Launching the Copeland Motorsports Spec Miata program just last week, national level kart racer and multi-time karting champion Jeremy Fletcher is the first to jump on board. Inking a deal with Copeland Motorsports for the 2023 Spec Miata season with his eyes on the Idemitsu Mazda MX-5 Cup in 2024, Fletcher will begin testing immediately as he looks to make an impact in the car racing world from the drop of the green flag at his first race.

Focused on the training and preparation for drivers looking to take the next step in their motorsports career, Copeland Motorsports will also offer an internal scholarship program for these drivers and Fletcher will look to make history by being a first time winner

“I am excited to make the move to cars and with a program such as Copeland Motorsports,” explained Jeremy Fletcher. “They have trained and advanced a lot of my former karting teammates, and I can’t wait to follow in their footsteps. I have a lot of karting events to win this year, but I am excited for the future.”

Dean Copeland continued, “Our goal is to bring drivers from the karting ranks to cars and help them be successful. Jeremy is the perfect candidate for our program, and we are happy to welcome him to the Copeland Motorsports family. We will train Jeremy both on and off the track, how to be a good driver and team player, how to dress and market themselves, communication, engineering and more. We want drivers to advance in our program as a complete package.”

Jeremy Fletcher’s results speak volumes of his drive and determination on the track. A winner and champion in the cadet ranks of karting, Fletcher advanced to the junior ranks with ease continuing his winning ways. 2022 has seen another jump in categories as he moved to the senior categories, the upper echelon of karting in North America. Showing his speed early and often, Fletcher has been a force in every race weekend

“Jeremy is a winner, and he has proven that in karting,” expressed Copeland. “We think we can help him be a winner in cars as well.”

While Copeland Motorsports works with competitors, they will also offer a $60,000 scholarship for drivers looking to take the next step with them. Jeremy Fletcher is the first competitor to join this program as Copeland Motorsports will aim to have a total of six Spec Miata Development Drivers.

Following the successful completion of the seven-race Spec Miata program, competitors will receive a special invitation to the Copeland Motorsports Invitational; a two-day event at a to be determined track where all participants will be evaluated both on track and off track for speed, performance, driver feedback, understanding of data and analysis, driver attitude amongst other key areas to produce the complete driver.

An overall winner of the Copeland Motorsports Mazda Driver Development Program will be chosen by a panel of judges including but not limited to Tom Long who is a judge in the Mazda Shootout as well as a longtime motorsports coach and driver, Dean Copeland, Kevin Copeland, Tyler Gonzalez, and Dan Williams with the winner of invitational receiving $60,000 scholarship towards a full season of Mazda MX-5 Cup with Copeland motorsports in 2024.

Copeland added, “We are a business, but we are also racers that love to win. This is an amazing opportunity for any driver that wants to learn both the business and winning side of motorsports.”

Photo Credit: Copeland Motorsports