Trans Am To Make Pitt Debut at Keystone Speedfest
August 1, 2018
Series features in 15-race event weekend at Pittsburgh International Race Complex
WAMPUM, Pa. [August 1, 2018] – For the first time in the history of the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli, teams and competitors are descending on Pittsburgh International Race Complex for the Keystone Speedfest The 15 race weekend will feature Trans Am’s TA, TA3 and TA4 classes, Formula Promotion’s F1600, F2000 and Atlantic Championship series, the F3 US Championship and the debuting F3 Americas Championship.
For another first in Series history, Trans Am will host an independent TA3 and TA4 class competition, giving Trans Am’s production-based classes their own opportunity to shine on the 2.78 mile, 19 turn “full track.” As a result, the TA class will also run on their own, marking the first time since 2010 that the class has raced solo. Both races will span 100.8 miles.
As the Trans Am Series approaches its midway point, defending TA class champion Ernie Francis, Jr., in the No. 98 Frameless Shower Doors Ford Mustang, holds the class points lead, 31 points ahead of Chris Dyson, in the No. 20 @PlaidCrafts Ford Mustang. Together the two have monopolized the top spot of the podium over the initial four rounds, with Dyson taking Road Atlanta and Francis Sebring, Homestead-Miami and Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Looking to bring a fresh face to the winners’ circle will be Canfield, Ohio’s David Pintaric, in the No. 57 Kryderacing Cadillac CTS-V. All of 40 minutes from his front door, Pitt represents an opportunity for Pintaric to race in his backyard on his home track. It is also a chance to bolster his current championship points, with the No. 57 currently residing third in the standings, just four points behind Dyson.
Everything looked like it was coming together for Lawrence Loshak last round at Indianapolis Motor Speedway for a career-first TA class victory; however, his No. 2 Pennzoil/ ETE/ GoShare Chevrolet Camaro was sidelined by mechanical issues while holding a comfortable lead. Now Loshak and the No. 2 gets a shot at redemption and a chance to prove why his was the team to beat in Indy.
Amy Ruman, in the No. 23 McNichols Company Chevrolet Corvette, enters Pitt riding a streak of two consecutive podium finishes, a third at Homestead-Miami and a second in Indy. Now the former two-time champ gets a chance to continue that streak at nearby Pitt, then at her home track of Mid-Ohio next round.
Other TA class competitors entered include Ryan McManus, Kerry Pitt, Richard Grant, Simon Gregg, John Baucom and Jim McAleese. Pitt will mark the season debut for both McManus and McAleese.
A last minute updated to the entry list marks the inclusion of Paul Fix, in the No. 4 StopFlex/Ave Racing Ford Mustang, adding another proven race winner to the TA class competition.
TA3 class competition will see the addition of 2017 TA4 class championship winning team DWW Motorsports, with Brian Kleeman, in the No. 07 DWW/RaceTech/Expoit Ford Mustang, and Chris Outzen, in the No. 09 DWW/itrackzone/PFC Ford Mustang making their class debuts. Kleeman, the 2017 TA4 champ, was dominant throughout last year’s season winning seven of the 12 rounds of competition.
Alline Cipriani, in the No. 60 Ginetta USA Ginetta G55, and Dave Ricci, in the No 71 Florida Roadway Signs Chevrolet Camaro, are poised for solid points weekends and can both potentially overtake current points leader Mark Boden of Fall-Line Motorsport, absent from competition this weekend.
Cindi Lux, in the No. 45 Lux Performance Group Dodge Viper, is set for her second TA3 start of the 2018 season, as are the LSI duo of Larry Bailey, in the No. 02 LSI/ Sam Pierce Chevrolet Corvette, and Aaron Pierce, in the No. 04 LSI/ Sam Pierce/ Fast Chevrolet Corvette.
TA4 class competition will feature Indianapolis victor Warren Dexter, in the No. 61 Joe’s Hand Cleaner Ginetta G55, and 2017 Rookie of the Year Steven Davison, in the No. 22 DAVinci Plastic Surgery Aston Martin.
Fans can keep up with the Trans AM Series presented by Pirelli throughout the event at www.gotransam.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/gotransam and on Twitter at @gotransam.
Trans Am’s TA2 class will be absent on the weekend, set to rejoin the championship next round at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, August 9-11.
Trans Am Event Schedule:
Saturday August 4, 2018
10:05 AM – 10:33 AM TA3/TA4 Practice
10:38 AM – 11:05 AM TA Practice
3:05 PM – 3:25 PM TA3/TA4 Qualifying
3:30 PM – 3:45 PM TA Qualifying
Sunday August 5, 2018
11:15 AM – 12:20 PM TA3/TA4 Race
2:00 PM – 3:05 PM TA Race
Tickets and Information:
Tickets and a full Keystone Speedfest event schedule can be found at www.keystonespeedfest.com
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.
