Showing lightning speed and continually improving his racing skills, Jeremy Fletcher (No. 22 McCumbee McAleer Racing) has been on the verge of winning the Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by Michelin race all season. After one corner of Saturday’s race at VIRginia International Raceway, it looked like he would have to wait a little longer, but a stunning comeback finally put Fletcher on the top step of the podium for the first time ever. He was joined by young rookie Westin Workman (No. 13 BSI Racing) and 2021 series champion Gresham Wagner (No. 5 McCumbee McAleer Racing).

Fletcher started second and was on the outside of Turn 1. He lost a wheel and that was enough for physics to pull him off the track and through the grass. He came to a stop just before the tyre wall and was able to continue, albeit at the back of the field.

“It was driver error,” said Fletcher. “I apologize to the team for causing them stress. I knew I had to get my head down and go for it. I knew the guys at McCumbee McAleer had given me a great race car.”

Luckily for him, a full course caution was issued just moments later when three cars became entangled in turn 10. At the restart, Fletcher was able to gain six positions in one lap and thus start his comeback. By lap six, he was in the top 10.

The first ten cars were bumper to bumper and Fletcher had to use all his strength to make his way through the field, especially since there was no further full-course caution for the remainder of the 45-minute race.

In a series where slipstreaming is a crucial factor and the decisive pass often comes on the final lap, Fletcher made the surprising decision to execute a three-way pass at Turn 1 with more than six minutes left on the clock to take the lead.

“To be honest, I haven’t really led much this year,” Fletcher explained. “So I was really excited to get out there. I just wanted to stay consistent and was pretty confident that I could do it from the front.”

And he was right. Despite intense pressure from two-time series champion Jared Thomas (No. 96 JTR Motorsports Engineering) over the final four laps, Fletcher stayed in the lead and finally took his first MX-5 Cup win.

“You just have to get them on your bumper and make it happen,” Fletcher said. “The machine from Home Restoration Store, Home Decor and More, McCumbee McAleer did it today and I’m so thankful to everyone.”

Workman finished second by 0.070 seconds and also had a lot of work to do to get on the podium. The rookie started seventh but managed a skillful restart after the full-course caution and was in second place by lap six.

“I think I just had a good run on all the straightaways and was able to gain some time on the cars in front of me throughout the lap,” Workman said. “I was able to move into second. I stayed in second for a while and pushed whoever was in front of me. It was a bit of a back and forth and I was always the second car in line pushing either Gresham or Jared. Then I eventually got into the lead and just managed to keep the gap behind me.”

It was hard work to keep managing the top eight bumper to bumper on the fast and technically demanding course.

“It’s a lot about trusting the drivers around you,” Workman said. “I’ve been racing with these guys all year, so I know their driving style and where they brake and stuff like that. I was second for so long just to get to know the drivers around me. During that time when I was second, I was able to find the braking point and brake there every lap to keep the gap in front of me.”

Wagner took the lead from pole position, but lost pace in the final stages of the race and even fell out of the top five with four laps to go.

“It’s difficult to push continuously because the temperatures are so high, so it’s an incentive to overtake every few laps and get some fresh air,” said Wagner. “At some point I just fell back and then tried to work my way back to the front. The car wasn’t 100 percent OK. In the first practice session I didn’t have the power I needed, so the setup was just a tad too far from what I wanted. I just tried to adjust myself so that I could always move forward in the last 10 minutes and take advantage of the race in front of me.”

Wagner left the final corner in fourth place, but prepared for a long drag race to the finish line.

“Fourth place is a difficult position because you are dependent on what is happening up front,” said Wagner. “But luckily a lane opened up and I was able to get Weston into second place and help my teammate to his first win. So all in all I’m pretty happy with it.”

Thomas was apparently on the wrong track at the finish and had no one to push him, so he crossed the finish line in fourth place.

Jonathan Neudorf (No. 55 BSI Racing) drove one of the best races of his MX-5 Cup career, securing his personal best with fifth place.

VIR points leader Aaron Jeansonne (No. 24 JTR Motorsports Engineering) finished seventh, just behind Nate Cicero (No. 83 McCumbee McAleer Racing), who began the weekend second in the points standings.

Round 12 of the Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by Michelin begins Sunday at 9:45 a.m. ET with live streaming on the RACER and IMSA YouTube channels.