Perfect Timing Pays Off for Gonzalez in Mazda MX-5 Cup Victory at St. Petersburg
Gonzalez secured his second win of the 2025 Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup season with a strategic pass on the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida. Building upon his earlier victory at Daytona, Gonzalez demonstrated expert timing during the race's crucial moments.
Two race cars battle on track
Early in the race, Gonzalez formed a leading trio with Westin Workman and Jeremy Fletcher, building a six-second gap over the field. However, a full-course yellow flag, caused by Farhan Siddiqi's disabled car in Turn 10, eliminated their advantage.
Anticipating the yellow flag, Gonzalez executed a well-timed pass before the caution period, positioning himself favorably for the restart. Nathan Nicholson capitalized on the restart, briefly taking the lead through Turn 1, but Gonzalez regained control in the final turns to secure the victory.
Notable performances included:
- Nathan Nicholson: Finished second, securing his second podium of the weekend
- Jared Thomas: Claimed third place, extending his points lead
- Sally Mott: Won the Penske Shocking Performance Award, advancing from 30th to 10th
- Chris Haldeman: Earned the Takumi Award for drivers over 50
The next Mazda MX-5 Cup race will take place at Barber Motorsports Park from May 2-4. Race replays are available on The RACER Channel on YouTube.
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