Looking to continue their Toyota GR Cup North America dominance, Copeland Motorsports was back on track this past weekend at the VIRginia International Raceway. With two more rounds now in the books, the championship-winning program earned one win, two pole positions, and four podium results to add to their season-long total.

After a day of practice on Friday, it was straight into qualifying on Saturday morning as the timed session would set the grids for the first wheel-to-wheel action of the weekend. Showing their strength in practice, the Copeland Motorsports quintet was hoping to continue that success in the ever-important qualifying session.

As the team to beat in 2024, it was another pole position for Copeland Motorsports with Jaxon Bell earning the top honor. Turning a lap time of .123 quicker than the next fastest driver, Bell would start race one from the inside of the front row. Gresham Wagner was the next best Copeland Motorsports driver in fourth after pacing the field on Friday while Mia Lovell clocked the sixth-fastest lap. Westin Workman will start eighth in race one, while Zach Hollingshead started 13th in his GR Cup debut.

For the first time all season long, a Copeland Motorsports driver was unable to climb to the top step of the podium in a Toyota GR Cup North America race. However, two team drivers were on the podium, and three were in the top-five, led by Gresham Wagner in second place and pole position winner Jaxon Bell in P3. Westin Workman followed closely in the fourth position while Mia Lovell picked up the Fastest Female award on route to her 11th-place result. Starting 13th in his series debut, Hollingshead was able to complete the entire race distance and earn a 19th-place result for his efforts.

Back to the track Sunday, and it was a pole position for Copeland Motorsports and Gresham Wagner as he topped the results sheet and led the field to green during race two. Lining up right behind him was teammate Westin Workman who clocked the third-fastest lap of the session, while Hollingshead was seventh in his best qualifying result during his debut weekend. Four Copeland Motorsports drivers were in the top-ten, with Mia Lovell in eighth place, while Jaxon Bell rolled off the grid 13th for race two.

Back to their form from events prior, Copeland Motorsports was back on the top step of the podium. Gresham Wagner was able to maintain his position at the front of the field, converting his pole position into a race win to extend his championship point lead. In a Copeland Motorsports one-two finish, Westin Workman pushed Wagner to the limit and crossed the stripe in second with Jaxon Bell in sixth. In a race that saw all Copeland Motorsports drivers finish in the top-ten, Zach Hollingshead was seventh, just ahead of the highest-finishing female Mia Lovell in eighth.

“It was one of our less-than-average weekends,” explained Dean Copeland. “With one win, pole position, and four podium results, it is tough to believe that this was our worst results weekend of the year. We will be ready for the next one.”

Next up for Copeland Motorsports will be a trip to Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin and the famed Road America over the August 16-18 weekend.

Photo Credit: Conejo Motorsport