Thrilling Finish at Sebring: Workman Triumphs in Mazda MX-5 Cup Photo Finish

Continuing its tradition of nail-biting finishes, the Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by Michelin delivered another thrilling conclusion at Sebring International Raceway on Friday. In a heart-pounding photo finish, series newcomer and Mazda Shootout Scholarship recipient Westin Workman (No. 13 BSI Racing) edged out Connor Zilisch (No. 72 BSI Racing) by a mere 0.004 seconds at the timing stripe.

Workman commenced the 45-minute race from the outside of the front row but faced a challenging start, slipping out of the top five. However, he mounted a determined comeback, reclaiming a podium position before the initial full-course caution.

Early in the race, Gresham Wagner (No. 5 McCumbee McAleer Racing) and Thursday’s race victor Tyler Gonzalez (No. 57 Saito Motorsports Group) tangled, causing Wagner to drop to the rear of the field while Gonzalez persevered until a mechanical issue forced him to halt in Turn 15, prompting another caution period.

As racing resumed, Zilisch led the pack with Workman and Jared Thomas (No. 96 JTR Motorsports Engineering) in pursuit. Despite another caution, the race remained green until the finish, with Workman overtaking Zilisch in the closing minutes, setting the stage for a dramatic final lap.

Navigating the final turn, Workman defended his position against Zilisch on the inside, while Jeremy Fletcher (No. 22 McCumbee McAleer Racing) opted for the outside line. Contact between Zilisch and Workman ensued at the apex, but both drivers continued to the finish line in a drag race. Ultimately, Workman secured his maiden Mazda MX-5 Cup victory, edging out Zilisch by a razor-thin margin of 0.004 seconds, marking the third-closest finish in series history.

Reflecting on his triumph, Workman expressed gratitude for the opportunities afforded by Mazda Motorsports and BSI Racing, describing the win as redemption following previous setbacks.

Meanwhile, Zilisch, though disappointed with another runner-up finish, acknowledged the solid weekend performance, highlighting the camaraderie within BSI Racing.

In third place, Fletcher bounced back from a previous race’s disappointment, expressing satisfaction with the podium result and crediting his team for their support.

Rounding out the top finishers were defending MX-5 Cup champion Jared Thomas and his teammate Aaron Jeansonne, sealing a strong showing for JTR Motorsports Engineering.

With a two-month hiatus ahead, the MX-5 Cup field prepares for the next challenge at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, California, on May 10-12, with live streaming available on IMSA.tv.

Photo Source: Mazda Newsroom