Trans Am Announces 21-Car TA2 Field for 3-Dimensional Races at Detroit Grand Prix
May 30, 2018
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Double Points Weekend to Shape 2018 TA2 Championship Chase
DETROIT, Mich. [May 29, 2018] – The Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli will bring a total of 21 TA2 class machines to the streets of Belle Isle next month for its 3-Dimensional Services Muscle Car Challenge and Motor City Dash, a double header of Trans Am action at the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear, June 1-3.
The double points event marks the first standalone weekend in the TA2 class’ history, bringing Trans Am’s popular and tightly contested championship battle of Ford Mustangs, Dodge Challengers and Chevrolet Camaros to their spiritual home in the Motor City.
Current TA2 championship points leader Rafa Matos is no stranger to the sights and thrills of a Verizon IndyCar Series weekend; the driver of the No. 88 Coleman/ 3-Dimensional Services Chevrolet Camaro is a former Champ Car Atlantic and Indy Lights Champion as well as the 2009 IndyCar Rookie of the Year. Last year at Belle Isle, Matos made his Trans Am debut, finishing second in the single TA2 class race.
Now Matos is riding the success of a two-race win streak after Road Atlanta and Homestead-Miami victories. Matos will feature on a two car Coleman Motorsports team alongside Trans Am veteran Doug Peterson, a 2013 and 2014 TA class champion in his own right, in the No. 87 Coleman/ 3-Dimensional Services Chevrolet Camaro.
Peterson is not the only former Trans Am champion in the field, with current points runner-up and 2016 TA2 champ Tony Buffomante, in the No. 34 Mike Cope Racing Ford Mustang, and 2015 and 2017 TA2 champ Gar Robinson, in the No. 74 Ranch Resort Chevrolet Camaro, both in attendance.
In addition, 2017 TA class champion, and Detroit TA class victor in 2017, Ernie Francis, Jr., will make his official TA2 class debut in the No. 44 ECC/Anchor Bolt & Screw Chevrolet Camaro.
Michigan native Marc Miller, out of Holland, Michigan, in the No. 12 Berryman/ Prefix Dodge Challenger, will lead a four-car Stevens-Miller Racing effort. Miller made his TA2 debut in Trans Am’s return to the Detroit Grand Prix in 2016, finishing second in the exhibition race. This year marks Miller’s first season of full-time Trans Am competition, a campaign that opened with a victory at Sebring International Raceway in March.
Miller will be joined under the Stevens-Miller tent by a trio of rookies with Ethan Wilson, in the No. 49 Berryman/ Prefix Dodge Challenger, Anthony Honeywell, in the No. 76 Honeywell Competition/ Prefix Dodge Challenger, and Paul Van Terry, in the NO. 77 Paul Van Terry Trucks/ Prefix Dodge Challenger. The weekend will mark a Detroit debut for all three competitors as they continue their rookie seasons, with Ethan Wilson currently leading the TA2 Rookie of the Year standings.
Joining Tony Buffomante in the Mike Cope Racing stables will be Keith Prociuk, currently sixth in the championship points, in the No. 9 HP Tuners Chevrolet Camaro; 2017 TA2 Rookie of the Year Matt Parent, in the No. 14 Mike Cope Racing Ford Mustang; and the debuting duo of brothers Bobby Reuse and Roger Reuse, in the No. 8 WCIParts.com Chevrolet Camaro and No. 26 Mike Cope Racing Ford Mustang, respectively.
Shane Lewis, currently sitting third in the TA2 points in the No. 92 Turn Key Industries/ Surphis Chevrolet Camaro, will continue his championship campaign for Napoleon Motorsports with teammate Joe Napoleon, in the No. 91 Turn Key Industries/ Surphis Chevrolet Camaro.
A pair of Florida residents will make their Belle Isle debuts this weekend with Jordan Bupp, in the No. 80 Bupp Motorsports Ford Mustang, and Thomas Ellis, in the No. 99 Palm Express Racing Ford Mustang, making the haul north. Bupp currently stands seventh in the TA2 points, coming off a career best third place finish last round at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
Trans Am veteran Tom Sheehan will be making his third Trans Am appearance at the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix in the No. 97 LTK Insulation Technologies Chevrolet Camaro. Sheehan currently leads all Trans Am competitors with 74 career TA2 starts.
Fans of stock car racing will take notice of Scott Lagasse, Jr., in the No. 95 M1 Fastrack Road Racing Chevrolet Camaro, making his fourth Trans Am start of the season. Lagasse is best known for his career in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and Camping World Truck Series, where he has campaigned since 2005.
Steven Lustig, in the No. 05 Autosport Group Mustang, will continue his return to Trans Am action after a season’s absence, making his third and fourth start of 2018. Tim Gray, in the No. 60 Ryan Companies US Ford Mustang, will also be in attendance and currently sits 21st in the TA2 points.
The 21 TA2 competitors will compete in two races during the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear, the 60-minute 3-Dimensional Services Muscle Car Challenge on Saturday June 2, 2018, and the 3-Dimensional Services Motor City Dash, 100-miles or 75 minutes whichever comes first, on Sunday June 3, 2018.
Race order for the 3-Dimensional Services Motor City Dash will be determined by fast lap, quickest to slowest, from the 3-Dimensional Services Muscle Car Challenge.
Fans can keep up with Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli action throughout the event at www.gotransam.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/gotransam and on Twitter at @gotransam.
Likewise, updates from the entirety of the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear can be found at http://detroitgp.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/detroitgp and on Twitter at @DetroitGP.
Trans Am Event Schedule:
Friday June 1, 2018
7:30 AM – 8:00 AM Practice 1
12:20 PM – 12:50 PM Practice 2
4:35 PM – 5:05 PM Qualifying
Saturday, June 2, 2018
8:45 AM – 9:45 AM 3-Dimensional Services Muscle Car Challenge
Sunday June 3, 2018
9:30 AM – 10:00 AM Trans Am Autograph Session
11:45 AM – 1:00 PM 3-Dimensional Services Motor City Dash
*all times eastern.
Session Coverage:
Live Timing: All on-track sessions can be followed at www.gotransam.com and on the Race Monitor app available on Windows, Android, iOS and OSX.
Text Commentary: Updates provided throughout sessions on Twitter at @gotransam.
Live Streaming on Motor Trend On Demand:
3-Dimensional Services Motor City Dash – June 3, 11:45 AM – 1:00 PM ET
Broadcast:
Trans Am’s races at the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear will be broadcast, tape delayed, on CBS Sports Network.
3-Dimensional Services Motor City Recap- June 17, 1:00 PM ET
