Bringing a quartet of drivers to the penultimate event of the 2024 Toyota GR Cup North America program, Copeland Motorsports was back on top. With championship point leader Gresham Wagner leading the way into Barber Motorsports Park, he would be joined by the likes of Westin Workman, Jaxon Bell, and Mia Lovell in the championship-caliber effort. When the final checkered flag waved Sunday, it was a multi-podium weekend, but more importantly, Copeland Motorsports secured the Drivers’ Championship with Wagner, as well as the Team Championship.

“It was another good weekend, and it started in qualifying,” explained Dean Copeland, Owner of Copeland Motorsports. “We came into the weekend looking to continue doing what we had been doing all year, and after a bit of rain on Friday afternoon that mixed up the order, we were back right where we wanted to be on Saturday.”

Qualifying saw all four Copeland Motorsports drivers clock times that would put them in the top-ten for race one, with Wagner garnering another pole position. Behind him, Workman lined up on the inside of row two in third, with multi-time podium winner Jaxon Bell in sixth. Mia Lovell was the best of the female drivers, and slotted into the tenth position after the final laps were completed.

Race one saw an even better performance from the quartet, with Wagner and Workman earning another one – two finish for Copeland Motorsports. Running at the pointy end of the field all season long, the duo sat one-two in the championship after the first race of the weekend.  Bell was able to maintain his starting position to finish sixth while Lovell gained one position to cross the line ninth and claim another $5000 for being the highest-finishing female. Flexing their muscles as a team, Wagner also scored the fastest lap of the race honors.

Back to the track Sunday and with a carbon copy schedule of Saturday, qualifying in the morning set the grid for the wheel-to-wheel race later in the day. It was another case where all four Copeland Motorsports drivers were inside the top-ten, but this time led by Westin Workman. Qualifying second, a scant .047 off the elusive pole position, Workman was set to start on the outside of the front row for race two on the weekend. Point leader Gresham Wagner slotted into the third position, with female driver Mia Lovell having one of her best qualifying results of the season in P7. Jaxon Bell was able to sneak himself inside the top-ten in the ninth position and would start Sunday’s wheel-to-wheel action from the inside of row five.

With the championship on the line, Wagner and Workman battled hard at the front of the field. Wagner needed to finish ahead of Workman to win the title, so he was cautiously aggressive in his hunt for the win. Pushing hard but aiming to keep his car safe, Wagner finished second, one position ahead of Workman, and earned himself the Toyota GR Cup Series Championship for 2024. Celebrating with two drivers on the podium, Copeland Motorsports put three in the top-five as Bell moved forward from his P9 starting spot to finish fifth while Mia Lovell was classified 22nd after having contact late in the race.

“What a year. Back-to-back championships and we still have two races to go,” added Copeland. “We will celebrate a little, but the goal will be to finish the season strong in Indianapolis and build even more momentum towards the 2025 season.”

Photo Credit: Conejo Motorsport