The Mazda MX-5 Cup roared back to life with Rounds 5 and 6 of the 2025 season at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama.
The picturesque 2.3-mile, 17-turn road course served a mix of weather challenges and racing drama as the championship approached its halfway mark.
The weekend tested JTR Motorsport Engineering rookie Bailey Cruse’s resilience and adaptability. The young Kiwi entered Barber after encouraging practice sessions, finishing 22nd in FP1 and improving to 14th in FP2 with a personal best of 1:37.719.
Although still a second off Jeremy Fletcher’s benchmark time of 1:36.639, Cruse showed steady progress ahead of a highly competitive Race 1.
Lining up 17th on the grid next to BSI Racing’s Christian Hodneland, Cruse faced tricky conditions as clouds rolled in and sections of the circuit were hit with rain.
The 45-minute, time-certain race got underway with a minor hiccup—Cruse was investigated for moving out of his column too early at the start. Despite climbing to 13th within the first 10 minutes and then into 12th, the penalty loomed.
Race control confirmed a drive-through penalty for the start infraction, dealing a heavy blow to Cruse’s chances of a Top 10 result. He emerged from the pit lane in 26th place, losing 14 positions.
From there, the remainder of the race was damage limitation. Cruse crossed the line in 24th overall, finishing 8th among the 13 rookies in the field.
Up front, it was BSI Racing’s Tyler Gonzalez who claimed the win, ahead of Saito Motorsport Group’s Nate Cicero and BSI teammate Westin Workman, who rounded out the podium.
Sunday’s Race 2 brought much more stable weather, with cool, dry conditions and a mix of cloud and sun. Cruse started 14th, sharing the seventh row with McCumbee McAleer Racing’s Ren Messinger. But an early drop to 19th was a sign of the difficulties to come.
With 26 minutes remaining, Cruse endured a high-speed off at the exit of Turn 13, slamming into the barriers after losing control. Fortunately, he was able to fire the No. 11 Mazda back up and limp it into the pit lane, just one corner away.
The JTR crew sprang into action, making rapid repairs that earned tech clearance within three minutes. Cruse rejoined the race three laps down, ultimately finishing 31st.
Despite the setback, Cruse showed flashes of pace. His best lap in Race 2 was only a second off Westin Workman’s fastest time, 1:37.543, offering a glimpse of the potential yet to be fully unlocked.
Once again, Gonzalez emerged victorious, going back-to-back with his second win of the weekend. Westin Workman matched that feat with another podium finish, while AAG Racing’s Noah Harmon completed the top three.
The Mazda MX-5 Cup will now take a short break before heading to the rolling hills of Ohio for Rounds 7 and 8 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, June 6–8.
With its tight layout and elevation changes, it’s another venue that promises action—and an opportunity for Cruse to bounce back.
Header Image: Bailey Cruse Racing Facebook
