Whelen’s Jesse Love returns as series hits summer stretch

LEXINGTON, Ohio (June 2, 2025) – The Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by Michelin is back alongside its IMSA brethren for the first time since Daytona as it reaches the halfway mark of the 2025 season this week at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.

All eyes are on Tyler Gonzalez (No. 57 BSI Racing) to see if he continues his win streak that started at St. Petersburg and continued with a sweep of the Barber Motorsports Park doubleheader. Showing how every point matters in Mazda MX-5 Cup, Gonzalez doesn’t actually hold the points lead despite that success owing to a DNF in race 2 at Daytona.

“Definitely want to keep the momentum going into Mid-Ohio,” Gonzalez said. “Historically, Mid-Ohio hasn’t been too kind to me, but I have no doubt that the number 57 BSI Racing car will be in the front, and this is MX-5 Cup so anything is possible. I definitely wouldn’t mind some rain either!”

Last year when Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup came to Mid-Ohio, the series had yet to have a repeat race winner. This year, the story is reversed, with only Gonzalez and Jared Thomas (No. 96 JTR Motorsports Engineering) taking race wins so far. Thomas has led the point standings since Daytona, but now only has a 40-point lead over Gonzalez.

Stealing some of the spotlight from the championship fight is Xfinity Series driver Jesse Love Jr. (No. 2 BSI Racing), who joins the grid at Mid-Ohio promoting Whelen’s ‘Everyday Champion’ initiative that recognizes citizens who make their communities a better and safer place to live. This is Love’s second time racing Mazda MX-5 Cup, his first coming at Sebring in 2024. He was unable to crack the top 10 in those two races and is looking for redemption at Mid-Ohio.
 
“I’m thrilled to be representing Whelen’s Everyday Champion initiative with BSI Racing in the Whelen Mazda MX-5 Presented by Michelin,” said Love.

“It’s a privilege to celebrate those that make our country the greatest on earth, and I’m so excited to do so at Mid-Ohio this June. This is an exciting challenge. BSI and MX-5 Cup are known for some of the best racing out there, and I can’t wait to go out and give it my best. Thank you to BSI Racing, Mazda Motorsports and Whelen Engineering for this opportunity.”
 
Just like there’s only been two race winners so far this season, there’s only been two polesitters: Jeremy Fletcher (No. 22 McCumbee McAleer Racing) and Nate Cicero (No. 83 McCumbee McAleer Racing). Is the pole position cursed in 2025? You might think so considering Fletcher and Cicero got together in the final turn at Barber preventing either from making the podium.

Current Mazda MX-5 Cup Shootout winner Noah Harmon (No. 77 AAG Racing) continues to impress. He solidified his lead in the rookie championship by finally getting his first podium at Barber. Harmon is motivated, as Mazda awards $80,000 to the rookie of the year.
 
A familiar name returns to the entry list this weekend at Mid-Ohio, that of Ohio-native Woody Heimann (No. 82 JTR Motorsports Engineering). Heimann had been racing MX-5 Cup full time since 2021 but has scaled back this year. He couldn’t resist getting behind the wheel at his home track one more time.

Will we have a new MX-5 Cup race winner at Mid-Ohio or will Gonzalez continue his win streak and takeover the championship lead? Watch both races live on the RACER and IMSA YouTube channels. Race 1 is slated for 3:05pm ET on Saturday, June7. Race 2 will go green at 10:05am ET on Sunday, June 8.