{"id":6589,"date":"2023-10-05T16:54:24","date_gmt":"2023-10-05T20:54:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sundaymanagement.com\/?p=6589"},"modified":"2023-10-06T16:56:45","modified_gmt":"2023-10-06T20:56:45","slug":"nominees-named-for-2023-mazda-mx-5-cup-shootout","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sundaymanagement.com\/index.php\/2023\/10\/05\/nominees-named-for-2023-mazda-mx-5-cup-shootout\/","title":{"rendered":"Nominees Named for 2023 Mazda MX-5 Cup Shootout"},"content":{"rendered":"

(October 5, 2023) <\/strong>– 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.<\/p>\n

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\u2019t won a national championship, but have shown exceptional racing talent, not necessarily in a Mazda-powered car, or even in sports cars.<\/p>\n

Success in motorsports requires a driver who delivers both in and out of the cockpit, so Mazda\u2019s 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\u2019s plan to create a long-lasting racing career, including how they would attract additional funding.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s encouraging to see the pool of talented Mazda racers grow year-after year,\u201d Mazda Motorsports Senior Manager Jonathan Applegate said. \u201cThe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nominees have a week to submit their applications to Mazda Motorsports.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Last year\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

2023 Mazda MX-5 Cup Shootout Nominees\u00a0 <\/strong><\/p>\n

At-large nominees:<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n