10 Days of Champions - Rafa Matos: CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series National Championship

December 23, 2024

The winningest driver in the history of the CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series with 25 wins, Rafa Matos became the first driver in the class to win three championships this year. With titles earned in 2018 and 2021, Matos began the 2024 season with a new powerhouse team, Nitro Motorsports, claiming five victories and eight podium finishes.

The 2024 Parella Motorsports Holdings Powering Diversity Scholarship recipient started off the year with a podium at Sebring International Raceway, finishing third in his No. 60 Concord American Flagpole/Nitro Motorsports Ford Mustang. At Road Atlanta, Matos started the race from the first position and battled for the win for much of the event, but a late-race tire puncture resulted in a disappointing 12th-place finish.

Matos would drive to GYM WEED Winners Circle for the first time this year in Round 3 at NOLA Motorsports Park after starting the race from the pole position. The victory was Matos’ first since Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in June of 2023.

“The race went pretty well,” said Matos from the podium. “We felt we had a very fast racecar since the beginning of the weekend, and hats off to the Nitro Motorsports team. I think [team owner] Nick Tucker does a fantastic job assembling a fantastic team. There's a lot of talent on the team, not only the drivers, but the mechanics and the crew chiefs. I had the pole position, but got passed in the beginning and waited until I burned some fuel in the car and gained some balance. I went to overtake Jake [Drew] and built up a gap, and I just managed that gap for the rest of the race. Just a really good day. I’m proud of the team, proud of Concord American Flagpole Company for allowing us to compete at the highest level. And my 21st win, baby! I was waiting for that one for a long time; it's been a minute. Hopefully it will be the first of many this season and we'll pave our way to our third championship."

It was, indeed, the first of many. After a fifth-place finish at World Wide Technology Raceway, Matos next drove to back-to-back victories at Lime Rock Park and Pittsburgh International Race Complex (Pitt Race).

“It's an amazing feeling right now,” said Matos after his long-awaited win at Lime Rock Park. “I've never had luck here at Lime Rock Park; I've always had something happen: a lapped car or rain or something breaking on the car. But the Nitro Motorsports guys prepared an amazing car.”

The Brazilian driver earned a runner-up finish at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course as the second half of the season kicked off, and Matos was right back in Victory Lane one week later, earning his fourth win of the season and the 24th of his career at Road America.

Following a third-place finish at Watkins Glen International, Matos earned his fifth and final win of the 2024 season at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, as the series visited the track for the first time in a decade.

With a sizable lead in the point standings after his fifth victory, a top-five finish at VIRginia International Raceway and an eighth-place finish at Circuit of The Americas was enough for Matos to clinch his third CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series title.

“What an incredible season,” Matos reflected after the final race. “I'm really proud of the team, really proud and thankful for Concord American Flagpole and Chris Dyson for believing in this project and making sure that we have what it takes to compete at the highest level in the United States. I’m super proud of Nick Tucker, Johanna Tucker. I appreciate them having me on the team. Thank you to my crew chief, Mark Durgin. When they told me that my crew chief's nickname was Doctor, I said, ‘Okay, we're good, we're gonna be just fine.’ Mark does a phenomenal job. I also want to thank Ron Otto, Brad Parrott, and we can't forget our driver coach, Tyler Kicera. He does a fantastic job.”

“This third title means a lot to me and to my family,” Matos continued.” My mom is here from Brazil, my wife, my daughter. I've been chasing this title for a couple years and I had a couple hard breaks that were really tough to digest, but today was our day. I can't thank enough our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Matos recently announced that he will be joining Silver Hare Racing full time in 2025, pursuing his fourth championship. Matos competed with Silver Hare in 2020, earning one victory at Circuit of The Americas and finishing second in the point standings.