A race decades in the making—50-plus car entry set for 2014 Opener at Sebring

 

The last time a Trans Am race hit the 50 entry mark was in 1982, some 32 years ago.  This will be only the fifth time in Trans Am’s history the field has reached 50 cars.  Surprising, given the history and legacy of the Series and a fantastic sign for what is to come. The second Trans Am race of 2014, at Homestead-Miami Speedway, is likely to top the 50-entry mark as well—making a combined 100-plus for the two events, an all-time record for back-to-back weekend entries in Trans Am. 

 

Still, the race at Sebring is about so much more than just simple numbers.  It symbolizes the return of America’s Road Racing Series, a turning point in the history of Trans Am—and a race decades in the making.  

 

Throughout the years, no racing series in North America has made as great an impact on the world of road racing as the Trans Am Series.  It’s seen legendary drivers, featured legendary makes and models and impacted fans from all corners of the country. 

 

And while there are plenty of chapters within the history of the Trans Am Series, it seems as if it is time to finally turn the page and start a new chapter, not just simply reread the old ones time and time again while wishing for times that have come and gone.  The Trans Am Series that stands before you today is not the Trans Am Series of the past—nor will it, or any other series, ever be.  Those years are to be honored, but need no longer be yearned for.  There’s plenty in the present to celebrate, and now, more than ever, the future is incredibly bright for Trans Am. 

 

Fittingly, this turning of the pages will feature a salute to the past, a memorial to the recently departed Charlie Earwood—a member of the SCCA Hall of Fame, Chief Steward for Trans Am and General Manager of Sebring International Raceway.  In his honor the 2014 Trans Am Opener will be titled the Earwood Classic.  And so, just as Earwood oversaw Trans Am in years past, he’ll be a part of the race that sees Trans Am embark on a new era of sports car racing. 

 

The current slate includes 18 cars from the TA class, 22 in TA2 and 12 in TA3 for 52 in total, however that number has the potential to grow in the last few days as final entries are processed.  The 22 TA2 and 13 TA3 entries set an all-time record for each of the recently introduced classes. 

 

The increased numbers also mean new challenges for last year’s Champions.  Doug Peterson, Cameron Lawrence and Chuck Cassaro will all be on track, beginning their respective title defenses. 

 

The best news for both Peterson and Lawrence is they’ll be at home, in Florida, on their home track, Sebring, to begin their pursuit of yet another Trans Am Championship.  After all, they both used Sebring as a springboard last year, winning their respective races en route to incredible seasons.   As Champions, they will be drivers to watch and favorites throughout the year, but on their home track, they’re an outright force.

 

Joining Peterson’s #87 3Dimensional.com Chevrolet Corvette and Lawrence’s #1 Miller Racing Chevrolet Camaro on grid come race day, will be challengers aplenty—some familiar faces and some brand new.

 

Next to veterans like Ruman, Gregg, Pintaric, West, Fane, McGahern, Kent and Napieralski will be fresh faces.  In total 16 drivers will be making their first ever Trans Am starts: Henry Gilbert, Jeff Van Lierop, Nathan Stokey, Tom Ellis, Dean Martin, Frank Lussier, Chris DeSalvo, David Mazyck, Michael Defontes, Kevin Poitras, Bobby Kennedy, Greg Socha, Jason Berkeley, Russ Snow, Lee Saunders and Joe Fitos.  

 

All three classes prepare to open the year at Sebring, together and in unprecedented numbers.   As they have for nearly three decades, the 850-plus horsepower grand touring beasts will be leading the way in the TA class, setting the pace for not just Trans Am but all of North American grand touring.   The ever-growing TA2 class will highlight the prowess of American engineering and the ongoing rivalry between the Chevrolet Camaro and Ford Mustang.  At the same time, the TA3 class will highlight the power of production with the American Muscle and International Groups.  

 

Trans Am will first take to the track at Sebring on Friday, February 28, at 11:10 am EST for an official practice, followed by another session at 4:35 pm.  Saturday will feature a split qualifying session from 11:50 am to 12:30 pm, with TA on track first, followed by TA2 and TA3.   Finally, Trans Am will open the 2014 Season with Round One of the 2014 Trans Am Championship on Sunday, March 2, with the 100.98 mile race with cars on grid at 2:10 pm and the race commencing at 2:35 pm. 

 

You can keep up with all the action at www.gotransam.com, www.facebook.com/gotransam or by following Trans Am on Twitter at @gotransam.  

 

# Class Driver, Hometown Sponsor, Car

1 TA2 Cameron Lawrence, Windermere, Fla. Miller Racing Chevrolet Camaro

2 TA Henry Gilbert, Miramar, Fla. Performance Driving Group / SCDE Chevrolet Corvette

3 TA Kenny Bupp, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. American Speed Factory Chevrolet Camaro

6 TA Mary Wright, Clearwater, Fla. Wright Track LLC Chevrolet Corvette

9 TA3A Ernie Francis, Jr, Davie, Fla. Breathless Performance Chevrolet Camaro

10 TA2 Mel Shaw, Voorhees, N.J. Miller Racing Chevrolet Camaro

12 TA2 Geoff Fane, Acacia Ridge, Queensland Aus Miller Racing Chevrolet Camaro

15 TA Allan Lewis, New Dundee, Ontario Can BC Race Cars Chevrolet Corvette

16 TA3A Rob Bodle, New Bern, N.C. Caribbean Food Delights Ford Mustang

17 TA3A Steve Kent Jr, Frederick, Md. XLR8 Diesel Trucks/SKS Equipment Ford Mustang

18 TA Jon Leavy, Tamarac, Fla. Sponsor Needed/MurrayAuto.com Chevrolet Camaro

19 TA Kerry Hitt, Harrisburg, Pa. Advanced Composite Products Chevrolet Corvette

20 TA3I Russ Snow, Eden, N.C. Carbotech Chevrolet Corvette

23 TA Amy Ruman, Kent, Ohio McNichols Company Chevrolet Corvette

25 TA2 Ron Keith, Shawnee, Kan. Mike Cope Racing Ford Mustang

27 TA2 Jeff Van Lierop, Olympia, Wash. CountryGreenTurfFarms/Kryderacing Chevrolet Camaro

28 TA3A Fernando Seferlis, Panama COMPULAB - Panama Chevrolet Camaro

29 TA Andrew Romocki, Toronto, Ontario Can Rocanada Ford Mustang

36 TA Cliff Ebben, Appleton, Wis. Stumpf Ford, McMahon Group Ford Mustang

39 TA3A Todd Napieralski, Chelsea, Mich. Tremec/SKF/BackstPerf/ChevPerf Chevrolet Camaro

42 TA2 Kenneth Quartuccio, Wallingford, Conn. East Side Service / Rossini Racing Chevrolet Camaro

43 TA3I Mickey Mills, Houston, Tex. Mills Racing BMW M3

44 TA2 Adam Andretti, Brownsburg, Ind. Engineered Components Chevrolet Camaro

48 TA2 Michael McGahern, Ottawa, Ontario Can Ottawa Solar Power / BC Race Cars Chevrolet Camaro

49 TA2 Nathan Stokey, Dover, Ohio Archer Racing Chevrolet Camaro

51 TA Tom Ellis, Pompano Beach, Fla. Palm Express / Averitt Ford Mustang

52 TA3A Dean Martin , Westland, Mich. Rehagen Racing Ford Mustang

53 TA2 Frank Lussier, Cary, N.C. Archer Racing/Race-keeper/TeamTech Chevrolet Camaro

56 TA2 Tom West, Stanidsh, Maine Limerick Mach/Treelaine Consult Chevrolet Camaro

57 TA David Pintaric, Canfield, Ohio Kryderacing/CarboTech Brakes/WRPI Chevrolet Corvette

59 TA Simon Gregg, Ponte Vedra, Fla. Gregg Motorsports Chevrolet Corvette

60 TA3I Tim Gray, Eden Prairie, Minn. Ryan Companies US Inc Porsche GT3 Cup

61 TA3A Chris DeSalvo, Charlotte, N.C. LCR Racing Ford Mustang

65 TA2 Allen Milarcik, New Philadelphia, Ohio T&A Trucking/Earthworks Logistics Chevrolet Camaro

66 TA Denny Lamers, Appleton, Wis. Stumpf Ford, McMahon Group Ford Mustang

67 TA3I Jason Berkeley, New York, N.Y. BMG Management Chevrolet Corvette

71 TA2 David Mazyck, Gainesville, Fla. Archer Racing/Race-keeper/TeamTech Chevrolet Camaro

72 TA2 Michael Defontes, Jupiter, Fla. Performance Driving Group/S.C.D.E Ford Mustang

73 TA2 Kevin Poitras, Toronto, Ontario Can Post Plastics Inc Chevrolet Camaro

75 TA Charles Wicht, Big Pine Key, Fla. Crystal Clear Pools/All-Safe Pool Chevrolet Corvette

76 TA3A Chuck Cassaro, Caledonia, Ill. CassaroEnt/StackData/Metallica Ford Mustang

84 TA3A Lee Saunders, Lakeland, Fla. Landsearch LLC Dodge Viper

86 TA John Baucom, Charlotte, N.C. Roadracepart.com/Baucom Motorsports Ford Mustang

87 TA Doug Peterson, Bonita Springs, Fla. 3Dimensional.com Chevrolet Corvette

88 TA2 Bobby Kennedy, Daytona Beach, Fla. Gary Yeomans Ford / Bemco Fab Ford Mustang

95 TA2 Greg Socha, Richland, Mich. highgateautosport.com Chevrolet Camaro

97 TA2 Tom Sheehan, Bow, N.H. FixRim Mobile Wheel Repair Chevrolet Camaro

98 TA2 Bob Stretch, Arrlington, Texas FixRim Mobile Wheel Repair Chevrolet Camaro

99 TA2 Joe Fitos, Laxahatchee, Fla. FixRim Mobile Wheel Repair Chevrolet Camaro

02 TA2 John Atwell, Azle, Texas A&J Lab Portal Chevrolet Camaro

03 TA Jim McAleese, Leesburg, Va. McAleeseMtrsports/JetcoEngineering Chevrolet Corvette

04 TA Kurt Roehrig, Greensboro, N.C. Roehrig Enders Suspension Chevrolet Corvette

 

 

About:

 

The Trans Am Series dates back to 1966. Throughout the years, some of the greatest names in motorsports have participated in the Trans Am Series. Past Trans Am Champions include Paul Gentilozzi, Tommy Kendall, Mark Donohue, Scott Pruett, Wally Dallenback Jr, George Follmer, Scott Sharp, Bob Tullius, Tony Ave, Bob Stretch, Simon Gregg, Doug Peterson, Cameron Lawrence and Chuck Cassaro.

 

The iconic Trans Am Series – America’s Road Racing Series–is operated by the Trans Am Race Company, LLC. Through a five-year agreement, the Trans Am Race Company manages the marketing rights to the series and is responsible for Trans Am Series public relations and promotions. SCCA Pro Racing sanctions Trans Am events and provides event operations services to the series.  To learn more about Trans Am visit www.gotransam.com