# 2022 Mazda MX-5 Cup

The 2022 Idemitsu Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by BF Goodrich was a single-make motor racing championship, the 18th season of the Mazda MX-5 Cup and the 2nd under a new sanctioning agreement with the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA). The series began on January 27 at Daytona International Speedway, and concluded on October 1 at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta after 14 rounds. Jared Thomas won the driver's championship by a narrow margin of 10 points over Connor Zilisch, who was awarded Rookie of the Year. Hixon Motor Sports earned the entrant's championship.

## Schedule

The schedule was announced on August 6, 2021, featuring 14 rounds across seven double-header weekends. All races are 45 minutes in length.
| Rnd. | Circuit | Location | Dates | Supporting |
| 1 | Daytona International Speedway (Road Course) | Daytona Beach, Florida | January 27–30 | IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship |
| 2 | Daytona International Speedway (Road Course) | Daytona Beach, Florida | January 27–30 | IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship |
| 3 | Streets of St. Petersburg | St. Petersburg, Florida | February 25–27 | NTT Data IndyCar Series |
| 4 | Streets of St. Petersburg | St. Petersburg, Florida | February 25–27 | NTT Data IndyCar Series |
| 5 | Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course | Lexington, Ohio | May 13–15 | IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship |
| 6 | Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course | Lexington, Ohio | May 13–15 | IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship |
| 7 | Watkins Glen International | Watkins Glen, New York | June 23–26 | IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship |
| 8 | Watkins Glen International | Watkins Glen, New York | June 23–26 | IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship |
| 9 | Road America | Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin | July 1–3 | NASCAR Cup Series |
| 10 | Road America | Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin | July 1–3 | NASCAR Cup Series |
| 11 | Virginia International Raceway | Alton, Virginia | August 26–28 | IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship |
| 12 | Virginia International Raceway | Alton, Virginia | August 26–28 | IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship |
| 13 | Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta | Braselton, Georgia | September 28–October 1 | IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship |
| 14 | Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta | Braselton, Georgia | September 28–October 1 | IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship |
| Source: |||||

## Entry list

All competitors utilize the Mazda MX-5 Cup car, modified to their homologated racing specification by Flis Performance.
| Team | No. | Driver | Driver | Rounds |
| Carter Racing Enterprises | 08 | Michael Carter | | 1–5 |
| Copeland Motorsports | 2 | Maximilian Opalski | R | 1–4, 6–7 |
| Copeland Motorsports | 7 | Matt Curry | R | 1, 3 |
| Copeland Motorsports | 31 | Jameson Riley | R | All |
| Copeland Motorsports | 51 | Tyler Gonzalez | | 1–4, 6–7 |
| Copeland Motorsports | 51 | Maximilian Opalski | R | 5 |
| Spark Performance | 5 | Gresham Wagner | | All |
| Spark Performance | 24 | Aaron Jeansonne | | All |
| Spark Performance | 33 | Alex Bachoura | | All |
| Spark Performance | 48 | Rossi Lee | | 2–3, 6 |
| Hixon Motor Sports | 10 | Thomas Annunziata | R | 6 |
| Hixon Motor Sports | 21 | Bruno Carneiro | R | 1–6 |
| Hixon Motor Sports | 27 | Dante Tornello | R | 1–5 |
| Hixon Motor Sports | 65 | Bryce Cornet | R | 1–6 |
| Hixon Motor Sports | 72 | Connor Zilisch | R | All |
| Hixon Motor Sports | 80 | Ethan Tyler | R | 3–6 |
| Hixon Motor Sports | 85 | Bruno Smielevski | R | 6–7 |
| Hixon Motor Sports | 87 | Selin Rollan | | All |
| McCumbee McAleer Racing | 13 | Jenson Altzman | | All |
| McCumbee McAleer Racing | 15 | Aidan Fassnacht | R | All |
| McCumbee McAleer Racing | 28 | Sam Paley | | All |
| McCumbee McAleer Racing | 39 | John Jodoin | R | All |
| McCumbee McAleer Racing | 48 | Rossi Lee | | 1 |
| McCumbee McAleer Racing | 53 | Mark Kvamme | | 7 |
| McCumbee McAleer Racing | 55 | Moisey Uretsky | | 1–5 |
| McCumbee McAleer Racing | 76 | Matthew Dirks | | All |
| McCumbee McAleer Racing | 89 | Justin Piscitell | | All |
| Thunder Bunny Racing | 22 | Laura Hayes | R | All |
| Thunder Bunny Racing | 75 | Parker Kligerman | R | 5 |
| JTR Motorsports Engineering | 23 | Glenn McGee | | All |
| JTR Motorsports Engineering | 69 | Anthony McIntosh | R | 1–5, 7 |
| JTR Motorsports Engineering | 81 | James Hayosh | R | 4–5 |
| JTR Motorsports Engineering | 82 | Woody Heimann | | All |
| JTR Motorsports Engineering | 88 | Sean Varwig | R | 1–2 |
| JTR Motorsports Engineering | 88 | Cameron Lawrence | | 7 |
| JTR Motorsports Engineering | 96 | Jared Thomas | | All |
| Formidable Racing | 32 | Chris Nunes | | 1–6 |
| Formidable Racing | 43 | Joey Atanasio | R | All |
| Formidable Racing | 44 | Mickey Thomas | R | 2 |
| Slipstream Performance | 36 | David Staab | | All |
| Slipstream Performance | 37 | Michael Staab | R | 1–3, 5–7 |
| Sources: |||||
R = Eligible for Rookie's Championship

## Race Results

Bold indicates overall winner.
| Round | Round | Circuit | Pole Position | Fastest Lap | Winning Driver |
| 1 | R1 | Daytona | #28 McCumbee McAleer Racing | #96 JTR Motorsports Engineering | #51 Copeland Motorsports |
| 1 | R1 | Daytona | Sam Paley | Jared Thomas | Tyler Gonzalez |
| 1 | R2 | Daytona | #72 Hixon Motor Sports | #5 Spark Performance | #96 JTR Motorsports Engineering |
| 1 | R2 | Daytona | Connor Zilisch | Gresham Wagner | Jared Thomas |
| 2 | R1 | St. Petersburg | #23 JTR Motorsports Engineering | #89 McCumbee McAleer Racing | #96 JTR Motorsports Engineering |
| 2 | R1 | St. Petersburg | Glenn McGee | Justin Piscitell | Jared Thomas |
| 2 | R2 | St. Petersburg | #23 JTR Motorsports Engineering | #89 McCumbee McAleer Racing | #87 Hixon Motor Sports |
| 2 | R2 | St. Petersburg | Glenn McGee | Justin Piscitell | Selin Rollan |
| 3 | R1 | Mid-Ohio | #76 McCumbee McAleer Racing | #28 McCumbee McAleer Racing | #5 Spark Performance |
| 3 | R1 | Mid-Ohio | Matthew Dirks | Sam Paley | Gresham Wagner |
| 3 | R2 | Mid-Ohio | #76 McCumbee McAleer Racing | #08 Carter Racing Enterprises | #96 JTR Motorsports Engineering |
| 3 | R2 | Mid-Ohio | Matthew Dirks | Michael Carter | Jared Thomas |
| 4 | R1 | Watkins Glen | #72 Hixon Motor Sports | #21 Hixon Motor Sports | #51 Copeland Motorsports |
| 4 | R1 | Watkins Glen | Connor Zilisch | Bruno Carneiro | Tyler Gonzalez |
| 4 | R2 | Watkins Glen | #24 Spark Performance | #76 McCumbee McAleer Racing | #15 McCumbee McAleer Racing |
| 4 | R2 | Watkins Glen | Aaron Jeansonne | Matthew Dirks | Aidan Fassnacht |
| 5 | R1 | Road America | #72 Hixon Motor Sports | #5 Spark Performance | #72 Hixon Motor Sports |
| 5 | R1 | Road America | Connor Zilisch | Gresham Wagner | Connor Zilisch |
| 5 | R2 | Road America | #72 Hixon Motor Sports | #5 Spark Performance | #72 Hixon Motor Sports |
| 5 | R2 | Road America | Connor Zilisch | Gresham Wagner | Connor Zilisch |
| 6 | R1 | Virginia | #15 McCumbee McAleer Racing | #51 Copeland Motorsports | #51 Copeland Motorsports |
| 6 | R1 | Virginia | Aidan Fassnacht | Tyler Gonzalez | Tyler Gonzalez |
| 6 | R2 | Virginia | #15 McCumbee McAleer Racing | #96 JTR Motorsports Engineering | #72 Hixon Motor Sports |
| 6 | R2 | Virginia | Aidan Fassnacht | Jared Thomas | Connor Zilisch |
| 7 | R1 | Road Atlanta | #28 McCumbee McAleer Racing | #76 McCumbee McAleer Racing | #72 Hixon Motor Sports |
| 7 | R1 | Road Atlanta | Sam Paley | Matthew Dirks | Connor Zilisch |
| 7 | R2 | Road Atlanta | #72 Hixon Motor Sports | #39 McCumbee McAleer Racing | #51 Copeland Motorsports |
| 7 | R2 | Road Atlanta | Connor Zilisch | John Jodoin | Tyler Gonzalez |

## Championship Standings
### Points System

Championship points are awarded at the finish of each event according to the chart below.
| Position | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30+ |
| Points | 350 | 320 | 300 | 280 | 260 | 250 | 240 | 230 | 220 | 210 | 200 | 190 | 180 | 170 | 160 | 150 | 140 | 130 | 120 | 110 | 100 | 90 | 80 | 70 | 60 | 50 | 40 | 30 | 20 | 10 |
For each race, bonus points are awarded for the following:
| Award | Points |
| Pole Position | 10 |
| Most Race Laps Led | 10 |
| Fastest Race Lap | 10 |
* The ten (10) additional points for achieving pole position are not awarded if the starting grid is determined by “Other Means”.
* In the case of a tie for the most laps led, the competitor that finishes the highest in the running order is declared the winner.
* In the case of a tie for the fastest Race lap, the competitor that first achieves the fastest Race lap is declared the winner.

### Driver's Championship

IMSA recognizes driver champions based on the total number of championship points earned during the season.
| Pos. | Driver | DAY | DAY | STP | STP | MOH$^‡$ | MOH$^‡$ | WGL | WGL | ELK | ELK | VIR | VIR | ATL | ATL | Bonus | Points |
| 1 | Jared Thomas | 5 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 26 | 2 | 17 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 50 | 3610 |
| 2 | Connor Zilisch | 4 | 7 | 17 | 2 | 17 | 17 | 22 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 90 | 3600 |
| 3 | Gresham Wagner | 21 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 5 | 8 | 13 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 23 | 2 | 50 | 3465 |
| 4 | Selin Rollan | 3 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 28 | 11 | 4 | 20 | 19 | 6 | 2 | 7 | 30 | 3225 |
| 5 | Sam Paley | 9 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 9 | 8 | 25 | 8 | 29 | 13 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 30 | 3010 |
| 6 | Justin Piscitell | 16 | 16 | 7 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 7 | 24 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 22 | 5 | 20 | 2910 |
| 7 | Joey Atanasio | 12 | 3 | 4 | 14 | 12 | 4 | 2 | 9 | 12 | 19 | 26 | 26 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 2815 |
| 8 | Matthew Dirks | 26 | 27 | 19 | 9 | 3 | 16 | 24 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 16 | 35 | 2565 |
| 9 | Jenson Altzman | 19 | 30 | 11 | 17 | 19 | 9 | 6 | 21 | 10 | 9 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 0 | 2400 |
| 10 | Aaron Jeansonne | 10 | 17 | 12 | 8 | 16 | 14 | 4 | 23 | 6 | 6 | 20 | 20 | 11 | 22 | 10 | 2395 |
| 11 | Tyler Gonzalez | 1 | 20 | 28 | 10 | 26 | 7 | 1 | 28 | | | 1 | 24 | 3 | 1 | 10 | 2390 |
| 12 | Glenn McGee | 15 | 15 | 8 | 20 | 15 | 15 | 23 | 12 | 13 | 7 | 9 | 15 | 23 | 21 | 20 | 2160 |
| 13 | Bruno Carneiro | 6 | 11 | 9 | 13 | 11 | 12 | 9 | 2 | 5 | 21 | 27 | DNS | | | 10 | 2110 |
| 14 | Chris Nunes | 2 | 4 | 5 | 19 | 23 | 13 | 10 | 19 | 9 | 8 | 25 | 25 | | | 0 | 2100 |
| 15 | Alex Bachoura | 24 | 14 | 21 | 16 | 19 | 20 | 12 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 10 | 13 | 8 | 19 | 0 | 2060 |
| 16 | David Staab | 11 | 12 | 20 | 12 | 20 | 23 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 12 | 16 | 18 | 15 | 13 | 0 | 2015 |
| 17 | Aidan Fassnacht | 17 | 23 | 25 | 25 | 12 | 11 | 3 | 1 | 23 | 27 | 7 | 22 | 19 | 23 | 20 | 1945 |
| 18 | Laura Hayes | 20 | 24 | 22 | 15 | 25 | 25 | 18 | 17 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 11 | 17 | 15 | 0 | 1870 |
| 19 | John Jodoin | 18 | 26 | 24 | 18 | 13 | 18 | 16 | 15 | 28 | 10 | 28 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 1860 |
| 20 | Maximilian Opalski | 8 | 25 | DNS | DNS | 14 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 24 | DNS | 8 | 17 | 18 | 9 | 0 | 1705 |
| 21 | Jameson Riley | 23 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 24 | 29 | 14 | 10 | 19 | 23 | 15 | 14 | DNS | DNS | 0 | 1675 |
| 22 | Woody Heimann | 30 | 8 | 18 | 27 | 22 | 24 | 21 | 16 | 14 | 17 | 22 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 0 | 1605 |
| 23 | Michael Carter | 7 | 29 | 13 | 5 | 4 | 19 | 15 | 27 | 2 | 22 | | | | | 10 | 1580 |
| 24 | Bryce Cornet | 13 | 10 | 26 | 26 | 8 | 6 | 11 | 4 | 30 | 24 | 23 | DNS | | | 0 | 1485 |
| 25 | Anthony McIntosh | 22 | 28 | 29 | 21 | 18 | 21 | 29 | 29 | 15 | 26 | | | 14 | 14 | 0 | 985 |
| 26 | Michael Staab | 28 | 18 | 23 | 28 | 28 | 28 | | | 28 | DNS | 24 | 23 | 21 | 20 | 0 | 820 |
| 27 | Bruno Smielevski | | | | | | | | | | | 14 | 8 | 13 | 18 | 0 | 710 |
| 28 | Dante Tornello | 27 | 21 | 30 | 25 | | | 17 | 22 | 22 | 14 | | | | | 0 | 700 |
| 29 | Ethan Tyler | | | | | 27 | 27 | 27 | 25 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 21 | | | 0 | 665 |
| 30 | Sean Varwig | 14 | 13 | 15 | 24 | | | | | | | | | | | 0 | 580 |
| 31 | Moisey Uretsky | 29 | 19 | 16 | DNS | 29 | 22 | 26 | 26 | 27 | DNS | | | | | 0 | 535 |
| 32 | Rossi Lee | DNS | DNS | 14 | DNS | 21 | 26 | | | | | 21 | 19 | | | 0 | 490 |
| 33 | James Hayosh | | | | | | | 20 | 20 | 21 | 16 | | | | | 0 | 470 |
| 34 | Cameron Lawrence | | | | | | | | | | | | | 9 | 10 | 0 | 430 |
| 35 | Thomas Annunziata | | | | | | | | | | | 11 | 9 | | | 0 | 420 |
| 36 | Matt Curry | 25 | 20 | | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 | 170 |
| 37 | Parker Kligerman | | | | | | | | | 20 | 25 | | | | | 0 | 170 |
| 38 | Mickey Thomas | | | 27 | 23 | | | | | | | | | | | 0 | 120 |
| 39 | Mark Kvamme | | | | | | | | | | | | | 20 | DNS | 0 | 110 |
| Pos. | Driver | DAY | DAY | STP | STP | MOH$^‡$ | MOH$^‡$ | WGL | WGL | ELK | ELK | VIR | VIR | ATL | ATL | Bonus | Points |
| Colour | Result |
| Gold | Winner |
| Silver | Second place |
| Bronze | Third place |
| Green | Points finish |
| Blue | Non-points finish |
| Blue | Non-classified finish (NC) |
| Purple | Retired (Ret) |
| Red | Did not qualify (DNQ) |
| Red | Did not pre-qualify (DNPQ) |
| Black | Disqualified (DSQ) |
| White | Did not start (DNS) |
| White | Withdrew (WD) |
| White | Race cancelled (C) |
| Blank | Did not practice (DNP) |
| Blank | Did not arrive (DNA) |
| Blank | Excluded (EX) |
‡: Race 1 at Mid-Ohio shortened due to weather, half points awarded except for pole position bonus points.

### Entrant's Championship

Each entrant receives championship points for its highest car finishing position in each race. The positions of subsequent finishing cars from the same entrant are not considered in the results and all other cars are elevated in the finishing positions accordingly.
| Pos. | Driver | DAY | DAY | STP | STP | MOH$^‡$ | MOH$^‡$ | WGL | WGL | ELK | ELK | VIR | VIR | ATL | ATL | Bonus | Points |
| 1 | Hixon Motor Sports | 3 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 9 | 2 | 29 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 130 | 4340 |
| 2 | McCumbee McAleer Racing | 9 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 125 | 4085 |
| 3 | JTR Motorsports Engineering | 5 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 13 | 2 | 9 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 70 | 4300 |
| 4 | Spark Performance | 10 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 13 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 2 | 60 | 3935 |
| 5 | Copeland Motorsports | 1 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 14 | 7 | 1 | 10 | 19 | 23 | 1 | 14 | 3 | 1 | 10 | 3800 |
| 6 | Formidable Racing | 2 | 3 | 4 | 14 | 12 | 4 | 2 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 25 | 25 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 3675 |
| 7 | Slipstream Performance | 11 | 12 | 20 | 12 | 20 | 23 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 12 | 16 | 18 | 15 | 13 | 0 | 3165 |
| 8 | Thunder Bunny Racing | 20 | 24 | 22 | 15 | 25 | 25 | 18 | 17 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 11 | 17 | 15 | 0 | 3160 |
| 9 | Carter Racing Enterprises | 7 | 29 | 13 | 5 | 4 | 19 | 15 | 27 | 2 | 22 | | | | | 10 | 2420 |
| Pos. | Driver | DAY | DAY | STP | STP | MOH$^‡$ | MOH$^‡$ | WGL | WGL | ELK | ELK | VIR | VIR | ATL | ATL | Bonus | Points |
‡: Race 1 at Mid-Ohio shortened due to weather, half points awarded except for pole position bonus points.