The Mazda MX-5 Cup kicked off the 2025 season at Daytona: with six female drivers on the grid and plenty of drama, Heather Hadley and rookie Ashlyn Speed shared the Top Finishing Female Awards.
The Mazda MX-5 Cup is back—bigger than ever. With a record-breaking 36-car field, the season kicked off at Daytona as a support event for the IMSA 24 Hours race, and it did not disappoint. Two action-packed races delivered excitement, drama, and a mix of fortune and misfortune, all wrapped up in 90 minutes of thrilling competition.
Alongside the record-breaking grid, six female drivers joined the championship: returnees Sally Mott and Heather Hadley, as well as Mazda Female Shootout winner Ashlyn Speed. Newcomers Maite Caceres and Sally McNulty also made their debuts, with Caroline Candas joining the field for the opening weekend.
The story of the races
Race 1 started with intense battles and the typical Mazda MX-5 Cup unpredictability, as Tyler Gonzales stormed to victory after starting 14th on the grid. The race took place on a cold day with rain arriving just before the start, prompting all teams to opt for wet tyres after race officials declared a wet race.
However, the track remained dry enough that the rain tyres struggled to work effectively. Pole-sitter Nate Cicero took a gamble, pitting at the start to switch to slicks, but the strategy backfired, dropping him to the back of the field with a significant time loss.
With Cicero out of contention, Wagner inherited the lead but soon retired from the race, losing crucial points right at the start of the season. This handed the lead to Gonzales, who had charged through from 14th.
As the rain intensified, the battle at the front heated up, with Gonzales and Bryce Cornet swapping positions, joined by more contenders in the lead group. However, the fight was cut short when Christian Hodneland suffered an engine failure that resulted in a fire, bringing out a full-course yellow to allow safety crews to reach the car.
With the race ending under caution, Gonzales secured his third Mazda MX-5 Cup victory at Daytona, with Goulart and Cornet completing the podium.
Race 2 began with a dramatic crash, as two cars made contact and slid into the wall, then bounced back onto the track, triggering a chain reaction that collected multiple drivers.
Several cars came to a stop on the front straight and in the grass, forcing early retirements.
After an extended cleanup, the race restarted with 16 minutes remaining, led by Nate Cicero ahead of Helio Meza and Bailey Cruse. Battles erupted throughout the field, and Fletcher led the pack heading into the final lap. But in Mazda MX-5 Cup, leading on the last lap guarantees nothing.
The finish did not disappoint—Thomas edged out Buras by just 0.038 seconds, securing a dramatic victory in a race that, despite the chaos, saw all drivers walk away unscathed.
Sally Mott
Sally Mott returned for her second season in the Mazda MX-5 Cup after an impressive rookie year, showing strong progression throughout the season. Now, she’s hungry for more. Racing with JTR Motorsports Engineering and as an official Shift Up Athlete, the young American and her striking pink Mazda faced a mixed start to the season.
Qualifying proved to be challenging, with Mott securing a 21st place starting position for Race 1. However, the real challenge came when the first race of the season was declared a wet race—something Sally had never experienced before. She struggled in the tricky conditions but managed to finish 23rd.
For Race 2, the Texan started 12th, but luck was not on her side. She was caught in the multi-car crash that unfolded through the field, damaging her car. Despite this, she was able to continue and make it to the finish line.
"The impact caused my toe to go out by two inches, and I had tire rub on my right rear. My steering wheel was 90 degrees to the left, and my car was 10 seconds off pace, but we finished the race and got some points."
Mott crossed the line in 21st place, surviving a tough race with a damaged car and a field mostly behind the pace car. Despite the challenges, she salvaged valuable points for the championship standings.
Heather Hadley
Heather Hadley returned for another season in the Mazda MX-5 Cup after two learning years in one of the toughest series in America. This time, she joined Hendrick Motorsports, driving the reversed Orea-liveried Mazda with the number 54.
The race weekend started off on a difficult note, as the team had no practice runs beforehand. To make matters worse, Hadley’s official practice session was cut short due to camber bolts coming loose, limiting her track time. Despite the setback, she managed to qualify 17th. However, a penalty dropped her to P29 for the start of Race 1.
In Race 1, Hadley faced another challenge when a camber bolt started coming loose again.
"It got worse every time I hit the rumble strips in the bus stop. This made it very hard to turn, and the steering wheel was about 45° to the right."
Despite the mechanical issues, Hadley fought her way through the field, finishing 18th and securing the Top Finishing Female award, along with the prize money that comes with it.
Race 2, however, ended in heartbreak before it even truly began. Hadley was caught in the massive multi-car crash at the start and was forced to retire with a damaged car before even crossing the start-finish line. Fortunately, the damage is repairable, ensuring she will be back on track for the next round of the Mazda MX-5 Cup.
Ashlyn Speed
Ashlyn Speed joined the Mazda MX-5 Cup as the Mazda Female Shootout Award winner with Hendrick Motorsports, and her first race weekend in the series gave her a true taste of its challenges and excitement.
The young Texan qualified 33rd but started from P34 due to a penalty. Despite the setback, she climbed through the field to finish 29th, gaining valuable experience in battling and surviving in such a highly competitive grid.
For Race 2, Ashlyn again started from the back of the field due to another penalty—though this time, it worked in her favor. By taking a cautious approach at the start, she managed to avoid the carnage and soon found herself as the highest-placed female driver.
In a thrilling showdown, she battled Caroline Candas in a drag race to the finish line, ultimately securing 16th place and claiming the Top Finishing Female award, along with the prize money for the Sunday race.
Sally McNulty
Sally McNulty made the jump from TCR cars to the Mazda MX-5 Cup, making her series debut at Daytona with Spark Performance.
The American qualified 28th for her first-ever race in the series and followed the field to the green flag. She faced a learning curve, battling in the early stages before settling in her rhythm. She ultimately finished 35th, gaining valuable experience along the way.
In Race 2, Sally was one of the few drivers who made it through the lap 1 carnage without major trouble. Despite falling back over the race distance, she secured her first Top 20 finish, crossing the line in 19th place.
Maite Cáceres
Uruguayan racer Maite Cáceres made the switch from formula cars to the Mazda MX-5 Cup, joining RAFA Racing for a full season in the series.
Her debut was anything but ordinary, starting on a nearly dry track with wet tyres before raindrops eventually began to fall. Lining up P25, she battled her way through the race and finished in 26th position.
Race 2 was unfortunate for the young driver, as she was caught in the opening-lap accident and had to retire immediately.
"This debut has been a rollercoaster ride, but it makes me even more eager to improve and keep growing. Let's get more!"
The next race event will take place at St. Petersburg from February 28 to March 2, offering another shot for all the female drivers on the grid.
It's awesome to see such a competitive field, and especially inspiring to witness Heather and Ashlyn taking home the female awards. Seeing these women excel definitely motivates aspiring drivers. Speaking of leveling up skills, have you checked out Dribbleup reviews? Their smart trainers could be a game-changer for off-season training. Congratulations to all the drivers, and best of luck for the rest of the season!