Nate Cicero

Nate Cicero
Cicero after winning the 2025 Road America 120
NationalityUnited States American
Born (2004-11-23) November 23, 2004
Pound Ridge, New York, U.S.
Michelin Pilot Challenge career
Debut season2024
Current teamMcCumbee McAleer Racing
Categorisation FIA Silver
Car number13
Starts13
Wins1
Podiums4
Poles5
Fastest laps0
Best finish24th in 2025
Previous series
2023–2025Mazda MX-5 Cup

Nathaniel Cicero (born November 23, 2004) is an American racing driver. A Mazda MX-5 Cup graduate and Ford Racing junior, Cicero was the Michelin Pilot Challenge points leader for McCumbee McAleer Racing when he stepped back from racing in August 2026.

Career

Cicero began racing indoor karts at the age of ten,[1] before moving to outdoor karts two years later and competing until 2023 under Stevan McAleer's guidance.[2][3] During his time in karting, Cicero most notably won the SKUSA Winter Series in KA 100 Senior in 2020, before taking the ROK Vegas crown in the ROK Senior class the following year.[4][5]

In 2021, Cicero partook in the end-of-year Spec MX-5 Shootout, which he won alongside Westin Workman.[6] In 2022, Cicero raced in the Spec MX-5 Challenge Series, finishing 11th in points with a win to his name,[7] before winning the Mazda MX-5 Cup Shootout in November.[8] In 2023, Cicero moved up to the Mazda MX-5 Cup with McCumbee McAleer Racing,[9][10] winning at VIR to secure the rookie title and a sixth-place points finish.[11][12] In 2024, Cicero continued to race in the Mazda MX-5 Cup,[13] scoring wins at Daytona and Mosport,[14] as well as his first pole position at Road Atlanta to take fourth in points.[15] Cicero also raced with McCumbee McAleer in the IMSA Ford Mustang Challenge,[16] but pulled out of the series after two rounds following a rollover crash in race one at Watkins Glen caused by a stuck-open throttle.[17][18] Late in the year, Cicero made his Michelin Pilot Challenge debut with the team at Indianapolis,[19] qualifying third and finishing tenth alongside Jenson Altzman.[20]

Despite scoring a record seven pole positions, Cicero had his worst Mazda MX-5 Cup season in 2025, as he switched from Saito Motorsport Group back to McCumbee McAleer Racing mid-season, taking a podium for each team and finishing eighth in points.[21][22] In parallel, Cicero also raced on a part-time basis in GT4 America, most notably taking a pair of Silver podiums for Dome Motorsport at VIR.[23] Towards the end of the year, Cicero returned to the Michelin Pilot Challenge with MMR, qualifying on pole three times in a row and winning at Road America alongside Altzman.[24][25]

In 2026, Cicero graduated to Michelin Pilot Challenge full-time with McCumbee McAleer Racing,[26] sharing a Ford Mustang GT4 with Robert Noaker in the GS class, as a new addition to the Ford Racing Driver Development Team.[27] Starting off the season with poles at Daytona and Laguna Seca,[28][29] Cicero stood on the podium three times to take a 100-point lead in the championship after Road America.[30][31][32] Days later, on August 6, Cicero announced he was stepping back from racing "to focus on personal matters".[33] MMR and Ford severed ties with Cicero effective immediately.[34][35]

Karting record

Karting career summary

Season Series Team Position
2020 SKUSA Winter Series – KA 100 Senior
2021 ROK Vegas – ROK Senior 1st
SKUSA SuperNationals – X30 Senior 16th
2023 SKUSA Pro Tour – X30 Senior 24th
ROK Vegas – ROK Pro GP 20th
SKUSA SuperNationals – KA 100 Senior 8th
Sources:[36][37]

Racing record

Racing career summary

Season Series Team Races Wins Poles F/Laps Podiums Points Position
2022 Spec MX-5 Challenge Series 1 167 11th
Spec MX-5 Challenge Series – West 1 125 3rd
2023 Mazda MX-5 Cup McCumbee McAleer Racing 14 1 0 0 2 2990 6th
2024 Mazda MX-5 Cup McCumbee McAleer Racing 14 2 1 0 5 3670 4th
IMSA Ford Mustang Challenge – Dark Horse 3 0 0 0 0 410 29th
Michelin Pilot Challenge – GS McCumbee McAleer Racing with Aerosport 1 0 0 0 0 210 54th
2025 Mazda MX-5 Cup Saito Motorsport Group 6 0 3 1 1 2610 8th
McCumbee McAleer Racing 8 0 4 0 1
GT4 America Series – Pro-Am Fast Track Racing 3 0 0 0 0 14 11th
GT4 America Series – Silver Dome Motorsport 2 0 0 0 2 36 10th
Michelin Pilot Challenge – GS McCumbee McAleer Racing with Aerosport 5 1 3 0 1 1160 24th
2026 Michelin Pilot Challenge – GS McCumbee McAleer Racing 7 0 2 0 3 1810* 1st*
Sources:[36]

* Season still in progress.
† As Cicero was a guest driver, he was ineligible for points.

Complete Mazda MX-5 Cup results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position. Races in italics indicate fastest race lap in class. Results are overall/class)

Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Rank Points
2023 McCumbee McAleer Racing DAY
1
26		 DAY
2
8		 STP
1
9		 STP
2
19		 LGA
1
5		 LGA
2
4		 WGL
1
12		 WGL
2
19		 ELK
1
4		 ELK
2
6		 VIR
1
1		 VIR
2
3		 ATL
1
18		 ATL
2
10		 6th 2990
2024 McCumbee McAleer Racing DAY
1
28		 DAY
2
1		 SEB
1
4		 SEB
2
15		 LAG
1
3		 LAG
2
7		 MOH
1
4		 MOH
2
3		 MOS
1
4		 MOS
2
1		 VIR
1
6		 VIR
2
5		 ATL
1
5		 ATL
2
2		 4th 3760
2025 Saito Motorsport Group DAY
1
30		 DAY
2
7		 STP
1
22		 STP
2
5		 BAR
1
2		 BAR
2
12		 8th 2610
McCumbee McAleer Racing MOH
1
31		 MOH
2
4		 MOS
1
10		 MOS
2
3		 VIR
1
5		 VIR
2
26		 ATL
1
5		 ATL
2
28

Complete Michelin Pilot Challenge results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Entrant Class Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Rank Points
2024 McCumbee McAleer Racing with Aerosport Grand Sport Ford Mustang GT4 (2024) DAY
 SEB
 LGA
 MOH
 WGL
 MOS
 ELK
 VIR
 IMS
10		 ATL
 54th 210
2025 McCumbee McAleer Racing with Aerosport Grand Sport Ford Mustang GT4 (2024) DAY
 SEB
 LGA
 MOH
 WGL
 MOS
5		 ELK
1		 VIR
11		 IMS
7		 ATL
20		 24th 1160
2026 McCumbee McAleer Racing Grand Sport Ford Mustang GT4 (2024) DAY
6		 SEB
8		 LGA
3		 MOH
10		 WGL
2		 MOS
3		 ELK
11		 VIR
 IMS
 ATL
 1st* 1810*

References

  1. ↑ Tamayo, George (February 23, 2023). "Inside Mazda MX-5 Cup: Nate Cicero leaps from karts to Cup". racer.com. Retrieved August 10, 2026.
  2. ↑ Cole, David (July 27, 2023). "EKN Trackside: 2023 Superkarts! USA Pro Tour SummerNationals – Preview". ekartingnews.com. Retrieved August 10, 2026.
  3. ↑ Cole, David (November 3, 2023). "EKN Exclusive: Superkarts! USA SuperNationals 26 – Preview Series – KA100 Senior". ekartingnews.com. Retrieved August 10, 2026.
  4. ↑ Cole, David (August 14, 2020). "EKN Trackside: 2020 SKUSA Pro Tour Summer Festival – Round Four Report". ekartingnews.com. Retrieved August 10, 2026.
  5. ↑ Cole, David (November 21, 2021). "eKartingNews.com Driver of the Month: November 2021 – Nate Cicero". ekartingnews.com. Retrieved August 10, 2026.
  6. ↑ Parry, Tommy (December 7, 2021). "Two Kart Racers Move up to Teen Mazda Challenge as Part of Mazda's Club Racing Factory Team". nasaspeed.news. Retrieved August 10, 2026.
  7. ↑ Becker, Brett (August 31, 2022). "Clayton Ketcher Ends Regular Season in Dominating Form". nasaspeed.news. Retrieved August 10, 2026.
  8. ↑ "Cicero wins 2022 Mazda MX-5 Cup Shootout". racer.com. November 30, 2022. Retrieved August 10, 2026.
  9. ↑ "Cicero, Jodoin & Dirks Join McCumbee McAleer Racing". speedsport.com. December 23, 2022. Retrieved August 10, 2026.
  10. ↑ Tamayo, George (April 30, 2023). "Inside Mazda MX-5 Cup: Side by side". racer.com. Retrieved August 10, 2026.
  11. ↑ "Cicero breaks through for first Mazda MX-5 Cup win at VIR". racer.com. August 26, 2023. Retrieved August 10, 2026.
  12. ↑ Dumas, Bob (January 13, 2024). "Pound Ridge Teen Finds Success in Sportscar Racing". news.halstonmedia.com. Retrieved August 10, 2026.
  13. ↑ "Deep talent pool for Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup season-opener at Daytona". racer.com. January 22, 2024. Retrieved August 10, 2026.
  14. ↑ "Rolex 24 Hours: Friday Paddock Notes". dailysportscar.com. January 26, 2024. Retrieved August 10, 2026.
  15. ↑ "Cicero Collects Mazda MX-5 Cup Win Number Two In Canada". speedsport.com. July 14, 2024. Retrieved August 10, 2026.
  16. ↑ Dagys, John (May 10, 2024). "Cicero Added to McCumbee McAleer Racing Lineup". sportscar365.com. Retrieved August 10, 2026.
  17. ↑ Smith, Fred (June 21, 2024). "Violent Mustang Challenge Crash Leads to Major Rollover at Watkins Glen". roadandtrack.com. Retrieved August 10, 2026.
  18. ↑ Kasabian, Paul (June 22, 2024). "Video: Nate Cicero Involved in Scary Crash into Wall at IMSA Mustang Challenge". bleacherreport.com. Retrieved August 10, 2026.
  19. ↑ Euwema, Davey (September 16, 2024). "Cicero to Make Series Debut at Indianapolis". sportscar365.com. Retrieved August 10, 2026.
  20. ↑ Allaway, Phil (September 21, 2024). "Trent Hindman Wins Indianapolis Motor Speedway 120 Pole". frontstretch.com. Retrieved August 10, 2026.
  21. ↑ "Rainmaster Gonzalez takes MX-5 Cup win at Barber". racer.com. May 3, 2025. Retrieved August 10, 2026.
  22. ↑ "Wagner wins lightning-shortened MX-5 Cup race at CTMP". racer.com. July 13, 2025. Retrieved August 10, 2026.
  23. ↑ "Random Vandals sweeps in GT4 America Silver and Pro-Am, Flying Lizard takes Am class in Race 2". racer.com. July 20, 2025. Retrieved August 10, 2026.
  24. ↑ Allaway, Phil (August 23, 2025). "Nate Cicero Wins 3rd Straight Pilot Challenge Pole". frontstretch.com. Retrieved August 10, 2026.
  25. ↑ "MMR Mustang GT4 Takes Maiden Victory In Incident-Filled Road America Race". dailysportscar.com. August 3, 2025. Retrieved August 10, 2026.
  26. ↑ Dagys, John (December 26, 2025). "Michelin Pilot Challenge Holiday Notebook". dailysportscar.com. Retrieved August 10, 2026.
  27. ↑ Dagys, John (August 3, 2025). "Ford Driver Development Team Expands to 14 Members". sportscar365.com. Retrieved August 10, 2026.
  28. ↑ Allaway, Phil (January 22, 2026). "Nate Cicero Wins BMW M Endurance Challenge Pole". frontstretch.com. Retrieved August 10, 2026.
  29. ↑ Allaway, Phil (May 1, 2026). "Nate Cicero Wins Laguna Seca 120 Pole". frontstretch.com. Retrieved August 10, 2026.
  30. ↑ "Porter, Choksey and RAFA Toyota Take Michelin Pilot Challenge CTMP GS Win". speedsport.com. July 11, 2026. Retrieved August 10, 2026.
  31. ↑ "Winward Mercedes-AMG Wins In Watkins Glen". dailysportscar.com. June 27, 2026. Retrieved August 10, 2026.
  32. ↑ "IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge Grand Sport Drivers - Road America - Championship Points Standings" (PDF). Al Kamel Cloud. August 1, 2026. Retrieved August 10, 2026.
  33. ↑ Dagys, John (August 7, 2026). "GS Points Leader Cicero Stands Down From Driving". sportscar365.com. Retrieved August 10, 2026.
  34. ↑ O'Connell, RJ (August 11, 2026). "Michelin Pilot Challenge GS class leader Cicero leaves MMR, takes hiatus from racing". RACER. Retrieved August 18, 2026.
  35. ↑ Dagys, John (August 17, 2026). "Wiebelhaus Replaces Cicero in MMR Mustang GT4". Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. Retrieved August 18, 2026.
  36. 1 2 "Nate Cicero | Racing career profile | Driver Database". www.driverdb.com. Retrieved August 8, 2026.
  37. ↑ "Cicero Nathaniel". kartcom.com. Retrieved August 8, 2026.
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