Inside MX-5 Cup: Bobby Gossett’s winning destination

Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup Presented by Michelin fields are full of young, hungry drivers intent on being the next big thing by using the Mazda ladder and scholarship money to work their way into the professional ranks. Bobby Gossett isn’t one of them. Yes, he’s young – he just graduated from high school. He’s hungry to do well, too. But a career as a professional race driver isn’t on his radar.

Except…he didn’t expect to find himself leading the MX-5 Cup points after two weekends in his sophomore season, thanks largely to a stellar doubleheader on the streets of St. Petersburg (above).

“I think being quick in practice was definitely a confidence booster, which brought us into qualifying a lot more confident than normal, and a lot more prepared,” Gossett says of St. Pete, which featured a compressed schedule for the Mazda racers.


“I wasn’t as worried because, obviously, the one practice was a big thing for everybody, especially new drivers. But being that quick in practice gave me even more confidence than on a normal weekend with three or four practices. I knew they could get quick on a normal weekend, but at St. Pete I knew my pace would definitely push me to qualifying and then the race.

“Honestly, I was definitely nervous for it, but as soon as we got going, I realized my pace was there, and it was strong.”

Gossett converted that pace to a second row starting spot, then to his first MX-5 Cup victory (below). He followed it up with a third place in Race 2. Combined with a third-place finish in the first race at Daytona, Gossett led two-time champ Jared Thomas in the standings by 20 points heading into the break before Mid-Ohio.

“I definitely did not expect to be leading. That was the goal, obviously, to do well, but it was never to lead,” he says, adding that his goal going forward is to finish every race and finish in the season top five in points.

Gossett comes from a racing family and started on his local bullrings, dirt and asphalt, in the Carolinas. Then he tried road racing in a Legends car and discovered he had an affinity for it. Spec Miata came next, which naturally led him to MX-5 Cup.

In his rookie season he barely got a glimpse of the podium, but he’s come out swinging in 2026, and he’s brought another member of the family with him – his twin sister Ellie. Both race for BSI Racing, Bobby in the No. 44 MX-5, Ellie in the No. 77.

Ellie is still finding her feet in the series; like Bobby, she started on ovals in a Bandolero and raced Spec Miata as well. And while they haven’t been able to work together in a race yet, there have been opportunities for Bobby to give her a hand – or, more accurately, a tow – in practice and qualifying.

“She’s getting there,” he says. “She started a little bit after me, so her progression and speed in the MX-5 Cup isn’t quite there yet. But we’re going to see if she can do well in the points.”

For Bobby, the close racing in MX-5 Cup is the attraction, and the draft is an added bonus as another element of strategy. It’s why he sought it out as a home. And while he admits that he probably wouldn’t spurn a GT4 ride should one be on offer, it’s not the plan for someone who never really thought of pursuing racing until his father suggested it. In his mind, Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup is the right motorsports destination.

• All Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup Presented by Michelin races are streamed live on RACER.com and archived on The RACER Channel on YouTube. Next up, it’s double-header action from the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course on June 6 and 7. Check out the full 2026 MX-5 Cup schedule, plus find all the latest series news, at mx-5cup.com.