After nearly two months off-track, the Copeland Motorsports IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge team is gearing up for the Mid-Ohio 120 taking place this weekend, May 14-16, at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio. Once again joining the lineup, AJ Muss and Mason Filippi will enter the #51 Hyundai Veloster N TCR alongside the teenage duo of Tyler Maxson and Tyler Gonzalez in the #27.

With two event weekends under their belts in the 2021 season, Copeland Motorsports is ready to start challenging for podiums and wins. The duo of Muss and Filippi has had a consistent start to the season with a fifth-place finish at Daytona International Speedway and a sixth place run at the Sebring International Raceway. While they have been able to stay out of trouble and gain a pair of finishes in the front half of the field, they are hoping to earn their first podium this weekend and begin adding towards their championship points haul.

“Mason and AJ have done a great job in the Copeland Motorsports #51 entry,” explained Dean Copeland. “They are in the top-five, running fast and consistent laps, staying out of trouble and doing what is needed to make it to the checkered flag. Heading into this weekend, and with some time to gel as a driving duo, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Mason and AJ on the podium.”

The TnT duo of Tyler Maxson and Tyler Gonzalez have also had a consistent start to their season. Unfortunately, their consistency comes in the form of mechanical and electrical failures in the races. While the young teammates have shown their speed in nearly all of the practice and qualifying sessions of the season, they have been unable to put together a strong result in the races – to no fault of their own. At Sebring, the pair finished second in qualifying and both practice sessions, but after electrical failure before the start of the race, they ultimately finished in thirteenth overall albeit, setting times in the top-five when they were able to return back to the track.

Copeland added, “If the Tylers did not have bad luck, they would have no luck at all. The kids are fast, and the rest of the grid knows that. We have worked hard to detect and resolve this issue that we have been having and look forward to watching TnT battle for the win this weekend.”

Both Copeland Motorsports entries have the speed and talent to stand on the podium and are looking to put together a strong weekend at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course for the third event of the 2021 IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge. Taking place over just two days, the IMPC drivers will have two one-hour practice sessions and one qualifying session on Friday followed by the Mid-Ohio 120 on Saturday. Also joining them this weekend will be their Copeland Motorsports teammates in the Idemitsu Mazda MX-5 Cup Championship.

Event Schedule
Friday, May 14
Practice 1          9:15-10:15am
Practice 2         1:15-2:15pm
Qualifying         5:50-6:25pm

Saturday, May 15
Mid-Ohio 120   3:35-5:35pm

Photo Credit: IMSA