MARTINSVILLE, Va. — The Mazda MX-5 Cup, an IMSA sanctioned sports car racing series, will test at Martinsville Speedway in exploration of future racing opportunities at the half-mile track known for NASCAR-style stock car racing.
The test is scheduled for Aug. 21 featuring regular drivers from the Mazda MX-5 Cup Series and Martinsville Speedway President Clay Campbell, an accomplished late model stock car racer, making laps of the historic facility.
Mazda MX-5 Cup cars feature roll cages but no roofs. They are in some ways similar to the NASCAR Convertible Series which ran from 1956-’59.
Bob Welborn earned the championship the first three years and Joe Lee Johnson winning the title in the final season. Jimmy Massey (1956), Bill Amick (1957), NASCAR Hall of Famer Fireball Roberts (1958) and Tom Pistone (1959) won the four Convertible Series races contested at Martinsville.