Rafa Matos Fastest in Sole Practice Following Rainy Morning at Big Machine Music City Grand Prix

August 4, 2023

Thomas Merrill, Connor Zilisch, Nathan Herne and Justin Marks Complete Top Five

NASHVILLE (August 4, 2023) – After a rainy start to the day, practice is complete for the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli’s Big Machine Vodka SPIKED Coolers TA2 Series at the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix. After Practice 1 was canceled due to heavy rain, teams took to the streets for the first time in the second and final scheduled session. Rafa Matos in the No. 88 3-Dimensional Services Group Ford Mustang laid down the fastest lap of the session with a 1:32.085. Championship contenders Thomas Merrill (No. 26 Bennett/HP Tuners/Mike Cope Race Cars Ford Mustang) and Connor Zilisch (No. 7 Silver Hare Racing Chevrolet Camaro) were second and third fastest, followed by Nathan Herne (No. 29 CUBE 3/Berryman Ford Mustang) in fourth and Nashville native Justin Marks (No. 8 Tootsies/Trackhouse/SLR-M1 Racecars Chevrolet Camaro) in fifth. Current points leader Brent Crews (No. 70 Franklin Road/Mobil 1/Nitro Motorsports Ford Mustang) was sixth fastest.

Practice 1:
Canceled

Practice 2 Top Five:
1. Rafa Matos, No. 88 3-Dimensional Services Group Ford Mustang (1:32.085)
2. Thomas Merrill, No. 26 Bennett/HP Tuners/Mike Cope Race Cars Ford Mustang (1:32.275)
3. Connor Zilisch, No. 7 Silver Hare Racing Chevrolet Camaro (1:32.524)
4. Nathan Herne, No. 29 CUBE 3/Berryman Ford Mustang (1:33.150)
5. Justin Marks, No. 8 Tootsies/Trackhouse/SLR-M1 Racecars Chevrolet Camaro (1:33.574)

Full practice results can be found here.

Qualifying for this weekend’s Big Machine Music City Grand Prix will take place tomorrow at 8:30 a.m. CT/9:30 a.m. ET. The green flag will wave for the race tomorrow at 3:40 p.m. CT/4:40 p.m. ET. The race will be broadcast LIVE on MAVTV and can be streamed live here.

The re-broadcast of the Big Machine Vodka SPIKED Coolers TA2 Series race will air on MAVTV on Thursday, August 10 at 8:00 p.m. ET.