Post by truenorth on Aug 6, 2018 7:02:52 GMT -8
Loshak Earns First Trans-Am Series Triumph
SPEED SPORT - August 5, 2018
WAMPUM, Pa. – Lawrence Loshak secured the first Trans-Am Series TA class victory of his career Sunday in Trans Am Series competition at the Pittsburgh Int’l Race Complex.
The win came in dominant fashion for Loshak and the No. 2 Pennzoil/ ETE REMAN/ GoShare Chevrolet Camaro, with the Burtin Racing machine starting on pole and leading every lap of the contest.
After a one-off appearance at Circuit of The Americas at the close of the 2017 season, Loshak made the leap to TA class competition for 2018, departing TA2 class competition after 33 career starts, five podiums and a 2016 victory at Mid-Ohio.
Now with his first TA class victory in his fifth appearance secured, Loshak was ecstatic with the team’s performance following heartbreaking mechanicals at Road Atlanta and Indianapolis Motor Speedway while in contention and to finally add his name to the long list of Trans Am race winners.
“It’s incredible,” said Loshak. “I remember just like it was yesterday watching Tommy Kendall going into turn five at Road America. I watched all those guys, Boris, Pruett, the names just go on and on, and of course there are so many greats; but I’m just excited to get my first win here. To be a part of that piece of history is incredible; my goal is to win a championship and be up there with those guys.”
“The car has been so fast every weekend. We’ve just been having some bad luck with mechanical issues, freak failures. The team has been working around the clock, there’s no way to explain it, we just put our heads down and kept working hard. Finally, P1, it’s just incredible.”
The Burtin Racing machine would turn the fast lap of the race a 1:39.309 around the 2.73 mile, 19-turn course, a strong follow up on his pole setting 1:38.403 lap Saturday.
“The car has been phenomenal here,” said Loshak. “I’ve been doing everything I can to be prepared for this race. Pittsburgh International Race Complex has put on a great show; I love the track and the technical aspect of it. Burtin Racing has put together a great car that’s incredible on tires and that’s what wins races, and this win speaks volumes for this team.”
After a pursuit that spanned near the entirety of the race, Ernie Francis, Jr., in the No. 98 Frameless Shower Doors Ford Mustang, would capture second finishing position on the final lap of the race. With the No. 20 Ford Mustang of Chris Dyson held up by lapped traffic, Francis would take advantage setting up the pass for position.
Dyson, who had held second position since the only restart of the race, the commencement of lap 21 of the 36-lap contest, would finish third for his third podium of the year.
Amy Ruman would also make a last-lap pass for position, overtaking David Pintaric for fourth place. Pintaric would finish in fifth position.
Paul Fix, who spent most of the first half of the competition in second position chasing the No. 2 of Loshak, saw his No. 4 Ford Mustang suffer a power steering failure on the restart. Fix would manage to muscle the No. 4 home through the final 16 laps to finish sixth.
Earlier in the day, Cindi Lux and Warren Dexter secured Trans-Am Series wins in the TA3 and TA4 classes, the first-ever independent race for the two classes.
Cindi Lux, in the No. 45 Lux Performance Dodge Viper, would go flag-to-flag, leading the multi-class production field for the entirety of the 36-lap, 100.8 mile contest. Lux would also turn a 1:46.567 fast lap, showcasing the Lux Performance V10 machine on the tight and technical circuit for her third career Trans-Am victory.
“It was all about ‘no mistakes,” said Lux. “This place you just have to get into a rhythm. When you try and speed things up or go fast, you get out of your rhythm per say. It’s one of those things that sometimes the cars align, and I’m shocked really that at such a tight track how well our Lux Performance Viper performed. Honestly, these guys build a great car and any nut behind the wheel could do the same. I’m just very blessed to have the opportunity. Alline [Cipriani] is getting stronger and stronger, and I think we’re going to have some fun racing together in the future.”
Cipriani, in the No. 60 Ginetta Cars Ginetta G55, would pursue Lux from second position throughout the race but was never able to close the gap between the two cars, one that spanned 40 seconds come the end of the race. As compensation for her efforts Cipriani was awarded not just the second place finish but also the TA3 class points lead, overtaking the absent Mark Boden.
Finishing third in TA3 was Larry Bailey, in the No. 02 LSI/ Sam Pierce Chevy/ Fast Chevrolet Corvette, who started sixth on the grid.
In TA4, rookie Warren Dexter would also lead flag-to-flag for his second consecutive TA4 class win in his second Trans Am appearance. Dexter would turn a 1:48.089 for his, and the class’s, fast lap while eventually finishing third overall.
“The Ginetta just works,” said Dexter, “and this track is perfect for it: all the lefts and rights and ups and downs. I struggled a little bit with some traffic throughout the majority of the race; but with probably three to four laps to go, the belt just flew off the power steering and the track gave me a bit of a workout. We’re gunning for the TA4 championship; we’d like to add the title to our resume and hopefully help build the class going forward.”
Steven Davison, debuting his new No. 33 DaVinci Plastic Surgery Chevrolet Camaro, would finish second in the TA4 class and fifth overall for his second podium finish of the season.
SPEED SPORT - August 5, 2018
WAMPUM, Pa. – Lawrence Loshak secured the first Trans-Am Series TA class victory of his career Sunday in Trans Am Series competition at the Pittsburgh Int’l Race Complex.
The win came in dominant fashion for Loshak and the No. 2 Pennzoil/ ETE REMAN/ GoShare Chevrolet Camaro, with the Burtin Racing machine starting on pole and leading every lap of the contest.
After a one-off appearance at Circuit of The Americas at the close of the 2017 season, Loshak made the leap to TA class competition for 2018, departing TA2 class competition after 33 career starts, five podiums and a 2016 victory at Mid-Ohio.
Now with his first TA class victory in his fifth appearance secured, Loshak was ecstatic with the team’s performance following heartbreaking mechanicals at Road Atlanta and Indianapolis Motor Speedway while in contention and to finally add his name to the long list of Trans Am race winners.
“It’s incredible,” said Loshak. “I remember just like it was yesterday watching Tommy Kendall going into turn five at Road America. I watched all those guys, Boris, Pruett, the names just go on and on, and of course there are so many greats; but I’m just excited to get my first win here. To be a part of that piece of history is incredible; my goal is to win a championship and be up there with those guys.”
“The car has been so fast every weekend. We’ve just been having some bad luck with mechanical issues, freak failures. The team has been working around the clock, there’s no way to explain it, we just put our heads down and kept working hard. Finally, P1, it’s just incredible.”
The Burtin Racing machine would turn the fast lap of the race a 1:39.309 around the 2.73 mile, 19-turn course, a strong follow up on his pole setting 1:38.403 lap Saturday.
“The car has been phenomenal here,” said Loshak. “I’ve been doing everything I can to be prepared for this race. Pittsburgh International Race Complex has put on a great show; I love the track and the technical aspect of it. Burtin Racing has put together a great car that’s incredible on tires and that’s what wins races, and this win speaks volumes for this team.”
After a pursuit that spanned near the entirety of the race, Ernie Francis, Jr., in the No. 98 Frameless Shower Doors Ford Mustang, would capture second finishing position on the final lap of the race. With the No. 20 Ford Mustang of Chris Dyson held up by lapped traffic, Francis would take advantage setting up the pass for position.
Dyson, who had held second position since the only restart of the race, the commencement of lap 21 of the 36-lap contest, would finish third for his third podium of the year.
Amy Ruman would also make a last-lap pass for position, overtaking David Pintaric for fourth place. Pintaric would finish in fifth position.
Paul Fix, who spent most of the first half of the competition in second position chasing the No. 2 of Loshak, saw his No. 4 Ford Mustang suffer a power steering failure on the restart. Fix would manage to muscle the No. 4 home through the final 16 laps to finish sixth.
Earlier in the day, Cindi Lux and Warren Dexter secured Trans-Am Series wins in the TA3 and TA4 classes, the first-ever independent race for the two classes.
Cindi Lux, in the No. 45 Lux Performance Dodge Viper, would go flag-to-flag, leading the multi-class production field for the entirety of the 36-lap, 100.8 mile contest. Lux would also turn a 1:46.567 fast lap, showcasing the Lux Performance V10 machine on the tight and technical circuit for her third career Trans-Am victory.
“It was all about ‘no mistakes,” said Lux. “This place you just have to get into a rhythm. When you try and speed things up or go fast, you get out of your rhythm per say. It’s one of those things that sometimes the cars align, and I’m shocked really that at such a tight track how well our Lux Performance Viper performed. Honestly, these guys build a great car and any nut behind the wheel could do the same. I’m just very blessed to have the opportunity. Alline [Cipriani] is getting stronger and stronger, and I think we’re going to have some fun racing together in the future.”
Cipriani, in the No. 60 Ginetta Cars Ginetta G55, would pursue Lux from second position throughout the race but was never able to close the gap between the two cars, one that spanned 40 seconds come the end of the race. As compensation for her efforts Cipriani was awarded not just the second place finish but also the TA3 class points lead, overtaking the absent Mark Boden.
Finishing third in TA3 was Larry Bailey, in the No. 02 LSI/ Sam Pierce Chevy/ Fast Chevrolet Corvette, who started sixth on the grid.
In TA4, rookie Warren Dexter would also lead flag-to-flag for his second consecutive TA4 class win in his second Trans Am appearance. Dexter would turn a 1:48.089 for his, and the class’s, fast lap while eventually finishing third overall.
“The Ginetta just works,” said Dexter, “and this track is perfect for it: all the lefts and rights and ups and downs. I struggled a little bit with some traffic throughout the majority of the race; but with probably three to four laps to go, the belt just flew off the power steering and the track gave me a bit of a workout. We’re gunning for the TA4 championship; we’d like to add the title to our resume and hopefully help build the class going forward.”
Steven Davison, debuting his new No. 33 DaVinci Plastic Surgery Chevrolet Camaro, would finish second in the TA4 class and fifth overall for his second podium finish of the season.