January 12, 2026 – Continuing their driver confirmations, JTR Motorsports is pleased to announce that John Salerno will step into the Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup Presented by BFGoodrich championship for the 2026 season. Piloting the #34 JTR Motorsports entry, Salerno makes the move from the highly competitive Spec Miata ranks to the national stage.
Salerno began his racing career in 2023, competing in Spec Miata with MBM Performance based out of Southern New Hampshire. Salerno quickly built a strong foundation in close-quarters, momentum-based racing—skills that translate directly to the Mazda MX-5 Cup platform.
“John brings a very unique and impressive background to our program,” commented Dave Thomas, Team Manager of JTR Motorsports. “His experience in Spec Miata, combined with his leadership, discipline, and high-performance boating background, tells us a lot about how he approaches competition. We’re excited to welcome him to JTR Motorsports and look forward to helping him make a strong transition into the Mazda MX-5 Cup series.”
For Salerno, the move to the MX-5 Cup represents the next major step in his racing career. “Making the jump to a national series like the Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup for 2026 is incredibly exciting,” added Salerno. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to work with JTR Motorsports and learn from such an experienced team. The level of competition in this series is extremely high, and I’m looking forward to pushing myself, continuing to develop as a driver, and competing at new tracks across the country.”
Beyond the racetrack, Salerno brings an extensive background in high-performance boating. He has logged over 1,500 hours operating various mono-hull offshore powerboats and served as Captain of the National Powerboat Association’s NYC Poker Run Pace Boat in both 2022 and 2023.
Holding a U.S. Coast Guard Limited Master’s License, Salerno has successfully turned his passion for performance boating into a business, further demonstrating his professionalism and leadership both on and off the water.
Academically, Salerno earned a Bachelor of Science from Lynn University in South Florida, where he founded the Lynn Automobile Club.
With Salerno behind the wheel of the #34 entry, JTR Motorsports continues to expand its MX-5 Cup program as preparations ramp up for the 2026 season.
The 2026 Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup season will officially begin with the first two wheel-to-wheel races of the year at Daytona International Speedway, taking place January 21–23 during the famed Rolex 24 at Daytona weekend.
For more information on JTR Motorsports Engineering, please contact Dave Thomas via email at HERE or visit their website at www.JTRMotorsportsEngineering.com.