Announcing Jeremy Fletcher last week as first driver to join the Copeland Motorsports Spec Miata program, Ben Maier is driver number two to jump on board as he makes the move to sportscar racing. Only 13 years of age, Maier has made the transition from karting to legend car racing and now to road racing along with his Stadium Super Truck experiences.
“Ben joins our program with a very full resume, and we only hope that we can help him add to that,” expressed Dean Copeland. “He is a proven winner, and I am confident that he will be a force from his very first day on track.”
Hailing from Chester, Maryland, Maier is an eleven-time karting National Champion and represented Team USA in Europe on two occasions. Ben has experience in karting, 600 Micro Sprints, Legend Cars and in 2022, finished second or better in his first five Spec Miata races. Showing his true diversity as a racing driver, Maier finished third overall in the Stadium Super Trucks event at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and was the youngest competitor to compete.
Copeland continued, “I think Ben can be a star in motorsports. He has such great talent at such a young age and is a great fit for our program.”
“I want to thank Copeland Motorsports for this huge opportunity to help advance my motorsports career,” added Maier. “I intend to give it my all and hope to use this platform to showcase my diversity as a driver.”
While the Copeland Motorsports Spec Miata program will work with their competitors, they will also offer a $60,000 scholarship for drivers looking to take the next step with them. Ben Maier is the second driver confirmed for the program alongside Jeremy as Copeland Motorsports will aim to have a total of six Spec Miata Development Drivers.
Following the successful completion of the seven-race Copeland Motorsports 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 a $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 who wants to learn both the business and winning side of motorsports.”
Photo Credit: Ben Maier Racing / Copeland Motorsports