Tyler Gonzalez left the final Toyota GR Cup North America weekend at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway as the inaugural Series Champion. With a season-high in race wins and pole positions, the Gearwrench-branded Copeland Motorsports driver was the one to beat all season long and capped off his season with another accolade: the series title. With little time to celebrate, it’s time to prepare to be back in the driver’s seat this week at the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge season finale.
Tyler Gonzalez may not have had the weekend at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway that he envisioned to end his 2023 season. With a few setbacks throughout the four-day affair, it quickly became the weekend that felt like it would never end for the young driver of the #57 entry. However, due to the success of the rest of the 2023 season, Gonzalez went into the weekend with a 110-point lead, making it all but impossible for him to lose the championship battle with only three races remaining.
“Ending the season off with the performance at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is less than ideal. It was a tough weekend for us and a weekend where, at times, we felt stuck,” expressed Gonzalez. “The team at Copeland Motorsports kept spirits high through the cold weather and difficulties on track. They have been great to work with all season long and deserve this championship. The title for myself and the team was the goal from the beginning of the year, and we achieved that goal.”
Gonzalez is not finished with his full 2023 racing season yet, as he is competing this week at the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge finale at the fast Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta. Competing alongside Victor Gonzalez at the Victor Gonzalez Racing program, Gonzalez will be back on track on Wednesday.
“I am looking forward to Atlanta and racing alongside the Petit Le Mans event, which has been such a staple race on the IMSA calendar,” Gonzalez noted. “I have had a lot of success at Road Atlanta in different programs and hope Victor and I can find our way to the podium within a challenging field of competitors.”
Road Atlanta Schedule:
Wednesday, October 11
2:30 PM to 3:30 PM // Practice One
Thursday, October 12
1:15 PM to 2:15 PM // Practice Two
Friday, October 13
8:30 AM to 9:05 AM // Qualifying
12:25 PM to 2:25 PM // Fox Factory 120
For more information on Tyler Gonzalez, please search for him via his social media pages at ‘Tyler Gonzalez Racing’.
Photo Credit: Halston Pitman