Diehl-Merrill Racing Joins Forces with Mike Cope Racing in 2020
February 19, 2020
With a new name, new partnership and added sponsor, DMR is ready to take on Sebring
San Jose, CA (February 17, 2020)— What do you get when you combine a winning road racer, a champion TA2® team and 40 years of auto racing experience? A 2020 Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli TA2® champion contender. The name may have changed, but the winning combination remains the same as Big Diehl Racing and Thomas Merrill Motorsports combine to form Diehl-Merrill Racing (DMR). To add fuel to this already hot duo, DMR joins the TA2® champion team of Mike Cope Racing for 2020 in hopes to create a true powerhouse.
“The formation of Diehl-Merrill Racing creates a stronger team foundation for 2020 and beyond,” explains team owner, Richard Diehl. “Thomas and I are looking forward to a competitive season in the best racing series of its kind—and are happy to have teamed up with Mike Cope Racing for technical expertise and support. Mike {Cope} is a true professional and has a wealth of knowledge to draw from.”
DMR will participate full time in the 2020 Trans Am TA2® series with their sights set on bringing home a championship for the newly formed Diehl-Merrill Racing and Mike Cope Racing. Merrill will pilot the familiar #81 Ford Mustang with the continued support of Concept Part Solutions, as well as another sponsor for 2020.
“In addition to our continued support from CPS, we’re also thrilled to partner with HP Tuners for 2020,” said Merrill. “This will really give us a leg up on getting the season done right, and the car will look great with the HP Tuners branding.”
DMR and MCR hope to pick up where they left off in 2019.
“We’re thrilled to partner with MCR for the 2020 Trans Am season,” expressed an excited Merrill. “2019 could not have gone better for us and MCR with two wins in two races, and that bodes well for us as we go into 2020.”
Mike Cope shares similar sentiments.
“It’s been a year since we’ve had the opportunity to run for a championship, and Mike Cope Racing is hungry,” said Cope. “We have a lethal combination with Richard Diehl and Thomas Merrill and I’m excited for what’s ahead. If the two races last year are any indication of what’s to come, then we have definitely gotten some people’s attention.”
The 2020 season began with a very positive test session at Sebring with Mike Cope Racing and the team is well prepared for the first round of the Trans Am TA2® season.
“It will be a challenge. There are a lot of very quick drivers and team in TA2® this year, but that is exactly why we chose Trans Am,” says Merrill. “We want to succeed against the best in Trans Am and I can’t wait to get started!”
And Merrill doesn’t have to wait long. The Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli TA2® season kicks off at Sebring February 27th to March 1st. Make sure to follow along as Diehl-Merrill Racing and the Mike Cope Racing team battle it out with some of the best road racers in the country at Sebring International Raceway.
Addicted to social media? So are we! Make sure to find us, and our partners, on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Don’t miss a minute of the action as we post LIVE from Sebring.
Twitter- @DiehlMerrill @MikeCopeRacing @GoTransAm
Instagram- @DiehlMerrillRacing @MikeCopeRacing @GoTransAm
About Diehl-Merrill Racing:
Established in 2020, this newly formed team combines the winning efforts of Big Diehl Racing and Thomas Merrill Motorsports to create a champion contending TA2® race team. Richard Diehl brought Thomas Merrill on board to Big Diehl Racing in 2017 and the successful partnership lead Diehl to hand over some ownership of the team to Merrill, which is reflected in the new team name. Diehl-Merrill Racing partners with Mike Cope Racing in the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli TA2® division to vie for the 2020 Trans Am TA2® national championship.
Diehl-Merrill Racing is based in San Jose, CA. Learn more at www.diehlmerrillracing.com.
Diehl-Merrill Racing partners include: Mike Cope Racing Enterprises, Inc., HP Tuners, Concept Part Solutions, and Wilwood Brakes.
