Ortiz wins 2019 Battery Tender Global Mazda MX-5 Cup Championship

Stout wins race one, Rollan takes race two

His race weekend got off to a tumultuous start, but Bryan Ortiz did what he needed to do to capture the 2019 Battery Tender Global Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by BFGoodrich Tires Championship on Saturday. Selin Rollan won Race Two, but Ortiz came home third to clinch his first-ever Global Mazda MX-5 Cup title.

Starting from seventh after a shaky qualifying session with a new engine, Ortiz had a tremendous start, rocketing his No. 4 Copeland Motorsports MX-5 to third on the first lap. Ahead of him, Sick Sideways teammates Rollan and Drake Kemper battled for the lead, which gave Ortiz the opportunity to take the point. Rollan was not to be denied, however, and retook the lead the following lap.

The trio continued to trade spots following two full-course caution periods that slowed the early stages of the 40-minute race. Rollan (No. 87 Sick Sideways Racing) began to pull away with 10 minutes remaining in the race while Kemper and Ortiz traded paint behind him.

After mechanical issues ended his Race One early, Rollan took his fifth victory of the season by 1.0416 seconds over Kemper.