Making his return to the Battery Tender Global MX-5 Cup Presented by BF Goodrich Tires, Racer Kashima has inked a deal with Copeland Motorsports to compete at the Portland International Raceway. Returning to the same track where he scored his best result and a Hard Charger Award, Kashima is looking to better his 2018 finish and add to the Copeland Motorsports resume.

“This is Racer’s home event,” joked Dean Copeland. “It is the closest event to his residence in Japan so that is what we are calling it. In 2018, Portland was the location of Racer’s best finish, and I am confident he can improve on that this year.”

Competing in one of the Copeland Motorsports prepared house cars, Kashima will join Bryan Ortiz and Michael Carter for the first stop on the West Coast this season for the MX-5 Cup drivers in rounds nine and ten of the twelve race program.

Copeland added, “Portland is a unique track and one that suits a lot of our competitors’ driving styles. We will continue to prepare race-winning cars and put them into the hands of our drivers. The goal is race wins and podium results, be we will also be looking at the big picture, the season championship.”

Photos: Copeland Motorsports