EDGEEWATER, FL — October 5, 2026 — After years of coming within reach of one of the most competitive championships in sports car racing, BSI Racing is officially a Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by Michelin Drivers’ Champion.
Bobby Gossett secured the 2026 Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup Championship Friday at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, delivering a milestone achievement for both Gossett and BSI Racing.
The championship came down to the final race of the season, but Gossett put himself in control one day earlier with one of the defining performances of his season. Starting 22nd in Race 1, Gossett charged through the field to take the victory, extending his championship advantage heading into Friday's finale.
With the title on the line in Race 2, Gossett balanced the aggressive, door-to-door racing that defines MX-5 Cup with the bigger objective at hand. He brought the No. 44 Salty Dog, BSI Racing Mazda MX-5 Cup car home ninth and emerged from the final checkered flag as the 2026 series champion.
For Gossett, the title represents the culmination of a season built on consistency, confidence and a willingness to fight when it mattered most.
“It still doesn’t feel completely real,” said Gossett. “MX-5 Cup is one of the hardest championships to win because every race is so close and there are so many things that can happen that are outside of your control. This year I really learned to trust myself, trust the car and trust the people around me. BSI gave me everything I needed to go fight for this championship.”
“To win it with this group means a lot. To be the driver who brings BSI its first MX-5 Cup Drivers’ Championship is something I’m incredibly proud of.”
The championship carries added significance for BSI Racing.
Since Shea Holbrook and Nick Chorley took ownership of the organization in 2021, BSI has repeatedly been in contention for the MX-5 Cup Drivers’ Championship. The team developed and raced with some of the brightest young drivers in North American motorsports, including Connor Zilisch and Tyler Gonzalez, coming painfully close to the ultimate prize along the way.
Those near-misses only made Friday's championship moment more meaningful.
“This one is special,” said BSI Racing owner Shea Holbrook. “For six years, we have been championship contenders. We’ve had incredible drivers, incredible race wins and seasons where the championship was right there in front of us. We came so close with Connor Zilisch. We came so close with Tyler Gonzalez. There have been years where it felt like it just slipped through our fingers. So when Bobby crossed that finish line and we knew it was finally ours, there were a lot of emotions.”
“This championship belongs to Bobby, but it also belongs to every person who has worn a BSI shirt and helped build this program. Every mechanic, engineer, coach, driver, partner and family member who has believed in what we are building played a role in getting us here.”
“Bobby represents exactly what we mean when we say ‘BSI Built.’ It isn't just about making a driver faster. It's about development, perseverance, confidence and learning how to win championships. Watching Bobby grow into the driver who delivered this title is something Nick and I will never forget.”
Gossett’s championship season was defined by four victories across four distinctly different racetracks, demonstrating the consistency and versatility that ultimately carried him to the title.
His first win of the season came on the streets of St. Petersburg, where he mastered challenging wet conditions to earn his first career Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup victory. He followed it with a win at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, before delivering one of the drives of the season at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, charging from 16th on the grid to victory.
Then, with the championship on the line at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, Gossett delivered when it mattered most. Starting 22nd in the penultimate race of the season, he stormed through the field to take his fourth victory of 2026, giving himself the points cushion he needed heading into the final race.
One day later, Gossett finished ninth in the season finale and officially became the 2026 Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by Michelin Champion.
Four wins. Four very different racetracks. One championship.
The championship also adds another chapter to BSI Racing's long-standing relationship with Mazda and its commitment to driver development. BSI has helped drivers use MX-5 Cup as a proving ground before advancing into higher levels of professional motorsports, making the team's first Drivers’ Championship particularly significant.
“We have always wanted BSI to be a place where young drivers come to learn how to become professionals,” Holbrook added. “Winning races is part of that, but ultimately we want to prepare them for what comes next. This championship validates the process, the people and the culture we've worked so hard to build.”
Gossett officially closes the 2026 season atop the standings with 2,990 points, 100 ahead of championship runner-up Justin Adakonis.
After years of knocking on the door, BSI Racing can finally add the Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup Drivers’ Championship to its resume.
Bobby Gossett — 2026 Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup Champion.
Built to Win. #BSIBuilt
ABOUT BSI RACING
Founded in 1987, BSI Racing has built a reputation for race-winning preparation, driver development and championship-level competition. Under the ownership of Shea Holbrook and Nick Chorley, BSI competes across multiple professional motorsports platforms while continuing to develop the next generation of racing talent.
Built around the core values of Integrity, Performance and Excellence, BSI Racing's mission extends beyond winning races — developing drivers, people and partnerships capable of succeeding at the highest levels of motorsports.
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