Loshak leads the way for TA2, Ebben sets the pace in TA as Mid-Ohio weekend begins
August 13, 2015

Mueller and Francis kick off event for TA3
Lexington, Oh. (August 13, 2015) -- Lawrence Loshak, driver of the No. 5 Raybestos Powertrain Ford Mustang, led the way with a time of 1:26.734, topping the 33-car class, as TA2 kicked off Round 7 of the 2015 Trans Am Championship at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course with practice. Loshak, sporting a modern take on the iconic Raybestos livery unveiled only just this weekend, set the pole here at Mid-Ohio last year with a time of 1:28.185, a lap that will be well eclipsed come qualifying tomorrow if Loshak can replicate today’s speed.
Loshak was followed by two-time defending TA2 Champion Cameron Lawrence, in the No.1 MOPAR Dodge Challenger, who was second fastest in the session with a time of 1:27.401. Lawrence unveiled a new car of his own this weekend, celebrating the one-year anniversary of the Miller Racing team’s transition to the Dodge Challenger platform with a brand new red and black ride.
Rookie Gar Robinson, in the No. 74 74 Ranch Resort Chevrolet Camaro, was third in the session with a time of 1:28.050, while fellow rookies Jordan Bernloehr, in the No. 07 Prokart Indoors/BC Race Cars Chevrolet Camaro, and Shane Lewis, in the No. 72 74 Ranch Resort Chevrolet Camaro, were fourth and fifth with times of 1:28.050 and 1:28.200, respectively.
Mid-Ohio will be the site of the fourth Trans Am Muscle Car Challenge this year, with the class holding its own independent race Friday afternoon at 4:45 p.m. ET, The FirstEnergy Muscle Car Challenge, presented by 3-Dimesional Services.
The TA and TA3 classes followed TA2 out on course for their own practice session, as Cliff Ebben, in the No. 36 Stumpf Ford/McMahon Group Ford Mustang, set the pace for the TA class with a time of 1:22.472. Ebben was followed by current points leader, and Ohio native, Amy Ruman, driver of the No. 23 McNichols Company/First Energy Chevrolet Corvette, with a lap time of 1:22.562—strong enough for second in the class.
Simon Gregg, in the No. 59 Derhaag Motorsports Chevrolet Corvette, was third in the session with a time of 1:22.759, while Tony Ave Racing teammates Tomy Drissi, in the No. 71 Straight Outa Compton Chevrolet Corvette, and Doug Peterson, in the No. 87 3Dimensional.com Cadillac CTS, were fourth and fifth in the session with times of 1:22.770 and 1:23.786, respectively.
TA3 was led by Randy Mueller, in the No. 0 Epic Motorsports/MCM Holdings BMW M3, with a time of 1:30.549 in the International Group, while defending Champion Ernie Francis, Jr., in the No. 98 Breathless Performance Chevrolet Camaro, set the pace for the American Muscle Group with a lap time of 1:32.035.
Mueller was followed in the International Group by Russ Snow, in the No. 20 Guardian Services, AiM sports Chevrolet Corvette, and Larry Funk, in the No. 64 Business Advisory Services BMW M3, with times of 1:31.061 and 1:31.938, respectively.
In the American Muscle Group, Francis was followed by Todd Napieralski, in the No. 39 Tremec/SKF/Backstreet Chevrolet Camaro, and Craig Capaldi, in the No. 8 Wolverine Bronze/Capaldi Racing Ford Mustang, with times of 1:32.377 and 1:33.407.
The Trans Am Series will return to the track tomorrow at 8:30 a.m. ET for a series of “Fast Five” qualifying sessions, with each class tackling the Mid-Ohio course independently in preparation for their respective 100-mile Trans Am races. The TA2 exclusive FirstEnergy Muscle Car Challenge, presented by 3-Dimensional Services will take place Friday afternoon at 4:45 p.m. while the Next Dimension 100, presented by FirstEnergy, featuring TA and TA3, will take place at 12:50 p.m. Saturday.
Keep up with all the action for Round 7 of the 2015 Trans Am Championship at www.gotransam.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/gotransam and on Twitter at @gotransam.