Martinsville MX-500 Returns for Its Second Edition in 2025

October 21 – 27, 2025 The Martinsville MX-500 is back for its second edition in 2025, bringing one of iRacing’s most entertaining and unconventional Special Events to the paperclip-shaped Martinsville Speedway. Drivers will strap into the Global Mazda MX-5 Cup car for an incredible 500-lap showdown around NASCAR’s smallest oval — a race of patience,…

October 21 – 27, 2025

The Martinsville MX-500 is back for its second edition in 2025, bringing one of iRacing’s most entertaining and unconventional Special Events to the paperclip-shaped Martinsville Speedway. Drivers will strap into the Global Mazda MX-5 Cup car for an incredible 500-lap showdown around NASCAR’s smallest oval — a race of patience, precision, and pure chaos.

Event Overview

Part of iRacing’s 2025 Special Event Calendar, the Martinsville MX-500 takes the spirit of the real-world IMSA MX-5 Cup and cranks it up to 11. Instead of the usual sprint format, racers will endure 500 laps of elbows-out short-track racing where traffic management and consistency are everything.

Track: Martinsville Speedway
Car: Global Mazda MX-5 Cup
License Requirement: D 4.0 (Oval)
Team Event: No – Solo Drivers Only
Splits By: iRating
Field Size: 40 Cars

Maxda MX-5 Cup cars at Martinsville Speedway.

Schedule

Event Window: October 24 – 26 (Weekend Sessions in Five Timeslots)

TimeslotGMTEastern Time (EDT)
#1Friday 22:00 GMTFriday 6:00 PM ET
#2Saturday 7:00 GMTSaturday 3:00 AM ET
#3Saturday 12:00 GMTSaturday 8:00 AM ET
#4Saturday 16:00 GMTSaturday 12:00 PM ET
#5Sunday 00:00 GMTSaturday 8:00 PM ET

Session Details

  • Session Start Time (in-sim): October 26, 2025 at 7:00 PM local time
  • Warmup: 3 minutes
  • Qualifying: Solo session – 5 minutes for 2 laps (using attached fixed setup)
  • Race: 500 laps
  • Weather: Dynamic conditions enabled
  • Stop-and-Go Limit: 50 incident points (initial) + additional penalties every 20 thereafter
  • Disqualification Limit: None

The Car: Global Mazda MX-5 Cup

The MX-5 Cup is lightweight, balanced, and endlessly competitive — perfect for tight-quarters racing. With fixed setups for this event, every driver will have the same tools, making it a pure test of racecraft, consistency, and strategy. Expect door-to-door battles and frequent contact as drivers squeeze for every inch of asphalt.

Maxda MX-5 Cup cars at Martinsville Speedway.

The Martinsville MX-500 perfectly captures what iRacing Special Events are all about — accessible cars, famous tracks, and chaotic fun. Whether you’re chasing your first big event win or just surviving 500 laps without a meatball flag, this race promises high drama from green flag to checkered flag.

🗓️ Event Summary

  • Event Name: Martinsville MX-500 (2025 Edition)
  • Track: Martinsville Speedway
  • Car: Global Mazda MX-5 Cup
  • Laps: 500
  • Date: October 24–26, 2025
  • License: D 4.0 (Oval)
  • Setup: Fixed
  • Splits By: iRating
  • Weather: Dynamic
  • Team Event: No
  • Field Size: 40 Drivers

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