Trans Am – Syndication Server

Trans Am rolls to Road America

The Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli is on its way to Road America for the Road America SpeedTour, coming straight from last week’s event at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. The Mid-Ohio/Road America pairing is the first of two back-to-back combos this season, with another coming up in August when the series hosts back-to-back weekends at Watkins Glen International and Canadian Tire Motorsport Park.

Schedule:

Qualifying:

Saturday, June 29

3:20-3:55 p.m. CT

Race:

Sunday, June 30

1:05-2:20 p.m. CT

Race Length: 25 Laps/75 Minutes

TV Broadcast:

LIVE on MAVTV

Highlights Show:

MAVTV

Thursday, July 4

9:00 p.m. ET

Qualifying:

Friday, June 28

3:30-4:05 p.m. CT

Race:

Saturday, June 29

12:05-1:20 p.m. CT

Race Length: 25 Laps/75 Minutes

TV Broadcast:

LIVE on MAVTV Select

MAVTV Broadcast: 4:00 p.m. ET

Highlights Show:

MAVTV

Thursday, July 4

8:00 p.m. ET

The Trans Am Series has made more starts at Road America than any other track, with 63 events held at the 4.048-mile road course in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin since the series made its first appearance there in 1970. This weekend’s event will kick off the second half of the season for TA/XGT/SGT/GT competitors and will serve as Round 8 for the CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series.

MAVTV launches new website
Trans Am broadcast partner MAVTV recently launched the new MAVTV.com. The redesigned website includes a dedicated page with details of how to watch MAVTV and its FAST Channel, MAVTV Select, in your area. It also includes a new racer page, with bios and statistics for TA and TA2 drivers.

Past Road America victors
Five drivers in this weekend’s field have taken the checkered flag at Road America before.

TA
Chris Dyson, No. 16 GYM WEED Ford Mustang: 2021, 2020

XGT
Danny Lowry, No. 42 Bennett/BridgeHaul/Pitboxes.com Mercedes AMG GT3: 2023, 2022

SGT
Lee Saunders, No. 84 LandSearch LLC Dodge Viper: 2023, 2020

TA2
Brent Crews, No. 1 Mike Birdsell Special Ford Mustang: 2023, 2022
Rafa Matos, No. 60 Concord American Flagpole/Nitro Motorsports Ford Mustang: 2019
Doug Peterson, No. 87 3-Dimensional Services Group Ford Mustang: 2013 (TA), 2014 (TA)

Only one driver entered in this weekend’s race, Paul Menard, hails from the state of Wisconsin, while two drivers, Keith Prociuk, and Bruce Nesbitt, come from a few hours south of Elkhart Lake, Wis. in Illinois.

TA
Paul Menard, No. 3 Menards/Masterforce Tools Ford Mustang (Eau Claire, Wis.)

TA2
Keith Prociuk, No. 9 HP Tuners/Mike Cope Race Cars Ford Mustang (Buffalo Grove, Ill.)
Bruce Nesbitt, No. 50 Orion Motorsports/BrakeOMeter Ford Mustang (Chicago, Ill.)

Going for four
Paul Menard (No. 3 Menards/Masterforce Tools Ford Mustang) continued his winning streak last weekend, earning his third-consecutive victory and fourth win of the season at a rainy Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. As the winningest driver in the class this year, Menard is the TA points leader, holding a 34-point advantage over three-time champion Chris Dyson. Hailing from Eau Claire, Wis., Menard comes into this weekend’s pursuit of a fourth-consecutive win with two previous Trans Am starts at Road America, and a best result of second achieved in 2022. He also has two starts at the track in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, including one victory in 2015.

Dyson looking for comeback
Chris Dyson (No. 16 GYM WEED Ford Mustang) is still hoping to turn his luck around after yet another frustrating race at Mid-Ohio, where Dyson had the strategy to beat but suffered an early crash in the rain, taking him out of contention for the win. The three-time champion knows what it takes to stand atop the podium at Road America, with two Trans Am wins in 2020 and 2021 under his belt, and a 2015 Pirelli World Challenge victory at the track. Dyson has made six TA starts at the 4.048-mile road course and has finished on the podium in his last four visits to the track. Success at the 69-year-old facility goes back a long way with his family’s team, Dyson Racing, which has been fielding entries at Road America since the early 1980s, earning IMSA wins there in 1985, 1987 and 2003.

Hampton a national winner
Last weekend at Mid-Ohio, David Hampton drove his No. 14 AR Motorsports Porsche Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport to GYM WEED Winners Circle in the GT class, earning his first-career Trans Am National Championship win in only his second start. Hampton has made a name for himself in Trans Am’s Western Championship, where he has been competing since last season. On the West Coast, Hampton has earned eight wins in just 12 starts and has stood on the top step of the podium in every race so far this year, making him the current points leader in GT’s Western Championship.

A familiar number
A competitor in the SGT class, Joshua Carlson, has a racing pedigree that is familiar to Wisconsin race fans. Carlson is the grandson of Joe Shear, a Midwest short-track racing legend who won an estimated 350 races in his career. Carlson’s Enseva/TC Fab/Diercks Ltd. Ford Mustang carries a memorable family number: No. 36. Carlson currently sits third in the SGT standings, chasing leader Richard Forsythe (No. 58 GSpeed/Sambuca Restaurant Chevrolet Corvette) and second-place Kaylee Bryson (No. 02 Logical Systems Inc./Sam Pierce Chevrolet Corvette).

Recent experience
TA competitor Richard Grant (No. 30 Grant Racing Chevrolet Camaro) competed at Road America this past weekend in the SCCA June Sprints, driving in the GT1 class. Grant earned a best finish of eighth in Race 2.

CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series

Brent Crews back on the road
16-year-old Brent Crews is back to his winning ways in the CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series, earning his first victory of the season in last weekend’s race at Mid-Ohio in just his second start of the year. The 2023 champion earned the first win of his career at Road America in 2022, becoming the youngest race winner in Trans Am history at 14 years, three months and four days old, in addition to becoming the series’ youngest pole winner the day before. Crews is going to be running this weekend with a different number on the side of the car. His No. 1 Mike Birdsell Special Ford Mustang will honor Mike Birdsell, a four-time national karting champion with more than 60 years of continuous racing experience.

Nitro continues streak
When Brent Crews took the checkered flag last weekend at Mid-Ohio, he scored Nitro Motorsports its fifth-straight win. So far this season, Nitro Motorsports has claimed 13 of 21 possible podium spots and has scored five victories with three different drivers. Rafa Matos (No. 60 Concord American Flagpole/Nitro Motorsports Ford Mustang) currently leads the point standings by an enormous 118-point margin over second-place Thomas Merrill (No. 26 HP Tuners/Cope Race Cars Ford Mustang) following victories at NOLA Motorsports Park, Lime Rock Park and Pitt Race. Nitro driver Thomas Annunziata (No. 90 Bayshore Mortgage/The Decorators Unlimited Ford Mustang) currently sits third in the points, followed by teammate and World Wide Technology Raceway winner Ben Maier (No. 80 BOE Marine/Nitro Motorsports Ford Mustang) in fourth, giving Nitro three of the top four positions in the standings.

Michele Abbate’s comeback
This weekend, Michele Abbate returns to Road America in her No. 30 GHOST/Nitro Motorsports Ford Mustang for the first time since her major accident at the track in 2023. Last year, Abbate experienced a brake failure in opening practice, resulting in a crash that broke the driver’s ankle. Amazingly, Abbate returned to racing just two months after the incident. This year, Abbate is competing in the Pro/Am Challenge driving for Nitro Motorsports.

“I am really excited about this race; I’m excited to face my fears, get back on track with confidence, and hopefully do well this weekend,” said Abbate.

Brad McAllister returns
2019 Trans Am TA2 Western Championship title winner Brad McAllister (No. 24 Straumann and Zimbis Ford Mustang) returns to the National Championship for just his third start. McAllister, who has been racing in the Western Championship since its inception in 2017, made his National Championship debut at Road America in 2020, earning a fifth-place finish.

McAllister, who hails from Sherwood, Oregon, also has some recent experience at the track, as he participated in SCCA’s June Sprints at Road America last weekend, winning Race 1 in the GT2 class and finishing third in Race 2.

Other TA2 drivers who participated in June Sprints last weekend include:
Barry Boes, No. 27 Team SLR-M1 Racecars Ford Mustang (GT2)
Patrick Paul, No. 34 Paul Racing Enterprises Ford Mustang (GT2)
Patrick Utt, No. 49 RaceQuip Safety/Driven Racing Oil Chevrolet Camaro (GT2)
Bruce Nesbitt, No. 50 Orion Motorsports/BrakeOMeter Ford Mustang (GT2)

Largest Pro/Am field
This weekend at Road America will see 15 entrants competing in the CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series Pro/Am Challenge, the largest field for the class since the introduction of the new points structure. In addition to the previous Pick Six Challenge format run in years past, TA2 competitors now have an option to compete based on their top-nine finishes, utilizing the same points structure as the National Championship, which makes it a more competitive and desirable option for drivers who are competing full time in the series. Barry Boes currently leads the standings by 109 points over Tom Sheehan, who is followed closely by Keith Prociuk. This weekend’s Pro/Am competitors are:

Thomas Ellis, No. 8 Team SLR-M1 Racecars Ford Mustang (Pick Six Challenge)

Keith Prociuk, No. 9 HP Tuners/Cope Race Cars Ford Mustang

John Weisberg, No. 11 Iron Smoke/Red Line Oil/Carbotech Chevrolet Camaro

Jim Gallaugher, No. 16 Regulator by Waypointe Ford Mustang

Ty Young, No. 22 Ty J Young Wealth Management Ford Mustang

Brad McAllister, No. 24 Straumann and Zimbis Ford Mustang

Barry Boes, No. 27 Team SLR-M1 Racecars Ford Mustang

Michele Abbate, No. 30 GHOST/Nitro Motorsports Ford Mustang

Patrick Paul, No. 34 Paul Racing Enterprises Ford Mustang

Patrick Utt, No. RaceQuip Safety/Driven Racing Oil Chevrolet Camaro

Bruce Nesbitt, No. 50 Orion Motorsports/BrakeOMeter Ford Mustang

Matt Gray, No. 64 Ryan Companies Ford Mustang

Tom Sheehan, No. 97 Vixen Cycle Co/LTK Insulation Ford Mustang

Doug Winston, No. 98 Bring Back The Trades/D&M Electrical Ford Mustang

Jared Odrick, No. 00 Nitro Motorsports Ford Mustang

Menard wins wet and wild third straight Trans Am race at Mid-Ohio

Paul Menard once again drove to GYM WEED Winners Circle, this time navigating his No. 3 Menards/Masterforce Ford Mustang through heavy rain to win his third-straight race and fourth of the season. While Chris Dyson had the strategy to beat, early troubles for the three-time champion opened the door for Menard to win the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli race at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and increase his advantage in the point standings.

With a dry track before the start of the race, competitors in the TA/XGT/SGT/GT race were all starting on slick tires. However, just as the command to start engines was given, light rain began to fall over the track. While the field made its first pace lap, Dyson made the decision to bring his No. 16 GYM WEED Ford Mustang to pit road for rain tires, sacrificing his second-place starting position for treaded tires, betting on worsening rain. And worsen, it did. Polesitter Menard led the field to the green flag, but racing was slow going as competitors struggled to get up to speed on the slippery surface.

With grip on his side, it only took three laps for Dyson to race his way from the back and into the lead. As cars in every class began to dive to pit road for rain tires, Ohio driver Amy Ruman (No. 23 McNichols Co./Valley Automotive Group Chevrolet Corvette) went off the track surface and into the gravel trap, bringing out a full-course caution on lap five. This allowed the remainder of the competitors on slicks to come to pit road for wets, and racing finally began in earnest when green-flag racing resumed on lap 10. Dyson led Menard and Tomy Drissi (No. 8 Franklin Road Apparel Chevrolet Camaro) for the next five laps, but on lap 16, Dyson’s rear locked up, taking him off the racing surface and into a tire barrier. Despite the hard hit, Dyson was able to resume racing, but the heavy front-end damage required him to make a stop on pit road for body work. Fortunately, he was able to remain on the lead lap, but he trailed well behind once-again leader, Paul Menard, and second-place Tomy Drissi.

The three ran in that order until lap 33, when two competitors experienced major issues simultaneously. The No. 17 Top Liner/Go Share Chevrolet Camaro of Adam Andretti experienced an engine failure, bringing his car to a halt and oiling down the frontstretch. Meanwhile, Drissi went off course and got stuck in a gravel trap, allowing Dyson to pass him for second place. However, due Andretti’s inability to continue and the remainder of the TA competitors in the garage, Drissi was able to salvage the last spot on the podium. With the clock running out, Menard took the checkered flag and double yellow flags together, claiming his third-consecutive victory and fourth of 2024.

“It was a lot of fun, obviously; we wound up on top,” said Menard. “I just don’t have any experience [racing in the rain], but I learned a lot. I was running decent times, and I felt like the wetter it got, the better we were. But I was just learning out there; learning how to use the brake under wet conditions, and to set the car. Using the throttle is super tricky, but after running high-horsepower cars on skinny tires for years in NASCAR, you have to have an eggshell under your foot. So that wasn’t bad. It was all about the braking for me to gain my speed in the rain. Hats off to all these guys at 3GT. The car was so fast in the dry. I think [Chris] Dyson was a little faster than us in the wet, for sure. But we didn’t put a tire wrong, and the guys just did a hell of a job all weekend.”

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The SGT race was an exercise in patience, as competitors balanced right on the edge of control in the wet conditions. First-place starter Kaylee Bryson (No. 02 Logical Systems Inc./Sam Pierce Chevrolet Corvette) was quickly passed after the green by second-place starter Lee Saunders (No. 84 LandSearch LLC Dodge Viper), and Saunders’ lead opened up further when Bryson, Richard Forsythe (No. 58 GSpeed/Sambuca Restaurant Chevrolet Corvette) and Milton Grant (No. 55 Sentry Self Storage/Springhill Suites Porsche 991.1 GT3 Cup) came to pit road for rain tires. Saunders opted not to make the switch, which eventually caught up to him. On lap 21, Bryson made her way around Saunders, followed closely by Forsythe. Bryson and Forsythe battled hard for the next two laps, with Forsythe ultimately emerging with the lead. The following lap, Saunders found he was unable to continue on his slick tires and pulled onto pit road. As the race came to a close, Forsythe led Bryson across the line, with Grant earning the final podium spot.

“It was quite a battle, and you had to be patient in the rain,” said Forsythe. “We were just doing everything we could to not hit each other or slide off the track, because everybody around us was. So, it was not easy. Kaylee is a phenomenal driver; it was an amazing pole position for her. It’s such an honor to race with somebody of her caliber, with a past dirt track background like myself, actually. I have, fortunately, some rain experience in other series. You guys should know how thankful I am for G-Speed, Louis, Ian, Corey, Jason, Mike, Sandy, and all the background people that helped me out so much. I’m very thankful. I couldn’t do this without you, and you guys are awesome. Thank you so much.”

The GT race was a battle of endurance between David Hampton (No. 14 AR Motorsports/Porsche Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport) and Chris Coffey (No. 97 Norwood Auto Italia/Traffic Grafix Maserati MC GT4). Coffey was the fastest qualifier in yesterday’s session, but was forced to start the race in the back due to mechanical repairs, leaving Hampton with the point position when the green flag waved. Immediately after the race start, Hampton came to pit road for rain tires, putting Coffey in the lead until lap eight. Coffey then came to pit road, not just for rain tires, but also to replace brake rotors, which briefly gave Jack Rinke (No. 12 Ed Rinke Chevrolet/Chevrolet Performance Camaro) the lead. However, Rinke was without rain tires, and his slower pace allowed Hampton to regain the lead on lap 18. Once Coffey’s repairs were done on pit road, he had incredible speed, and he was able to work up to second by lap 19. For the second half of the race, Coffey relentlessly chased Hampton and seemed on pace to pass him, but Hampton was ultimately the victor. He was followed across the line by Coffey and Rinke.

“Well, we took the first [pace] lap and it started raining,” said Hampton on the podium. “As soon as it started raining, the guys said, ‘come in,’ so we came in. We did NASCAR pit crew stuff. They just went at us, started changing tires, and away we went. And the car is really, really fun to drive in the rain. I just had a great time. This is pretty amazing, sort of an incredible thing for us to do. I’ve got to thank my crew that worked so hard. Thanks to my coach, Thomas Merrill, and my wife, for all the support that they give me. We just drove. I just kept trying to drive as fast as I could and not fall off the track. It was just absolutely incredible. I’ve been watching [Chris Coffey] on television, and all of a sudden, I’m beating him, which is a pretty cool bucket list deal. And Paul Menard, I do business with him. This is just like, ‘pinch me.’ This is crazy stuff here. So, thank you all. This has just been a heck of a lot of fun.”

The full broadcast of Sunday’s race will re-air Sunday night on MAVTV at 8:30 p.m. ET. Highlights will air on MAVTV on Thursday, June 27 at 9:00 p.m. ET.

The Trans Am Series TA/XGT/SGT/GT classes head to Road America next week for the Road America SpeedTour, June 27-30 Tickets can be purchased here on SpeedTour.net.

RESULTS

Mid-Ohio Trans Am TA livestream

It’s the final day of racing at the Mid-Ohio SpeedTour! The Trans Am Series Presented by Pirelli joins Sportscar Vintage Racing Association (SVRA), Formula Regional Americas Championship (FR Americas), Formula 4 United States Championship (F4 U.S.) …

The Trans Am TA/XGT/SGT/GT race will be contested Sunday at 12:40 p.m. ET. The race will be broadcast live on MAVTV and streamed live here. The highlights show of the race will air on MAVTV on Thursday, June 27 at 9:00 p.m. ET.

https://youtube.com/live/-Ddpr8XaRn4?feature=share

Crews romps back to TA2 victory at Mid-Ohio

2023 CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series champion Brent Crews earned his first victory of the 2024 season at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. After finishing second in the ARCA Menards Series race at the track Friday night, Crews found his way to GYM WEED …

Current points leader and two-time TA2 champion Rafa Matos earned a second-place finish, continuing his domination in the class as he challenges for his third title.

Austin Green (No. 89 3-Dimensional Services Group Ford Mustang) took the green flag from the point position after setting a new track record in qualifying Friday night, but it only took a few turns before Nathan Herne (No. 15 Howe Racing/F.A.S.T. Auto Racing Chevrolet Camaro) took over the lead. The battle for P1 was far from over though, as Green was determined to get back to the front. After seven contentious laps, Green finally was able to make the pass on Herne, who was also passed by his teammate, Adrian Wlostowski (No. 3 CMI/Spot-On Services Ford Mustang), as he dropped back to third. Herne reclaimed the second position on lap 10. One lap later, Wlostowski spun and was relegated back to 12th.

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The action fell under a full-course caution on lap 14 as two competitors went off course, but when racing resumed on lap 19, Green and Herne continued their scuffle. Herne made his away around Green, but contact was made between the two, causing severe damage to Green’s nose and hood and forcing him to retire. Herne was now in control of the race, followed by fourth-place starter Crews (No. 70 Nitro Motorsports Ford Mustang), who got shuffle to eighth on the first lap of the race, but worked his way back into the runner-up position. Herne maintained his lead until lap 27, when he and Crews made contact. Crews took over first while Herne spun and fell in the running order.

Once Crews took control, he never looked back, leading the next 18 laps. Behind him, Matos (No. 60 Concord American Flagpole/Nitro Motorsports Ford Mustang) and Jake Drew (No. 7 Silver Hare Racing Chevrolet Camaro) swapped back and forth for the second position, with Matos ultimately taking the runner-up spot with three laps remaining. Drew took the third and final podium position, while Adam Andretti (No. 41 Ultimate Headers Racing Chevrolet Camaro) crossed the finish line fourth and Connor Mosack (No. 57 Silver Hare Racing/PRG Chevrolet Camaro), who started 12th, ended the race in the fifth position.

“I just want to thank the good Lord above,” said Crews. “I want to thank everybody on this whole Nitro Motorsports No. 70 team, Nick Tucker. Congratulations to Joe Claridge on his first win as a crew chief. That was a good one to win; I won by a lot and had a badass racecar the whole time. I made my fastest lap on the last lap. I want to thank everybody at Franklin Road Apparel, like Ken Thwaits; we wouldn’t be able to do it without him. This Nitro No. 70, holy smokes, it was good this weekend. Congrats to Rafa [Matos]. The whole Nitro team did a great job. I want to thank Mike Cope, everybody who is part of this deal, and the whole Nitro Motorsports team. I’m looking forward to Road America.”

The highlight show of Saturday’s race will air on MAVTV on Thursday, June 27 at 8:00 p.m. ET.

The CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series returns to the track next weekend at Road America, June 27-30 Tickets can be purchased here on SpeedTour.net.

RESULTS

Menard runs to second consecutive Trans Am pole at Mid-Ohio

Paul Menard in the No. 3 Menards/Masterforce Tools Ford Mustang earned his second-consecutive pole in the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, with a new track record at the recently-repaved track, laying down a time …

It is Menard’s third pole of the 2024 season. He was the fastest qualifier in TA’s last outing at Pittsburgh International Race Complex two weeks ago, and he also earned a pole earlier this season at NOLA Motorsports Park.

“I’ve watched a hundred races on TV here, but I’ve never been to the facility,” said Menard. “I drove in with my wife and kids yesterday morning and I had no idea where to park or anything. This is one of those tracks where you think of sports car racing, or any kind of racing in North America, and Mid-Ohio is right up there. To get the pole here is amazing. Thank you to 3GT — Paul, Tony and John Gentilozzi, all the guys on the crew. This is an awesome Ford Mustang. At most of these tracks, we show up, they give me a session to learn the track, then we go to work on the car. Luckily, we don’t have to work too hard on it because it’s pretty fast.”

The TA/XGT/SGT/GT race will be contested Sunday at 12:40 p.m. ET. The race will be broadcast live on MAVTV and streamed live here. The highlights show of the race will air on MAVTV on Thursday, June 27 at 9:00 p.m. ET.

RESULTS

Trans Am Mid-Ohio TA2 livestream

Stream the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli’s CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series race at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. The race starts Saturday at 12:40pm ET. It will be broadcast LIVE on MAVTV, and it can also be streamed live here. The highlights …

Green earns first TA2 Series pole with track record at Mid-Ohio

Austin Green in the No. 89 3-Dimensional Services Group Ford Mustang set a new track record in qualifying for the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli’s CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series race at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, laying down a lap time of 1m23.644s in his first time behind the wheel of a TA2 car since the season opener at Sebring International Raceway. Two-time TA2 Australia champion Nathan Herne will take the green flag beside Green on the front row in his first start of the 2024 season.

“It’s my first race back since Sebring in a Trans Am car, so I’m really excited to be back,” said Green. “Hats off to all the 3-Dimensional Services Group crew and Peterson Racing. They brought a really fast 3-Dimensional Services Group Ford Mustang today. We had some speed in practice and we were building on that. Then we went out and laid down a lap and went P1 in qualifying. I’m looking forward to starting out front for the first time in the CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series tomorrow.”

The race will be contested tomorrow at 12:40 p.m. ET. It will be broadcast live on MAVTV, and it can also be streamed live. The highlights show of the CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series race will air on MAVTV on Thursday, June 27 at 8:00 p.m. ET.

Qualifying
1. Austin Green, No. 89 3-Dimensional Services Group Ford Mustang (1m23.644s)
2. Nathan Herne, No. 15 Howe Racing/F.A.S.T. Auto Racing Chevrolet Camaro (1m24.083s)
3. Adrian Wlostowski, No. 3 CMI/Spot-On Services Ford Mustang (1m24.116s)
4. Brent Crews, No. 70 Nitro Motorsports Ford Mustang (1m24.142s)
5. Rafa Matos, No. 60 Concord American Flagpole/Nitro Motorsports Mustang (1m24.255s)

Practice
1. Austin Green, No. 89 3-Dimensional Services Group Ford Mustang (1m23.942s)
2. Rafa Matos, No. 60 Concord American Flagpole/Nitro Motorsports Mustang (1m24.298s)
3. Thomas Annunziata, No. 90 Bayshore Mortgage/Nitro Motorsports Mustang (1m24.494s)
4. Barry Boes, No. 27 Team SLR-M1 Racecars Ford Mustang (1m24.746s)
5. Brent Crews, No. 70 Nitro Motorsports Ford Mustang (1m24.758s)

Trans Am heads for Mid-Ohio

The Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli returns to Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, a track which has hosted the series for 48 races since it opened in 1968. This weekend, competitors will face a brand-new racing surface, as the facility underwent a complete repave over the winter months. At this weekend’s Mid-Ohio SpeedTour, expect teams to have to go back to the drawing board with their notebooks for this historic track, while cars make record-breaking laps on the new, smooth surface.

TA schedule:

Qualifying:
Saturday, June 22
3:40-4:15 p.m. ET

Race:
Sunday, June 23
12:40-1:55 p.m. ET
Race Length: 45 Laps/75 Minutes

TV Broadcast:
LIVE on MAVTV

Highlights Show:
MAVTV
Thursday, June 27
9:00 p.m. ET

TA2 schedule:

Qualifying:
Friday, June 21
4:50-5:25 p.m. ET

Race:
Saturday, June 22
12:40-1:55 p.m. ET
Race Length: 45 Laps/75 Minutes

TV Broadcast:
LIVE on MAVTV

Highlights Show:
MAVTV
Thursday, June 27
8:00 p.m. ET

Two drivers on this weekend’s entry list call the state of Ohio home. Both drivers are from within two hours of the Lexington, Ohio facility, but Amy Ruman’s hometown of Stow, Ohio is closest to the track.

TA
Amy Ruman, No. 23 McNichols Co./Valley Automotive Chevrolet Corvette (Stow)

TA2
Matt Tifft, No. 52 Mike Cope Racing Ford Mustang (Cleveland)

There are nine drivers on this weekend’s entry list who have previously stood on the top step of the podium in the Trans Am Series at Mid-Ohio. Rafa Matos has the most victories at the track of anyone entered this weekend, tallying three wins. Adam Andretti, who earned a CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series victory in 2014, is pulling double duty this weekend, competing in both TA and TA2.

Past winners at Mid-Ohio

TA
Wally Dallenbach, No. 4 Ultimate Headers Ford Mustang: 2023 (TAH), 1985
Chris Dyson, No. 16 GYM WEED Ford Mustang: 2023, 2021
Adam Andretti, No. 44 Top Liner/Go Share Chevrolet Camaro: 2014 (TA2)

SGT
Milton Grant, No. 55 Springhill Suites/Sentry Self Storage Porsche 991.1: 2022
Lee Saunders, No. 84 LandSearch LLC Dodge Viper: 2023, 2014

GT
Chris Coffey, No. 97 Norwood Auto Italia/Traffic Grafix Maserati MC GT4: 2023

TA2
Thomas Merrill, No. 26 HP Tuners/Mike Cope Race Cars Ford Mustang: 2022, 2020
Rafa Matos, No. 60 Concord American Flagpole/Nitro Motorsports Ford Mustang: 2023, 2021, 2018
Adam Andretti, No. 41 Ultimate Headers Chevrolet Camaro: 2014
Doug Peterson, No. 87 3-Dimensional Services Group Ford Mustang: 2014 (TA)

TA: Menard going for three in a row
Paul Menard (No. 3 Menards/Masterforce Tools Ford Mustang) is on a roll, earning his second-consecutive win and third victory of the season in Trans Am’s last event at Pittsburgh International Race Complex. Menard put on a clinic at Pitt Race, dominating the TA class and extending his lead in the standings to a 27-point advantage over second-place Chris Dyson. Although Menard does not have any experience racing at Mid-Ohio in Trans Am or NASCAR, his team owner, Paul Gentilozzi, is well-versed on how to get to victory lane there, as he’s scored three wins at the track during his driving career in 1998, 1999 and 2001.

Odds in Dyson’s favor
Three-time champion Chris Dyson (No. 16 GYM WEED Ford Mustang) comes into Mid-Ohio with one thing that Paul Menard doesn’t have: a plethora of experience. Dyson has six Trans Am starts at the track and has finished on the podium in each of the last five races at Mid-Ohio, tallying victories at the track in 2021 and 2023. Dyson’s familiarity at the track goes beyond the TA class. He has competed at Mid-Ohio 10 times in the American Le Mans Series, earning an overall victory in 2010 in the LMP class. He also competed in his very first SCCA Runoffs and first NASCAR Xfinity Series race at the Ohio facility, in addition to making two starts there in GT World Challenge America. With a frustrating start to the 2024 season so far, Dyson hopes to turn things around on the strength of his experience at Mid-Ohio and score his second win of year.

Ruman seeking home track win
Two-time TA champion Amy Ruman (No. 23 McNichols Co./Valley Automotive Group Chevrolet Corvette) is feeling at home this weekend at Mid-Ohio, which is located less than 90 miles from her hometown of Stow, Ohio. Currently fifth in the point standings, Ruman has made 13 starts at her home track, but has never made it to the top step of the podium at Mid-Ohio, earning a best finish of second at the track in 2012. Ruman recently welcomed back associate sponsor Valley Automotive Group, an Ohio-based car and truck dealership network.

DeGaynor looking to celebrate
Jon DeGaynor (No. 04 Speed Dream’n Racing Ford Mustang) is celebrating his birthday with his second start of the 2024 season. DeGaynor, who turns 58 on Saturday, is no stranger to Victory Lane at Mid-Ohio, as he’s scored previous victories at the track in SVRA. The TA Pick Six competitor made his Trans Am Series debut in the season opener at Sebring International Raceway earlier this season, finishing sixth in class. DeGaynor also has local ties to the area. He recently retired as CEO of Stoneridge, Inc., which is located just a few miles away from the Lexington track.

Coffey is piping hot
GT competitor Chris Coffey (No. 97 Norwood Auto Italia/Traffic Grafix Maserati MC GT4) comes into this weekend’s race with multiple previous victories at Mid-Ohio. Coffey won at Mid-Ohio last year in his first-ever start at the track, and has also taken the checkered flag at the facility in SCCA and IGT. Coffey is brewing a nearly perfect season so far, winning four out of five events this year. His most recent victory at Pitt Race may be his most impressive, as he stood atop the podium after working through the night to repair his teammate and sponsor Colin Cohen’s No. 38 Norwood Auto Italia/Traffic Grafix Maserati MC GT4 after Cohen crashed in practice.

Welcome back Jack
A GT class competitor will be making his first start of the 2024 season this weekend at Mid-Ohio. Jack Rinke (No. 12 Ed Rinke Chevrolet/Chevrolet Performance Camaro) is making his season debut in the Pro/Am Pick Six Challenge, joining Colin Cohen (No. 38 Norwood Auto Italia/Traffic Grafix Maserati MC GT4) as this week’s competitors in the Pick Six points race.

TA2: Matos leads at halfway
Rafa Matos (No. 60 Concord American Flagpole/Nitro Motorsports Ford Mustang) continued his dominance in the CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series in the most recent event at Pitt Race, earning his 23rd-career win and second-consecutive victory. With six of 12 rounds complete, Matos has won three TA2 races so far this season and is the only driver in the class to have achieved multiple victories. He currently leads the TA2 standings with a 62-point advantage over teammate Thomas Annunziata (No. 90 Bayshore Mortgage/The Decorators Unlimited Ford Mustang).

Matos’ victory was the fourth-straight win for his team, Nitro Motorsports, which has occupied 11 of 18 possible podium spots so far in 2024. With Nitro driver Ben Maier in fourth, the team currently holds three of the top-four positions in the point standings, with the only spoiler being 2022 champion Thomas Merrill (No. 26 HP Tuners/Cope Race Cars Ford Mustang) in third.

Maier a past winner
Already a winner this season at World Wide Technology Raceway, Ben Maier (No. 80 BOE Marine/Nitro Motorsports Ford Mustang) already knows what it takes to visit Victory Lane at Mid-Ohio. The 15-year-old swept both races in the Spec Miata doubleheader at the track in 2022. Maier also has experience racing in Stadium Super Trucks at the track, finishing third in his debut with the series that same year.

Maier recently ticked off one other accomplishment. He completed his first year of high school, finishing the ninth grade in his hometown of Chester, Md. He plans to spend time closer to his Nitro Motorsports team in Mooresville, N.C. this summer.

Double duty drivers
The Trans Am Series will be joined at this weekend’s Mid-Ohio SpeedTour by the ARCA Menards Series, and four CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series drivers will be pulling double duty, competing in the stock car series race on Friday night. Gio Ruggiero (No. 40 Nitro Motorsports Ford Mustang), Connor Mosack (No. 57 Silver Hare Racing/PRG Chevrolet Camaro), Brent Crews (No. 70 Nitro Motorsports Ford Mustang) and Thomas Annunziata (No. 90 Bayshore Mortgage/The Decorators Unlimited Ford Mustang) will all be logging 95 additional miles of racing this weekend.

All four drivers have previous ARCA experience with impressive results. Mosack has two victories in the series, winning at Kansas Speedway in both 2023 and 2024. Crews also tallied an ARCA win at the Illinois State Fairgrounds last year.

In just three ARCA starts, Ruggiero has earned two second-place finishes, and comes into this weekend after earning a third-place result at last weekend’s race at Iowa Speedway. Annunziata made his ARCA debut in this year’s season opener at Daytona International Speedway, finishing second.

A Herne return
This weekend’s race will mark the return of two-time TA2 Australia champion Nathan Herne to the CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series. Herne made his United States Trans Am debut in the 2022 season finale at Circuit of The Americas, finishing fourth in his first-career start. He went on to compete full time in 2023, earning three podium finishes. This weekend, Herne will pilot the No. 15 Howe Racing/F.A.S.T. Auto Racing Chevrolet Camaro for Adrian Wlostowski’s team. Herne finished sixth in his one and only start at Mid-Ohio last year. The “Lismore Bullet” recently made his debut in Lamborghini Super Trofeo Europe at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps. The 21-year-old continues to race in TA2 Australia, and currently sits sixth in the standings.

More happy returns
In addition to Nathan Herne, the CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series will see the return of a few other familiar faces this weekend:

2023 TA2 champion Brent Crews (No. 70 Nitro Motorsports Ford Mustang) returns for his second start of the 2024 season. Crews most recently raced at World Wide Technology Raceway, finishing second to Nitro Motorsports teammate Ben Maier.

Last year’s TA2 Rookie of the Year, Austin Green (No. 89 3-Dimensional Services Group Ford Mustang), will be making his second Trans Am start of the season this weekend. Since competing in the season opener at Sebring International Raceway, Green has found success competing on road courses in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, most recently earning a fourth-place finish at Sonoma Raceway.

Matt Tifft (No. 52 Mike Cope Racing Ford Mustang) returns to the series for the first time since his Trans Am debut at Road America in 2018. Since he last raced in Trans Am, the Cleveland native has competed in the NASCAR Cup Series, and most recently has been participating in various late model racing series.

Pro/Am heating up
This weekend will see a deep field of TA2 Pro/Am Challenge drivers entered, with 11 drivers competing this weekend at Mid-Ohio. At the halfway point in the season, Barry Boes (No. 27 Team SLR-M1 Racecars Ford Mustang) holds a staggering 90-point lead after tallying three victories in six events. Tom Sheehan (No. 97 Vixen Motorcycle/LTK Insulation Ford Mustang) sits second, earning his first win at World Wide Technology Raceway. Keith Prociuk (No. 9 HP Tuners/Cope Race Cars Ford Mustang) sits just 11 points behind Sheehan, with two victories thus far.

Menard goes back-to-back with Pitt Race TA win

Paul Menard put on a clinic at Pittsburgh International Race Complex, dominating every lap to win his second-consecutive Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli event at the Pitt Race SpeedTour. Menard started the race from the pole and led every lap …

Taking the green flag from the pole position, Menard was shot out of a cannon in his No. 3 Menards/Masterforce Tools Ford Mustang, immediately jumping out to a multi-second lead. Right after the start, third-place Adam Andretti (No. 17 Top Liner/Go Share Chevrolet Camaro) passed second-place starter Chris Dyson (No. 16 GYM WEED Ford Mustang), as the three-time champion struggled with the handling of his car. With no one to challenge him, Menard opened up a more than 10-second lead by lap 21. Meanwhile a tight battle between Andretti and Dyson had the two within a second of each other as each lap ticked by.

Unfortunately, trouble struck Andretti on lap 29 when the second-place contender’s car slowed and came to a stop off the racing surface. Andretti’s engine had lost power, ripping him out of race contention and relegating him to last in class. By this point, Menard had a 20-second advantage over Dyson which only continued to grow, and he sailed to the victory, with Dyson crossing the finish line in second. Tomy Drissi (No. 8 Franklin Road Apparel Chevrolet Camaro) earned the final podium position, which was an accomplishment after he started from the rear of the field due to switching cars between qualifying and the race. Amy Ruman (No. 23 McNichols Co. Chevrolet Corvette) crossed the finish line fourth despite missing practice and qualifying, and Richard Grant in the No. 30 Grant Racing Chevrolet Camaro was scored fifth.

“This is a great facility,” said Menard in GYM WEED Winners Circle. “The track has room to pass, it has lots of runoff. You don’t get racecars like this very often. I pushed hard at the beginning, kind of set a gap, and then just tried to manage the tires. This facility and the surface are hard on tires. I think we saw that with Chris [Dyson] and Adam [Andretti]. I was just trying to save tires in case a restart came at the end, but it never did. I’m so proud of Tony and John and Paul Gentilozzi back home for putting together this racecar and letting me come play with it.”

This was Paul Menard’s second-consecutive race win and third of the season. He has previous victories at Sebring International Raceway and Lime Rock Park. Menard won by 44.432s margin.

Menard continues to lead the TA point standings, now holding a 27-point advantage over three-time champion Chris Dyson.

Richard Forsythe earned his second SGT win of the season. Chris Coffey tallied his fourth victory in five GT races this year.

TA Top Five:
1. Paul Menard, No. 3 Menards/Masterforce Tools Ford Mustang
2. Chris Dyson, No. 16 GYM WEED Ford Mustang
3. Tomy Drissi, No. 8 Franklin Road Apparel Chevrolet Camaro
4. Amy Ruman, No. 23 McNichols Co. Chevrolet Corvette
5. Richard Grant, No. 30 Grant Racing Chevrolet Camaro

EMCO Gears Lap Leader:
Paul Menard, No. 3 Menards/Masterforce Tools Ford Mustang

The SGT race was the most exciting of the day, with three different leaders and a last-lap pass for the win. Lee Saunders in the No. 84 LandSearch LLC Dodge Viper started the race first in class, but was immediately passed after the green flag by Joshua Carlson in the No. 36 Enseva/TC Fab/Diercks Ltd Ford Mustang. Carlson had incredible speed early in the race, and created what appeared to be an insurmountable gap between himself and second-place Saunders.

Saunders had a challenge in his mirrors, with Richard Forsythe (No. 58 GSpeed/Sambuca Restaurant Chevrolet Corvette) running close behind him on every lap. While those two battled, Carlson experienced severe tire wear and lost grip, slowly backing up until the top three were running nose to tail on lap 28. Saunders saw the opportunity to pass Carlson, but the two made contact and Carlson spun, dropping back to third place. Saunders led the next seven laps, but Forsythe was right on his bumper. On Lap 35, Forsythe was able to make the pass, but Saunders passed him right back. Finally, in the last turns of the last lap, Forsythe was able to make the pass stick, claiming his second win of the season.

“Oh my god, we were burning up our tires,” said Forsythe. “Everybody was burning up their tires, it was getting slippery all over the place. Those guys put on a hell of a ride. I didn’t even know where the heck Josh [Carlson] went at the beginning. He was gone, and we finally caught up to him because I guess he burned up his tires, and Lee [Saunders] started burning up his tires, and we were getting really squirrely coming in and out of there. I had him on braking over and over again, and the braking really made a lot of the difference. We were side by side, and down there at Turn 16, I passed him and he passed me back, and then we came back and we did the whole thing again. Wow, unbelievable race. God, it was like driving go-karts in the old days.”

SGT Results:
1. Richard Forsythe, No. 58 GSpeed/Sambuca Restaurant Chevrolet Corvette
2. Lee Saunders, No. 84 LandSearch LLC Dodge Viper
3. Joshua Carlson, No. 36 Enseva/TC Fab/Diercks Ltd. Ford Mustang
4. Kaylee Bryson, No. 02 Logical Systems Inc./Sam Pierce Chevrolet Corvette
5. Milton Grant, No. 55 Sentry Self Storage/Springhill Suites Porsche 991.1 GT3 Cup

SGT Masters:
Milton Grant, No. 55 Sentry Self Storage/Springhill Suites Porsche 991.1 GT3 Cup

The GT race was a smooth one for Chris Coffey in the No. 97 Norwood Auto Italia/Traffic Grafix Maserati MC GT4, as he led the race from start to finish, with teammate Colin Cohen (No. 38 Norwood Auto Italia/Traffic Grafix Maserati MC GT4) finishing behind him in second. However, the real challenge for Coffey was the non-stop work leading up to the green flag. After Cohen experienced severe crash damage in practice yesterday, Coffey and his crew worked through the night and into the morning to repair his teammate’s Maserati so he could start the event today.

“Yeah, it was no big deal, really,” Coffey said with a laugh. “I got about four hours of sleep last night, and worked literally until the car was on the grid. I stopped and took a shower while the guys were warming the car up, got dressed, immediately got in the car, and put it on the grid. I’ve really got to thank the guys that are here to help me: David Rice and Xavier Willis. I can’t believe they let me scream at them for 12 hours straight last night. I want to thank my wife Morgan, my son Sam, and most of all Colin [Cohen], because without him, I couldn’t be here. I’m ready for a nap.”

GT Results:
1. Chris Coffey, No. 97 Norwood Auto Italia/Traffic Grafix Maserati MC GT4
2. Colin Cohen, No. 38 Norwood Auto Italia/Traffic Grafix Maserati MC GT4

RESULTS

The highlight show of today’s race will air on MAVTV on Thursday, June 13 at 9:00 p.m. ET.

The Trans Am Series TA/XGT/SGT/GT classes next hit the track at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, June 20-23.

Matos grabs second consecutive TA2 win in Pittsburgh

Rafa Matos continued his domination in the CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series, earning his second-consecutive victory and third of the 2024 season. After taking the lead from polesitter Ben Maier by Turn 3 of the first lap, Matos executed flawlessly in his No. 60 Concord American Flagpole/Nitro Motorsports Ford Mustang to win in TA2’s first visit to Pittsburgh International Race Complex.

Maier started Round 6 at Pitt Race with his No. 80 BOE Marine/Nitro Motorsports Ford Mustang on the pole next to Jake Drew in the No. 7 Silver Hare Racing/PRG Chevrolet Camaro, but after the green flag waved, Matos jumped from third to take the leaders three wide into Turn 1. After a scramble for position, it was Matos who emerged with the lead, securing it before the field entered Turn 3. Other drivers also made huge leaps in the running order on the first lap, with fifth-place starter Adrian Wlostowski (No. 3 CMI/Spot-On Services Ford Mustang) sneaking into third, and ninth-place starter Thomas Merrill (No. 26 HP Tuners/Cope Race Cars Ford Mustang) quickly jumping up to fourth, while Drew slid back to fifth.

It wasn’t long before the top five changed again, with Wlostowski spinning on lap three and dropping to 17th. On lap 14, Drew and Merrill were battling for position and made contact, resulting in Merrill spinning into the grass and bringing out a full-course caution. The race restarted on lap 18 with Matos, Maier, Drew, Tyler Kicera (No. 40 Nitro Motorsports Ford Mustang) and Josh Hurley (No. 20 Greenlight Simulation/BCR Ford Mustang) in the top five.

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Matos had a perfect restart, and the race stayed green for the remainder of the event, leaving Maier to fruitlessly chase the two-time champion, who ticked off consistently fast times lap after lap and opened a significant gap over second. The racing wasn’t over though, as the drivers behind the top two were engaged in exciting battles. Carson Kvapil (No. 28 Team SLR-M1 Racecars Chevrolet Camaro), who started 10th, cracked the top five on lap 21, and moved into fourth on lap 26. Thomas Annunziata (No. 90 Bayshore Mortgage/Nitro Motorsports Ford Mustang) started last after missing qualifying yesterday while racing at Sonoma Raceway, but worked his way into fifth on lap 31.

On the final lap, Kvapil squeezed by Drew to score the last podium spot. Matos, Maier and Kvapil were the first across the finish line when the checkered flag waved, followed by Drew and Annunziata. After the race, Drew was assessed a penalty for avoidable contact with Merrill, moving Annunziata up to fourth, and Pennsylvania-native Kicera into fifth.

“All the credit goes to the Nitro Motorsports team; these guys are amazing,” said Matos in GYM WEED Winners Circle. “They gave me a fantastic car. The Concord American Flagpole Mustang was hauling the mail today, it was amazing. I had a good initial start, and I was able to go around Ben [Maier], but he kept me honest all race long. I was pushing really hard to build that gap. I couldn’t believe how long those last 10 laps took, but we were able to manage the gap and win for the 23rd time. Hats off to every single person that has been helping us, as well as my family, my wife and daughter. I love you guys.”

The highlight show of Sunday’s race will air on MAVTV on Thursday, June 13 at 8:00 p.m. ET.

The CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series next hit the track at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, June 20-23.

RESULTS