Kenny and Jordan Bupp set for 2016 Trans Am return

February 29, 2016

 (Team Release) -- Kenny and Jordan Bupp return to the Trans Am series for the 50th anniversary season. Kenny, Jordan's father will be in his Riley and Scott TA Camaro while Jordan brings his Mike Cope Ford Mustang to the TA2 class. "We are living the dream" Kenny said with father and son as a team. Kenny is a veteran racer who has loved the sport for 34 years, participating in road race events from North America to South America, to Japan, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica and Canada. At age 44 after watching the NASCAR Firecracker race at Daytona he decided to try his hand. After Skip Barber at Sebring in early 1982, he started in a GT3 Opal Manta and won the Fl. Region Championship. His first top 10 finish in IMSA was 7th in the Detroit GP in the Champion Spark Plug Challenge in 1984. 1993 was a big year for Kenny finishing 2 in the IMSA GTO series, and racing in the World Challenge at Suzuka, Japan. In 2001 he and his team won the AGT class in the Rolex 24, sharing the winner's circle with Dale and Junior Earnhardt. A very special memory! In 2003 he teamed with Jon "Chevy" Leavy in the Grand American AGT class to win races at Road America and Homestead, finishing second in the team championship

Jordan attended his first race at age 30 days at Road America! At age 6 he began go cart racing and for his 16th birthday he attended Skip Barber followed by their advanced school at Daytona. After racing in selected Club events he won his first Pro race at Sebring in the Pan American GT in a GT 1 Corvette. He then raced in both the ST and GS classes in the Continental Tire Challenge. In 2013 he ran 3 Trans Am events in the Corvette, but the season was interrupted by chronic kidney failure. This life changing illness was a big blow, but with the help of his health providers he was able to resume his racing career. In 2015 he raced his Mike Cope TA2 Ford Mustang with Todd Coury as Crew Chief in 3 Trans Am events with a best finish of 4th at Homestead. Kenny finished top 5 at Sebring in the TA class in the first race of the season.

In order to stay close to home he decided to qualify for the SCCA Runoffs by racing Regional events at Homestead, Roebling Road, Road Atlanta, and Charlotte. He set the track record at each track for the GT2 class. At the Runoffs at Daytona he set the Pole while setting the new track record and lead every lap of the race until his engine failed in the last lap.
Jordan was crowned the Southeast Division GT2 champion for 2015 and Kenny the GT1 champion. Jordan was named the Driver of the Year for the SE Division. Quite a year for a young man that thought in 2013 that his racing career was over.

"The Runoffs meant a great deal to me having grown up watching my dad race and knowing that I have a future of doing what I love so much". It also showed how competitive the TA2 platform can be with hard work by our team in improving the setup.

For 2016 the Bupp's have added master road racer Tommy Riggins as the team Manager, bring a wealth of talent and experience to their effort. "Our goal is very simple - win and be competitive at every event. With Tommy at the helm we believe that we have the right people, equipment and budget to accomplish our goals", stated Jordan. He did the preseason testing for Elmore Racing Engines for the fuel injection-equipped Ford engines in preparation for the new TA2 season. "My new patriotic livery finish on my Mustang is meant to honor the 50th anniversary and those who have sacrificed so much to keep us free, both here and abroad. I am also happy to be in the Ford Mustang since my friend and mentor Tommy Kendall who raced Fords is my all time favorite race car driver!"
See Jordan and Kenny in the season opener for the Trans Am on March 5, 2016