Nominees named for 2023 Mazda MX-5 Cup Shootout
Continuing a nearly two-decade running tradition, Mazda Motorsports will once again stage a MX-5 Cup Shootout to help aspiring racers connect talent with opportunity in 2023. Nominees eligible for the 2023 Mazda MX-5 Cup Shootout have been named and are one step closer to a scholarship valued at $110,000.
Building on a selection process that has proven successful through the years, the nominees are a combination of automatic and at-large selections. Automatic selections are those drivers who have won a club racing national championship (NASA, SCCA or Spec MX-5 Challenge) in a Mazda-powered vehicle. At-large nominees are drivers who haven’t won a national championship, but have shown exceptional racing talent, not necessarily in a Mazda-powered car, or even in sports cars.
Success in motorsports requires a driver who delivers both in and out of the cockpit, so Mazda’s selection process focuses on much more than just fast laps. Each nominee is invited to submit a video application to become a finalist. These applications must include each driver’s plan to create a long-lasting racing career, including how they would attract additional funding.
“It’s encouraging to see the pool of talented Mazda racers grow year-after year,” Mazda Motorsports Senior Manager Jonathan Applegate said. “The response to this program continues to be impressive and even though that makes it very difficult to get down to 12 finalists, it is really encouraging to see the level of professionalism and raw talent that are interested in making the most of this opportunity. The MX-5 Cup Shootout has produced some very deserving winners and champions and we anticipate the same thing this year.”
Nominees have a week to submit their applications to Mazda Motorsports.
Drivers selected as finalists will be invited to participate in the MX-5 Cup Shootout. There, Mazda will not only name the winner of a $110,000 scholarship to compete in MX-5 Cup in 2024, but also a $75,000 scholarship for the runner-up and a $75,000 scholarship for the top female driver.
Last year’s Shootout winner, Nate Cicero, is going into the final two races of the season leading the Rookie of the Year standings and is within reach of a top-three finish in the championship.
2023 Mazda MX-5 Cup Shootout Nominees
At-large nominees:
AJ Zarcone – Spec MX-5 / NASA Teen Mazda
Antonio Abrom – Spec Miata
Austin Varco – Spec Miata
Boris Said Jr – Spec Miata
Brennan Stammer – Spec Miata / NASA Teen Mazda
Cam Ebben – Spec Miata / Spec MX-5
Camden Gruber – Spec Miata / Spec MX-5
Chase Jones – Spec MX-5
Chloe Lynch
Christian Braunlich – Touring 4
Don Squirek – Spec MX-5
Emily Atenas
Ethan Barker
Frankie Barroso – Spec Miata
Hannah Greenemeier – F4
Joshua Soto
Julian DaCosta – Spec Miata
Junior Brock – Spec Miata
Laurin Brallier – Spec Miata
Maddie Aust – TC America
Mark Polunin – Spec Miata / NASA Teen Mazda
Morgan Burkhard
Nathan Nicholson – Spec MX-5
Nathan Saxon – Spec MX-5
Nicholas Leone – Spec MX-5
Nico Bratz – Spec MX-5
Noah Harmon – Spec MX-5 / Spec Miata
Reid Sweeney – Spec MX-5
Rowan Gill – Spec MX-5 / Spec Miata
Sally Mott
Taylor Ferns – USAC
Uthman Alaoui – Spec Miata / NASA Teen Mazda
Westin Workman – Spec MX-5
Will Robusto – Spec MX-5
Wyatt Couch – Spec MX-5 / Spec Miata
AJ Zarcone – Spec MX-5 / NASA Teen Mazda
Antonio Abrom – Spec Miata
Austin Varco – Spec Miata
Boris Said Jr – Spec Miata
Brennan Stammer – Spec Miata / NASA Teen Mazda
Cam Ebben – Spec Miata / Spec MX-5
Camden Gruber – Spec Miata / Spec MX-5
Chase Jones – Spec MX-5
Chloe Lynch
Christian Braunlich – Touring 4
Don Squirek – Spec MX-5
Emily Atenas
Ethan Barker
Frankie Barroso – Spec Miata
Hannah Greenemeier – F4
Joshua Soto
Julian DaCosta – Spec Miata
Junior Brock – Spec Miata
Laurin Brallier – Spec Miata
Maddie Aust – TC America
Mark Polunin – Spec Miata / NASA Teen Mazda
Morgan Burkhard
Nathan Nicholson – Spec MX-5
Nathan Saxon – Spec MX-5
Nicholas Leone – Spec MX-5
Nico Bratz – Spec MX-5
Noah Harmon – Spec MX-5 / Spec Miata
Reid Sweeney – Spec MX-5
Rowan Gill – Spec MX-5 / Spec Miata
Sally Mott
Taylor Ferns – USAC
Uthman Alaoui – Spec Miata / NASA Teen Mazda
Westin Workman – Spec MX-5
Will Robusto – Spec MX-5
Wyatt Couch – Spec MX-5 / Spec Miata
Automatic Nominees:
Alex Bertagnoli – Spec MX-5 Champion
Aryton Grim- NASA Teen Mazda (Great Lakes)
Cam Ebben – Northern Divisional Champion SCCA first gear
Charles Russell Turner – FE2 SCCA Champion
Christian Sarnecki – Northeast Divisional Champion SCCA first gear
Cooper Hicks – NASA Teen Mazda (CA/Southern)
David Moreno – Great lakes Divisional Champion SCCA first gear
Ethan Lampe- NASA Teen Mazda (CA/Northern)
Hayden Manis – NASA Teen Mazda (Mid Atlantic)
Logan Strech – Southern Divisional Champion SCCA first gear
Michael Carter* – NASA Spec Miata Champion
Nick Bruni* & Preston Pardus* – Spec Miata, SCCA Runoffs
Raiden Nicol – Southeast Divisional Champion SCCA first gear
Todd Vanacore – P1 SCCA Runoffs national champion
*Due to significant professional experience, Nick Bruni, Preston Pardus and Michael Carter (SCCA & NASA Spec Miata National Champion) are not eligible for the Shootout
For more information: www.racer.com
