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Post by truenorth on Jun 3, 2019 9:22:53 GMT -8
Tony Ave Victorious In 100th Trans-Am Start Photo by Al Steinberg SPEED SPORT Staff - June 2, 2019 BELLE ISLE, Mich. – Saturday’s Trans-Am Series presented by Pirelli Muscle Car Challenge was all about survival, but on Sunday, the TA2 powered by AEM class amped up the aggressiveness for the Motor City Dash. Celebrating his 100th career Trans-Am start, Tony Ave took the lead in the final laps with his No. 25 BC Race Cars entry to claim both his 19th career Trans-Am victory and his first-ever Trans Am win on the streets of Belle Isle. Dillon Machavern, in the No. 77 Liquid-Molly Prefix Ford Mustang, dodged traffic and accidents to finish second, while Tony Buffomonte recovered from a spin into the barriers with the No. 34 Mike Cope Racing machine and fought back for a third-place finish. “I’ve been trying to win this race since 1994!” said Ave. “I’ve led it a bunch of times but haven’t been able to hit that top spot. We didn’t have quite enough speed early so I just stayed close. My car got good toward the end and I was able to run them down but passing was going to be an entirely different issue. Then what usually happens at these places started to happen, with everyone going sideways, grabbing gears and spinning tires. “I thought ‘this is living!’ We were just scrambling, but we came out with the lead and I couldn’t be happier.” Misha Goikhberg, in the No. 10 BC Race Cars Chevrolet Camaro, started on pole, but lost the lead to Buffomonte after the green flag dropped. Buffomonte quickly built a gap from the field, leading the pack of 17 TA2 cars by more than a second before losing it on his own in turn seven. The 2018 Detroit Grand Prix winner spun backwards, making hard contact with the back of the car into the barriers. Fortunately for the Illinois native, the Ford Mustang continued under its own power, but Buffomonte never regained the lead as Machavern seized first. “I had that one locked up and threw it away, so sorry to my guys,” said Buffomante. “I was just pacing, minding the gap and then wheel-hopped it in going into Turn 7 again. I lost the back end and stuck it in the fence. I pulled it out of there and took off, doing some really fast laps, just trying to catch up. But that shows just how fast the car was.” Dropping back to third, Saturday winner Goikhberg weaved back and forth from the inside then to the outside of Machavern. Hitting the curbing on the Horshoe turn, Goikhberg went spinning around the circuit and collected podium-contenders Rafa Matos and Lawless Alan in the process. Goikhberg and Alan continued, but the reigning TA2 champion’s charge to the top ended as Matos’ No. 88 Lear 3Dimensional Services Group Ford Mustang was towed back to the pits. The incident brought out the first of two full course cautions. Goikhberg worked his way back up through traffic to take second, challenging Machavern for the lead. Following Machavern’s bumper, Goikhberg tapped the back of the No. 77 as Machavern braked for traffic. Goikhberg’s back end got loose, causing him to smash into the tire barrier as turn seven claimed another victim. Machavern lost momentum clearing the lapped traffic in front of him, opening the door for Ave to take the lead. Goikhberg’s incident brought out the safety car. With limited time on the clock, the debris was not cleared before the 75-minute clock expired, and the session ended under yellow. Local drivers Marc Miller and Jordan Dick also had their share of issues on the 14-turn, 2.35-mile course. Dick lined up for the start of the Motor City Dash but scratched with mechanical issues. Championship leader Miller started the race in fourth, but early contact sent Miller into the turn three wall. The home state favorite charged his way from the back of the field into the top-five but a braking issue sent Miller back on the way to a 13th place finish.
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TransAm
Jun 17, 2019 16:35:55 GMT -8
Post by truenorth on Jun 17, 2019 16:35:55 GMT -8
Derek Kraus Scores In Trans-Am Debut By SPEED SPORT Staff - June 16, 2019 Derek Kraus (center) notched his first Trans Am Presented by Pirelli West Coast Championship victory on Sunday at Sonoma Raceway. (Trans-Am Photo) SONOMA, Calif. – Derek Kraus is only 17, but he has more racing experience than many drivers twice his age. His experience paid huge dividends at Sonoma Raceway on Sunday during round four of the Trans-Am Presented by Pirelli West Coast Championship. Currently leading both the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East and West standings, Kraus made his Trans-Am debut in the No. 11 Shockwave Marine Suspension Seating Chevrolet Camaro handed over to him for qualifying by team owner David Smith after losing an engine in his No. 5 just before qualifying. Kraus rewarded Smith and the Shockwave team by qualifying on the TA2 Powered by AEM pole, then seizing the TA2 class lead on lap seven of 38 laps around the challenging Sonoma course and never relinquishing it. Kraus was jumped on both the start and a lap four restart by third qualifier Anthony Honeywell, but managed to find a way past the West series TA2 points leader within two laps on both occasions. “I was really surprised at the start, going into turn one three wide, coming out that way,” said Kraus. “Wasn’t really expecting it. But at the end, it all worked out. I just want to say thanks to David Smith and everyone at Shockwave — the whole crew. They worked their tails off all weekend. They gave me a really good car, and I knew I just had to stay patient in the race.” Second overall (and second in TA2) was Kraus’ Shockwave teammate Chris Cook, who finished nearly 18 seconds behind. Cook and Kraus have a long history together, and thanks to Smith, who made cars available to both Kraus and Cook as well as a third young up-and-comer, Lawless Alan, they were able to race together for the first time. “I love working with raw talent like that guy right there in the NAPA [driver’s] suit (Kraus)” said veteran driver coach Cook. “Really good job by Derek today, and my car was really good, too. Just a huge thanks — I love driving race cars, and a huge thanks to David Smith. Amazing man and you should read his story! Huge thanks to David and all the guys on the team — Team Shockwave kicks ass.” “I knew if there was going to be a late-race yellow, Chris was going to be really good,” Kraus said later, explaining his hard pace throughout. “[Chris] helped me this whole weekend. Two years ago when I met David and Chris and came here, I had no idea what I was doing. And ever since, Chris has been helping me. Shockwave gave me a really good race car and I ended upon top. Third in TA2 went to Michael Mihld, who inherited the position from Lawless Alan when the brakes in Alen’s car failed. Matthew Butson finished fourth in class. In the TA class, Simon Gregg had a lonely race after both the pole winner Michelle Nagai and fast local driver Michael Fine retired in the opening laps with mechanical problems. Gregg won TA and was third overall, but was frustrated about finishing behind a pair of TA2 cars. “The TA2 cars were really good this weekend,” he said. “I had a good time out there. Thanks Jim (Derhaag); Joy, my significant other for going to the races with me; John (Clagett, Trans Am Co.) for the work you do — I’m glad to be a part of the West Coast Trans-Am series.” Finishing behind Gregg, fourth overall but winning the SGT class, was U.S. Touring Car Championship front runner Carl Rydquist, who started last in a unique Prototype Development Group Factory Five GTM Supercar — a street-legal kit car assembled using extensive Corvette components. The PDG team received permission to enter on Sunday morning, chased down a set of Pirelli tires and started from the back. Rydquist carved through the field to his fourth-place finish, with TA winner Gregg in his sights as the checkered came out. The GT class was won by fast-qualifier Clark Nunes, who led from flag to flag.
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TransAm
Jul 29, 2019 6:49:13 GMT -8
Post by truenorth on Jul 29, 2019 6:49:13 GMT -8
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Post by truenorth on Jul 29, 2019 8:19:14 GMT -8
July 28, 2019 Autoweek GREG PICKETT WINS THE TRANS AM SERIES WEST BATTLE AT PORTLAND, AS SIMON GREGG CLINCHES THE CHAMPIONSHIP Brad McAllister wins TA2 race, while Beau Borders is tops in GT Greg Pickett celebrates his Trans Am win in Portland, Oregon, on Sunday. Veteran Greg Pickett delivered on his post-qualifying promise, reeling off a series of fast laps early and romping to victory in Sunday’s 53-lap, 102.1-mile Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli West Championship race at Portland (Oregon) International Raceway. What Pickett, who won in Portland for the third consecutive time, didn't predict was the race-long challenge from Michelle Nagai. Nagai's No. 72 Berkeley Jet Drive Inc. Chevrolet Corvette out-jumped second qualifier Simon Gregg’s similar machine at the start and stuck to the rear wing of Pickett’s white Mustang through the first six laps before ever-so-slowly slipping back. Through two yellow-flag action periods, Nagai kept Pickett honest, and she finished a strong second, just 15 seconds back after a virtuoso performance in only her fourth Trans Am start. "I did qualifying laps every lap trying to stay with him,” said an excited Nagai. "I learned so much from him, found such a smooth rhythm. And zero problems with the car for once! I looked at the back of him for longer than I ever expected. Second is second, but it’s not the first loser today.” Pickett, celebrating his 22nd career Trans Am victory, was quick to offer praise: “Michelle, would you be a little easier on an old guy? No, she will not!” Gregg (No. 59 Derhaag Motorsports Chevrolet Corvette) had a low-key weekend, qualifying second but slowly slipping back into the clutches of a race-long TA2 powered by AEM class tussle, ultimately finishing third in TA following fast-starting Michael Fine’s retirement in the No. 66 Architectural Glass Systems Chevrolet Camaro. Third place, though, was enough to clinch the 2019 Trans Am West Championship, the Floridian's second career TA title (Gregg was the 2012 National champion). In TA2, local driver Brad McAllister (No. 24 www.PortlandImplantDentistry.com Ford Mustang) led every lap from the pole, but that fact belies the fierce jockeying for position behind. Second at the finish was teenage soon-to-be pre-med student Matthew Butson, whose No. 19 Butson Racing Chevrolet Camaro dogged pre-race points leader Anthony Honeywell (No. 76 Honeywell Competition/TFB Performance Chevrolet Camaro) for the first 10 laps until Honeywell’s team boss suggested he started saving tires and let Butson by. “Winning on my home track is long overdue,” said McAllister on the podium. “The last two years I’ve had mechanical issues. This year, I got stuck in traffic in the closing laps, and I had Matthew in my mirrors. Luckily the yellows worked out, the tires were great, brakes hung in there, but Matt was right there behind me the whole time. Long overdue, but glad it’s here!” Honeywell finished a distant third, fortunate to make it to the end with damaged suspension, while Tim Lynn (No. 46 Roof Options Racing Chevrolet Camaro) was fourth and Mitch Marvosh (No. 29 Wolf Entertainment Chevrolet Camaro) fifth after almost a race-long duel. With his win, pole and laps in the lead, McAllister moves to the top of the TA2 standings by two points over Honeywell, 134 to 132, with just one race remaining to sort out this year’s title. Beau Borders (No. 7 APEX Race Parts/CorteX Racing Ford Mustang) was the lone survivor in the GT class, Roger Eagleton (No. 98 Five Star Property Management/Energy Real Estate Ford Mustang) retiring with a failed alternator on lap 42. Before that, the pair had swapped the class lead back and forth five times at start-finish. The Trans Am Presented by Pirelli West Coast Championship series finale will be Oct. 4-6 at Circuit of The Americas at Austin, Texas.
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TransAm
Aug 12, 2019 9:04:36 GMT -8
Post by truenorth on Aug 12, 2019 9:04:36 GMT -8
August 10, 2019 Autoweek ERNIE FRANCIS JR. WINS TRANS AM SERIES FIRSTENERGY MID-OHIO 100 Marc Miller wins TA2 race Ernie Francis Jr. captured his third victory of the season Saturday. The FirstEnergy Mid-Ohio 100, featuring the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli’s Trans Am, SuperGT and GT classes, saw a dogfight at the front of the field for the entire 43-lap race Saturday at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. In the end, Ernie Francis Jr. managed to keep Chris Dyson in his rearview mirror to capture his third victory of the season. In the SGT class, Mark Boden took the green flag from pole and never looked back, opening a lead of more than 23 seconds over second-place Ken Thwaits before the race-ending yellow came out. 21 entries took the green flag in the TA/SGT/GT event, held in conjunction with the NASCAR Xfinity Series event at Mid-Ohio. In the first race on the Saturday card, the teams dealt with dramatically different weather circumstances than they had earlier in the weekend, with cloudy and cool conditions for the early-morning event. The field included a late entry: sports car legend Boris Said, making his 2019 series debut in the No. 2 SRI Performance Dodge Challenger that had arrived at Mid-Ohio late Friday. Pole sitter Francis started his No. 98 Frameless Shower Doors Ford Mustang in the TA and overall pole position, looking to repeat his Mid-Ohio win of 2018. But Chris Dyson, winner of two straight TA class races and driving the retro-liveried No. 20 Thetford/Norcold Ford Mustang, would not allow Francis a moment of comfort on the tight, twisty and technical 13-turn, 2.258-mile Mid-Ohio circuit. The duo fought hard throughout the race, with Francis able to post a three-second lead early, but Dyson came back midrace with a succession of quick race laps as the pair separated from the rest of the field. Doug Peterson -- pulling double duty this weekend in both TA and his regular TA2 drive -- tried valiantly to stay in the fight but headed for pit lane on lap 10 with a mechanical issue, handing third position to Adam Andretti in the No. 17 Engineered Components Co./Anchor Bold Chevrolet Corvette. Marc Miller made a pass early in lap 1 and held on for the victory in the TA2 series. On lap 39, the GT class entry of Larry Funk (No. 64 Business Advisory Services Ford Mustang) went wide out of turn nine and hard into the barrier in turn 10, leaving a significant debris field that could not be cleaned before the race end, with the checkered flag waving at the 65-minute mark. Ohio natives Amy Ruman and David Pintaric finished fourth and fifth, respectively. Said had seemed poised for a charge through the field, climbing as high as fourth before mechanical issues placed him back in the field with a 13th place finish. "I was pretty excited to see if we would get back to green flag racing,” said Francis. “It would have been an awesome shoot out to the end. (Chris) Dyson and I were very close in our lap times. The lapped traffic held us up at the end. We had a really great race and our Ford Mustang was awesome. I can't thank everyone at Breathless enough, we were fasted in just about every session. The car was flawless all weekend, I’m happy about this win and it’s good for us in the points. I can't wait to take it to Road America.” "We had a bit of too much understeer, so I was a little too conservative, “said Dyson, who set a new race record lap at 1:21.923 on Lap 34). “I thought I was going to give Ernie a good run there to the end since we were back and forth all weekend. We were so close and I think that is how this championship is shaping up. We will be neck and neck the entire time. We had a great car and we were quick all weekend. We can't wait to get to Road America now." Meanwhile, the SGT race was a tale of dominance by Mark Boden in the No. 46 Beverage Flavors International Porsche 991 GT3 Cup, who held a sizable lead over Ken Thwaits in the No. 35 WilwoodBrakes/ FranklinRdApparel Audi R8 LMS. Neither Thwaits nor No. 44 Lemons of Love Porsche 991 GT3 Cup car driver Tim Kezman could post a charge at Boden, who captured his second win of the season. In the later TA2 race, championship leader Marc Miller made a pass early in lap 1 and held on for the victory in the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli’s FirstEnergy Muscle Car Challenge for the TA2 class at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Next up for the Trans Am presented by Pirelli will be the Ryan Companies Road America Classic August 22-24.
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TransAm
Aug 23, 2019 10:16:38 GMT -8
Post by truenorth on Aug 23, 2019 10:16:38 GMT -8
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TransAm
Aug 26, 2019 8:05:18 GMT -8
Post by truenorth on Aug 26, 2019 8:05:18 GMT -8
August 24, 2019 07:22 PM RAFA MATOS LEADS FLAG TO FLAG AT ROAD AMERICA FOR THIRD TRANS AM TA2 VICTORY OF 2019 NASCAR Xfinity drivers have up and down day It was Mato's first victory since winning the opening two races of the season. Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli pilot Rafa Matos drove like a man on a mission in Saturday morning’s Ryan Companies Muscle Car Challenge at Road America, leading flag to flag to score his third Trans Am by Pirelli TA2 powered by AEM victory of the season. Driving the No. 88 3Dimensional Services Group Chevrolet Camaro, Matos beat Marc Miller in the No. 40 Prefix/Stevens-Miller Racing Dodge Challenger to the checkered flag by 6.751 seconds. Misha Goikhberg completed the podium in the No. 10 BC Race Cars Chevrolet Camaro to claim another TA2 podium. Matos was able to hold off Miller, Goikhberg and Scott Lagasse Jr. in a spirited battle during the early laps of the race on the 4.048-mile circuit. But once his Pirelli tires got up to pressure, Matos was able to pull away for his first triumph since winning the opening two races of the season. “Today was a great day – our team has battled really hard since early in the year,” Matos said. “The beginning of the race was a bit of a struggle – Marc had a great pace. We sacrificed our performance at the beginning, because we had our tire pressures set for the end of the race. I also had to keep working on the brake bias. As the tire pressure went up, the car kept getting better. I was able to keep him behind and open a gap, and bring it to victory lane. But it was a very mentally tiring race, because we’re going so fast around this place, and the minimal error can cost a lot. It was very difficult, and now I’m definitely looking forward to the final stretch of the season.” A second-place finish was not the birthday present Miller was looking for, although he managed to retain a comfortable lead in the championship with four races remaining. “The car was pretty good, but I just didn’t have enough for Rafa,” Miller said. “We were battling it out. I thought I had him on the start, but he might have been toying with me a bit. He drove a great race. Once he had a lead, he controlled the pace. Lagasse and Misha were battling pretty hard and were breathing down my neck. But they got together and that settled that, and I was left to my own devises out there.” Thomas Merrill took fourth in the No. 81 Big Diehl Racing Ford Mustang, while NASCAR driver Brandon Jones took fifth in the No 26 Mike Cope Racing Cars entry after a spirited battle with the No. 77 Liqui-Moly/Prefix Dodge Challenger of Dillon Machavern. “It was fun racing, and hopefully it did something for the Xfinity side,” said Jones, who finished 16th later Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity event at the circuit. “Running in the Trans Am teaches you how to pass, teaches you what places to pass at on the track. I learned that driving harder in this car helped me make up time at the end, so hopefully that will work on the Xfinity car as well. I enjoyed running the Trans Am and getting more laps with Mike Cope.” Jones won the CoolShirt Systems Cool Move of the Race award for his pass on Lap 18. After challenging early, Lagasse had a spin on lap 13 that dropped him down in the running order, leading to a 12th-place finish in the No. 92 SLR/Fields Racing/M1 Racecars Chevrolet Camaro. “For a car with no practice, it was a rocket ship,” said Lagasse, who had issues with his primary car in practice and opted to run a new car in the race. “I lost power steering and ended up losing the brakes, and wound up trying to survive from there. I hated that I ran up into the back of Misha, and hated not having the chance to run more with these guys, we’re creeping up on them. We had a good-handling race car, our team put a real good setup under it. The M1 guys are good, and I think we can run with them.” Doug Peterson won the Masters Cup with a 13th-place finish. He lost ground in the early laps with a pit stop for the No. 87 3Dimensional Services Group Chevrolet Camaro. “I thought it was either a flat tire or the diff,” Peterson said. “It turned out the rear tires were cold after running behind the pace car, and it got better once it built up pressure.” NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Justin Haley had an engine misfire from the start of the race and completed only six laps before parking the No. 99 Mike Cope Racing Cars. The upset winner of the recent Monster Energy Cup Series race at Daytona made two pit stops only in an attempt to correct the problem, but the misfire only got worse. A lap-one incident back in the pack resulted in the damage that led to the retirement of Patrick Utt in the No. 49 RaceQuip Chevrolet Camaro; Barry Boes in the No. 32 AccioData/SampsonRace/HarrisHill Ford Mustang; Keith Prociuk in the No. 9 HP Tuners Chevrolet Camaro; Brian Swank in the No. 12 Berryman Products Chevrolet Camaro; and Lawless Alan in the No. 14 Mike Cope Racing Ford Mustang. Utt attempted to continue but hit the tire barrier in Turn 10, bringing out a full-course caution. Moving from one classic road racing circuit to another, the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli goes from Road America to visit historic Watkins Glen International for Round 9 on Sept. 5-7.
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TransAm
Sept 9, 2019 6:54:57 GMT -8
Post by truenorth on Sept 9, 2019 6:54:57 GMT -8
September 08, 2019 08:33 PM Autoweek ERNIE FRANCIS JR. DOMINATES TRANS AM AT WATKINS GLEN INTERNATIONAL Aaron Pierce and Steven Davison take wins in SGT and GT Starting on pole, Ernie Francis Jr. steadily distance himself from the field, leading by more than 11 seconds before the only full-course yellow of the race regrouped the field. The monstrous roar of the 850-hp Trans Am presented by Pirelli TA class echoed around the iconic Watkins Glen International road circuit and had fans on their feet on Sunday as Ernie Francis Jr. dominated the entire 100-mile feature. Going flag to flag for his third consecutive Trans Am victory Francis (No. 98 Frameless Shower Doors Ford Mustang) padded his championship lead over Chris Dyson (No. 20 Plaid Ford Mustang), collecting all points available for the weekend. Dyson continued to deliver podium performance, finishing second as Tomy Drissi (No. 8 Lucas Oil Slick Mist/Axalta Chevrolet Camaro) finished third in his first race back for Burtin Racing since Lime Rock Park. “This weekend went as good as it could have went,” Francis said. “Last year and the year before we had a DNF, so to go out here and get a clean sweep of the weekend, leading all the sessions, getting pole in qualifying and finishing the race in first was great. I’m looking forward to the next race at VIR.” Starting on pole, Francis steadily distance himself from the field, leading by more than 11 seconds before the only full course yellow of the race regrouped the field. On the restart, it looked like Dyson might have had something for Francis, but the New York native’s speed faded as he also had to shake Drissi, who was stuck to his bumper. “I was fighting the car more than I was fighting with Tomy, I was just too loose around here today,” said Dyson. “I had a glimmer of hope on the restart, but Ernie had a great restart and we just couldn’t match his pace. I had Tomy in my mirrors and we had a good battle. We will regroup and be back in a couple week’s time at VIR.” Drissi returned from medical leave, sporting a newly wrapped Slick Mist livery. Starting in the second row in fourth place, Drissi moved up a position to run nose-to-tail with Dyson for the second half of the race to finish third. “It was pretty tough for me not being here,” Drissi said. “I pleaded with the doctor, giving him some pretty ridiculous excuses to get back in the car. Ernie did a fantastic job. Dyson didn’t make any mistakes and I couldn’t get by him. Burtin Racing- you guys are great. I’m glad to be back.” Mechanical issues plagued several players in the TA field. Amy Ruman parked her cherry red No. 23 McNichols Co. Chevrolet Corvette after two laps. “We felt good on the start, went around, had some mechanical issues that I didn’t think would clear up, so I decided to park it early to save what I could,” Ruman said. “We made some adjustments from qualifying that I thought would have worked in the right direction, but unfortunately I didn’t have a lot of time to test them out. Boris Said faced teething problems in a newly prepared Pancho Weaver Dodge. Starting second after overcoming issues with the nose box, Said turned three laps in front before losing power completely from a bad alternator. “This was really the first run for the No. 2 Dodge,” Said commented. “I really thought on the first lap that we had something for Ernie, and I was pretty confident after Lap 2 that I was going to be able to get him, but unfortunately it let us down.” Adam Andretti only had to take the green in the No. 17 Engineered Components Company/Anchor Bolt Chevrolet Corvette to clinch the Trans Am Northern Cup title. Following a great start, Andretti broke a shift linkage in Lap 2 which forced him to the pits for the duration of the race. However, he accomplished what he came to The Glen to do, take the Trans Am Northern Cup Championship. “We’ve had a trial and tribulated weekend, and we knew that coming in,” said Andretti. “We had some metal in the oil and didn’t know how long the motor would last during the race, but knew it wouldn’t be anything catastrophic so we started. We had a good run until the shift linkage snapped. Our whole objective was to seal up the Trans Am Northern Cup Championship. If we didn’t have that to focus on, we would have ran all the sessions, and would have found a simple gremlin like that.” Steven Davison in the No. 22 Davinci Plastic Surgery Aston Martin Vantage wheeled his way to another victory in the GT class. Karry Hitt (No. 19 Advanced Composite Products Inc. Cadillac CTSV) received the Masters Award in the TA class after finishing eighth. Veteran driver Simon Gregg missed Round 8 of competition to be with family. Eleven SGT-class cars took the green with Aaron Pierce going flag to flag for his first victory of the season in the SGT category. SGT championship leader Mark Boden (No. 46 Beverage Flavors International Porche 991 GT3 Cup) finished second. Tom Herb in the No. 16 Fall-Line Motorsports Porsche 991 GT3 Cup edged out Adrian Wlostowski in the No. 96 F.A.S.T. Auto Ford Mustang on the final lap on his way to a third-place finish. Pierce in the No. 26 Sam Pierce Chevrolet/Logical Systems Inc. Chevrolet Corvette is a veteran of racing winged sprint cars, and had to adjust quickly to the Watkins Glen road course. “The team has come a long way since we’ve started,” Pierce said. “They’ve busted their butts on this race car. We’ve ran well everywhere we’ve been to. I’ve not been to most of the tracks, and it took me some time to adjust to this track since it’s my first time here. Things got a bit hairy on the straight but we pulled it together and had a lot of fun doing it.” Milton Grant in the No. 55 Sentry Self Storage/Fairfield Inn Porsche 991.3 GT3 Cup received the Masters Award after finishing sixth in the SGT class. Steven Davison in the No. 22 Davinci Plastic Surgery Aston Martin Vantage wheeled his way to another victory in the GT class. “This was a personal best race for me in terms of time,” said Davison. “Last year I smashed myself into the Esses. It was clean racing from all the SGT guys and a privilege to run with Trans Am.” The Cool Shirt Cool Move of the Race was awarded to Vincent Allegretta in the No. 41 TA Sights and Sounds Chevrolet Corvette. The Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli returns to action at Virginia International Raceway Sept. 20-21.
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Post by truenorth on Sept 24, 2019 9:30:32 GMT -8
Peter DeLorenzo: Tony DeLorenzo (No. 3 Owens/Corning Fiberglas Camaro) in the St. Jovite Trans-Am, 1970.
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Post by speeddemon787 on Sept 26, 2019 10:45:53 GMT -8
Chevy Beretta
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Post by Spin on Oct 4, 2019 9:46:25 GMT -8
^ a cool paint job and whatever those wheels we’re supposed to be couldn’t make the Beretta look like a race car. But that wasn’t near as bad as for parking the Mustang for the XR4Ti
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TransAm
Oct 7, 2019 14:49:45 GMT -8
Post by truenorth on Oct 7, 2019 14:49:45 GMT -8
October 06, 2019 ADAM ANDRETTI WINS TRANS AM SERIES TA CLASS RACE AT CIRCUIT OF THE AMERICAS Adam Andretti wins in same car driven by Boris Said to race win at Virginia Adam Andretti topped the points leaders in Austin. It was a game of patience for the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli drivers during Saturday’s multi-class TA/SGT/GT 100-mile feature at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, on Saturday. Adam Andretti (No. 44 SRI Performance/ECC/ Anchor Bolt Screw Dodge Challenger) delivered on his post-qualifying promise to be respectful of Ernie Francis Jr. and Chris Dyson’s championship battle, but still managed to move himself into the winning position. Driving the same Pancho Weaver-built car that Boris Said drove to Trans Am victory just two weeks ago, Andretti reeled off a series of fast laps late in the race, closing nearly an eight-second gap in an all green race. The drive secured his first win at Circuit of the Americas since 2015 and his maiden victory in the TA class In a race-long battle for position, all three major manufacturers were represented on the podium as Chris Dyson, in the No. 20 Plaid Ford Mustang, and Tomy Drissi, in the No. 8 Lucas Oil Slick Mist/ Axalta Chevrolet Camaro, finalized the TA class top-three. Points leader Francis finished fourth. “This race was for my wife and brother John,” said a teary-eyed Andretti. “There was a lot of good stuff going on this weekend, a lot of good vibes, all the people who support us made this possible, without you, none of this is possible." Battling extreme heat and handling, Dyson kept his championship hopes alive with a second-place finish. “We were hoping to capitalize today after Ernie (Francis) had some troubles to get a win out of it, but we had some issues with the car and it’s been a frustrating season in that respect,” said Dyson. “I personally got as much as I could out of the car today. I was just glad to get to the end and try to win it all at Daytona.” Starting from pole position, Francis Jr. looked to have the race in the bag. Taking a commanding lead early, the championship leader built an eight second gap by Lap 10. Then disaster struck for the Breathless Racing driver as he lost power steering with just 10 laps to go. Muscling through the 20-turn circuit, Francis Jr. lost speed and the lead he worked so hard all race to build faded. Francis Jr. managed to hold on to finish the race in fourth. Kerry Hit (No. 19 Advanced Composite Products Inc. Cadillac CTSV) was awarded the TA Masters Class award after finishing the race in seventh. West Coast Championship Stakes were just as high in the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli West Coast Championship as the championship’s third season came to a close on Saturday. Simon Gregg (No. 59 Derhaag Motorsports Chevrolet Corvette) clinched the TA class West Coast Championship one round early, leaving Michelle Nagai (No. 72 Berkeley Jet Drive Inc. Chevrolet Corvette) and Michael Fine (No. 66 AGS-Architectural Glass Systems Chevrolet Camaro) to a shootout for second place in the championship. Nagai brilliantly tackled the legendary CoTA circuit on her way to her first win of the season. “It’s super special to win here at COTA,” Nagai said. “We had mechanical failures one way or another all season, a lot of should ofs and would ofs, but you know what, we did it here today. We got rookie of the year in the West Coast and second in the championship. We are ready to come back next year.” Carl Rydquist, in his FFR GTM No. 4 MyRaceShop.com Teltac prototype, took first in the SGT West Coast class. In an all West Coast GT field, Joe Bogetich (No. 65 Westover Controls Chevrolet Camaro SS) went flag to flag for the win. However, it was Roger Eagleton (FiveStarPropMgmt/EnergyRealEst Ford Mustang) who claimed the overall GT West Coast Championship with his second-place finish. Beau Boarders (No. 7 APEX Race Parts/CorteX Racing Ford Mustang) completed the GT podium in third.
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TransAm
Oct 7, 2019 15:03:08 GMT -8
Post by truenorth on Oct 7, 2019 15:03:08 GMT -8
October 06, 2019 MARC MILLER CLINCHES TRANS AM SERIES TA2 CHAMPIONSHIP WITH CONVINCING WIN AT COTA Miller needed only to start the race in Austin, Texas, to clinch his first Trans Am title Marc Miller leads the field at Circuit of the Americas on Sunday. Even though he only needed to start the race to secure the TA2 powered by AEM championship, Marc Miller took an emphatic Trans Am presented by Pirelli win at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, on Sunday. Miller’s No. 40 Prefix/Stevens-Miller Racing Dodge Challenger was fastest in testing, practice, qualifying and ultimately the 100-mile TA2 feature on Sunday. But as easy as he made it look on the iconic 3.427-mile, 20-turn circuit, the race was by no means an easy one for Miller to win. Scott Lagasse Jr. (No. 92 SLR/Fields Racing/M1Racecars / Chevrolet Camaro) kept Miller honest for most of the 25 laps, even leading the race at one point. But Miller pulled it together, clinching his championship in style with his fourth win of the season. Marc Miller stands atop the podium after clinching the TA2 championship. Lagasse Jr. finished a close second, with Edward Sevadjian claiming his first TA2 podium with a third-place finish. “I loved that race,” said Miller. “Scott (Lagasse Jr.) and I raced each other clean, but hard. It was so fun. I wasn’t even thinking about the championship until right now and it feels great. To not only win it for our team but to win for Prefix on their 40th anniversary, how amazing is that?! The day would be perfect if my family were here to celebrate.” Trans Am West Coast Championship Brad McAllister (No. 24 www.PortlandImplantDentistry.com Ford Mustang) locked up the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli West Coast Championship by three points with his win over Anthony Honeywell Sunday at CoTA. McAllister entered the weekend trailing Honeywell by two points. Nabbing an extra two points for qualifying second, McAllister needed a race win to secure the championship. Trans Am Championship Presented by Pirelli Provisional Race ResultsTA2 Round 12 Powered by AEM TA2 West Round 6 Circuit of the Americas Round 11 October 3 - 6 2019 Pos No. Name Sponsor/Car Best Tm Laps Diff Gap Ch 1 40 Marc Miller / Holland Mich. Prefix/Stevens-Miller Racing / Dodge Challenger 2:16.208 25 C 2 92 Scott Lagasse Jr / St Augustine Fla. SLR/Fields Racing/M1Racecars / Chevrolet Camaro 2:16.596 25 3.175 3.175 C 3 38 Edward Sevadjian / Dallas Texas Leadfoot Racing / Chevrolet Camaro 2:17.305 25 18.331 15.156 C 4 52 Lawless Alan / Van Nuys Calif. AutoParkIT / Ford Mustang 2:17.403 25 30.403 12.072 C 5 9 Keith Prociuk / Chicago Ill. HP Tuners / Ford Mustang 2:18.260 25 33.567 3.164 C 6 77 Dillon Machavern / Charlotte Vt. Liqui-Moly / Prefix / Ford Mustang 2:17.197 25 34.286 0.719 C 7 31 Elias Anderson / Driftwood Texas AccioData/SampsonRace/HarrisHill / Ford Mustang 2:19.119 25 40.837 6.551 C 8 24 Brad McAllister / Portland Ore. www.PortlandImplantDentistry.com / Ford Mustang 2:18.486 25 41.940 1.103 W 9 97 Tom Sheehan / Bow N.H. LTK Insulation Technologies / Ford Mustang 2:18.678 25 42.346 0.406 C 10 76 Anthony Honeywell / Tulsa Okla. HoneywellCompetion/TFBPerform / Chevrolet Camaro 2:19.043 25 48.443 6.097 W 11 32 Barry Boes / Dripping Springs Texas AccioData/SampsonRace/HarrisHill / Ford Mustang 2:19.683 25 49.306 0.863 C 12 17 Jacob Mosler / St Augustine Fla. SLR/Fields Racing/M1Racecars / Chevrolet Camaro 2:19.212 25 54.758 5.452 C 13 69 Mike Skinner / Port Orange Fla. Multi Building Services Inc. / Chevrolet Camaro 2:19.617 25 55.149 0.391 C 14 10 Misha Goikhberg / Woodbridge Ont. Canada BC Race Cars / Chevrolet Camaro 2:16.846 25 57.966 2.817 C 15 19 Matthew Butson / Snohomish Wash. Butson Racing / Chevrolet Camaro 2:20.368 25 1:01.467 3.501 W 16 83 Alex Wright / Mount Vernon Ohio Stevens Miller Racing / Dodge Challenger 2:20.139 25 1:12.761 11.294 C 17 46 Tim Lynn / (R) Ross Calif. Roof Options Racing / Chevrolet Camaro 2:21.456 25 1:20.247 7.486 W 18 12 Brian Swank / Cumming Ga. Berryman Products / Chevrolet Camaro 2:21.788 25 1:20.898 0.651 C 19 55 Michael Mihld / Temecula Calif Michael Mihld Racing / Chevrolet Camaro 2:21.716 25 1:28.012 7.114 W 20 11 Drew Neubauer / Austin Texas MaxonLiftgates/ProcureITNetwork / Dodge Challenger 2:21.623 25 1:41.885 13.873 C 21 59 Brad Gross / Grapevine Texas Manufacturing News / Chevrolet Camaro 2:22.599 25 1:56.115 14.230 C 22 30 Michele Abbate / Las Vegas Nev. Grr Racing / Chevrolet Camaro 2:22.675 25 2:01.335 5.220 W 23 28 Mike Holmes / Bellevue Wash. Mike Cope Race Cars / Ford Mustang 2:26.895 24 1 Lap 1 Lap C 24 41 John Cloud / Naples Fla. Ultimate Headers / Chevrolet Camaro 2:27.138 24 1 Lap 2.785 C 25 26 Jim Gallaugher / Bellevue Wash. Mike Cope Racing / Ford Mustang 2:23.259 24 1 Lap 15.187 C 26 2 John Atwell / Azle Texas A&J Lab Portal / Chevrolet Camaro 2:18.519 23 2 Laps 1 Lap S 27 99 Bobby Reuse / Hoover Ala. Mike Cope Race Cars / Chevrolet Camaro 2:25.257 23 2 Laps 24.310 C 28 0 Jeff Wood / Athens Ohio OEMPartsQuick.com / Dodge Challenger 2:21.546 19 6 Laps 4 Laps C 29 25 Ethan Wilson / Loomis Calif. BCRaceCars/WesternGrindingServ / Chevrolet Camaro 2:18.327 17 8 Laps 2 Laps W 30 20 Jay Carley / Flower Mound Texas Multi Building Services Inc. / Chevrolet Camaro 2:24.923 14 11 Laps 3 Laps C 31 94 CJ Cramm / Spring Texas CedarCreekBrew/EurekaEnergyAdv / Chevrolet Camaro 2:19.266 10 15 Laps 4 Laps S 32 23 Curt Vogt / Wallingford Conn. Cobra Automotive / Ford Mustang 2:19.204 4 21 Laps 6 Laps C Car #10 - 40 second penalty for avoidable contact Cool Move of the Race: #9 Keith Prociuk TA2 Masters Award: #41 John Cloud Chief Steward: Dorsey Schroeder Race Time: 1:05:46.896 Chief of Timing & Scoring: Diane Carter Sanction: 19-TRAM-6780 Distance: 85.65 miles Average Speed: 78.122 mph Date Posted 10-06-2019 13:00 New Record Trans Am Championship Presented by Pirelli Provisional Race Results TA2 Round 12 Powered by Circuit of the Americas R
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Post by wilmywood8455 on Oct 8, 2019 2:23:28 GMT -8
^ a cool paint job and whatever those wheels we’re supposed to be couldn’t make the Beretta look like a race car. But that wasn’t near as bad as for parking the Mustang for the XR4Ti Agreed on the XR4Ti, but what's wrong with BBS wheels? Yeah, they're a little busy, but that's been cleaned up over time with better alloys and larger diameters ...
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Post by Spin on Oct 8, 2019 5:09:03 GMT -8
^I don't think we were ready for those on Chevroletd at that time.
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Post by truenorth on Oct 8, 2019 15:30:34 GMT -8
1968 Pontiac 'Jerry Titus' Firebird Trans Am Racecar
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Post by truenorth on Oct 11, 2019 9:04:29 GMT -8
Peter DeLorenzo Pacific Raceways, Kent, WA, Oct. '67. The No. 15 Bud Moore Eng. Mercury Cougar driven by Parnelli Jones during practice for the Trans-Am. 1. Mark Donohue (No. 6 Penske Camaro) 2. Ronnie Bucknum (No. 31 Ford Mustang) 3. Dan Gurney (No. 98 Bud Moore Eng. Mercury Cougar) Jones DNF.
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Post by truenorth on Oct 29, 2019 10:42:52 GMT -8
Laguna Seca Trans Am 1979 Bob Tullius - Triumph TR8 - Group 44
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Post by truenorth on Dec 2, 2019 7:44:34 GMT -8
Dan Gurney in the No. 16 Bud Moore Engineering Mercury Cougar during the 4-Hour Trans-Am at Sebring, Florida, March 31, 1967.
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TransAm
Feb 20, 2020 17:29:15 GMT -8
Post by truenorth on Feb 20, 2020 17:29:15 GMT -8
Back to Sebring, where it all began, for 2020 Trans Am opener Racer Feb 20 2020 Next weekend, the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli will build on a long tradition of racing at Sebring International Speedway, headlining the Feb. 28-Mar. 1 SVRA Sebring Vintage Classic for its 15th appearance there since the series’ first-ever race in 1966. That year, a brand-new series featuring “pony car” entries from Detroit’s Big Three automakers debuted at the Florida airport course with the running of the Governor’s Cup — the first race for the SCCA-sanctioned Trans American Sedan Championship. That inaugural event included the then-two-time Indianapolis 500 winner A.J. Foyt, driving a Ford Mustang, and Alfa Romeo’s Jochen Rindt, who would win the 1970 Formula 1 World Championship. Foyt led the opening 13 laps before dropping back following a long pit stop. Later in the four-hour event, tire issues, brake problems and overheating hit many of the competitors on the over-two-liter class, made up of Mustangs, Chevrolet Corvairs, Plymouth Barracudas and Dodge Darts. Bob Tullius went on to win the larger class in a Dart, finishing second overall. Meanwhile, Alfas dominated the under-two-liter category, led by Rindt, who recovered from a roll-over in pre-event practice to win the race overall. The inaugural Trans Am race was held the day before the 12 Hours, attracting a 40-car field. “That race was held at Sebring in its original form –- long (5.2 miles) and bumpy,” Tullius recalled. “I was instructed by our Chrysler team manager to follow the two Barracudas, because they wanted those cars to win and I was going to be a nice guy. But they didn’t count on A.J. Foyt, who went into the lead in a Mustang. “I ran around for awhile, and then decided to pick it up,” Tullius continued. “I passed both of the Barracudas, then caught Foyt and passed him for the lead. Eventually, his car bailed and I wound up winning the race.”
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