenge, Great Lakes

 

At-large nominees:

  1. Roy Fulmer IV – Spec Miata, Teen Mazda Challenge
  2. Clayton Ketcher – Spec Miata, Teen Mazda Challenge
  3. Chris Nunes – Spec Miata, Teen Mazda Challenge
  4. Aiden Baker Crouse – Spec Miata
  5. Brandon Collins – Spec Miata
  6. Tyler Brown – Spec Miata
  7. Kyle Greenhill – Spec Miata
  8. Justin Casey – Spec Miata
  9. Konrad Czaczyk – Spec Miata
  10. Grant West – Spec Miata/ Spec MX-5
  11. Charles MacTutus – Spec Miata/Spec MX-5
  12. Savanna Little – Spec MX-5
  13. Aidan Fassnacht – Spec MX-5
  14. Aaron Jeansonne – Spec MX-5
  15. Bryce Cornet – Spec MX-5
  16. Tyler Quance – Spec MX-5
  17. Joey Atanasio – Spec MX-5
  18. Loni Unser – Endurance Racing

Due to significant professional experience, Preston Pardus (SCCA Spec Miata National Champion) and Liam Snyder (SCCA Formula Enterprises 2 National Champion) are not eligible for the Shootout

Due to Zach Rubin’s director position for NASA’s Teen Mazda Challenge, he has withdrawn his automatic nomination he earned.

Criteria to become a finalist can be found here.