TeamSLR Trans Am Race Report from Nashville
August 11, 2022
Overview:
Date: Aug. 6, 2022
Event: Big Machine Music City Grand Prix (Round 9 of 12)
Series: Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli
Division: TA2
Location: Nashville, Tennessee
Layout: 2.17-mile, 11-turn street course
Format: 46 laps or 75 minutes
Weather: Sunny, Mid-80s
TeamSLR:
? Connor Mosack – Started 4th, Finished 2rd (Running, completed 34/34 laps)
? William Sawalich – Started 16th, Finished 13th (Running, completed 34/34 laps)
? Chris Liesfeld – Started 39th, Finished 19th (Running, completed 34/34 laps)
Notes:
? Mosack’s lap of 1 minute, 31.882 seconds earned him the Omolgato Young Gun Fast Lap Award.
? Liesfield’s run from 39th on the starting grid to finish 19th earned him the Bassett Wheels Hard Charger Award.
? The TA2 race from Nashville will air on the CBS Sports Network at 7:30 p.m. EDT on Saturday, Aug. 13 with an encore broadcast at 1 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 14.
Connor Mosack, Driver, No. 28 Open Eyes/Franklin Road Apparel/Nacarato Truck Centers/High Point University/Interstate Foam & Supply/Nic Tailor Custom Fit Underwear Ford Mustang:
“Coming into this weekend, we knew that we would be competing for the win. We topped the second practice by almost a second and that gave us the mindset we could take pole. I ended up putting down a lap that was good enough for pole, but it ended up getting deleted, but we qualified fourth with our head held high. Race time came and we got a good start and led for most of the race. We lost the lead later in the race, but we were confident we could take it back. With the race ending under caution, we didn’t get our shot to take the win. Taking home P2 gave us some much-needed points for the championship. Now, we’re focused on finishing the season strong.”
William Sawalich, Driver, No. 8 Starkey-Audibel/TeamSLR/M1 Racecars Chevrolet Camaro:
“Being my first street race, I had no experience on a course like this. Throughout the practice sessions, my confidence grew, which made me very comfortable for qualifying. We qualified 16th, which was solid for the size of the field. Once the green flag dropped, we got to work. We made up three spots, giving us a P13 finish. I feel if we hadn’t encountered three cautions, we could’ve probably been top-10. It was a good weekend overall and we kept the car in one piece. The support from everybody at TeamSLR was phenomenal. I cannot wait to be back in one of these monster M1 machines.”
Chris Liesfeld, Driver, No. 96 Fields Racing/TeamSLR/M1 Racecars Chevrolet Camaro:
"After not being able to qualify due to a steering problem, we started from the back. We knew with the experience we had from last year we could overtake easily. With the car ready for the race, we got to work on track. My coolsuit was not working and my helmet hose disconnected part way through the race, which made it excruciatingly hot. Despite that, we made up 20 positions, which is a big win in my book. We could’ve probably snagged a couple more positions if we didn’t encounter the three cautions. My next TA2 venture will be at Watkins Glen next month and I cannot wait until I’m back on the track."
Next Up:
The TA2 competitors of the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli have a month-long reprieve before their next race Sept. 8-10 at the iconic Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International. The Watkins Glen SpeedTour on the 3.4-mile, 11-turn road course begins with an open test session on Thursday, Sept. 8, followed by practice and qualifying on Friday, Sept. 9 before culminating with the 30-lap, 70-minute TA2-class race on Saturday, Sept. 10. Coverage will be livestreamed via SpeedTourTV.com and the SpeedTourTV page on YouTube.
About TeamSLR:
TeamSLR (Scott Lagasse Racing) competes fulltime in the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli in a multifaceted effort that includes dedicated entries in the TA2 division, customer programs, driver coaching and car construction. Its history dates back to 1985 and covers a wide spectrum of motorsports, including NASCAR, IMSA, SCCA, ARCA and ASA. TeamSLR is a family-owned organization run by Scott Lagasse Sr., and Scott Lagasse Jr., The father-and-son duo have combined to win more than 100 races and seven championships across a variety of series and styles of racecars, from paved ovals to road courses to dirt tracks. For more information, please visit us online at www.TeamSLR.com, on Facebook, on Twitter, on Instagram and on LinkedIn.
Photography by Chris Green Photos, LLC