Baucom, Andretti and Francis grab Motor City 100 Dual 2 honors in Detroit
June 5, 2016
Trans Am completes return to Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix
DETROIT, Mich. [June 5, 2016] – John Baucom, in the No. 86 RoadRaceParts.com Ford Mustang, captured his first career Trans Am victory in Dual 2 of the Motor City 100, presented by 3-Dimensional Services Group, at the Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix. Baucom was joined in victory by Adam Andretti, driver of the No. 44 ECC/ Anchor Bolt & Screw Dodge Challenger, who was victorious in TA2 and finished third overall, as well as by Ernie Francis, Jr., driver of the No. 98 Breathless Performance Chevrolet Camaro, who finished first in the TA4 class.
For Baucom, the victory came in his 81st career Trans Am start after multiple close calls and near victories— the win followed up a solid showing, third, in yesterday’s Dual 1. Baucom was able to capitalize on the misfortune of pole sitter, and Dual 1 victor, RJ Lopez, in the No. 06 Optica Lopez / Republica Brewing, who suffered a front left spindle failure, knocking him out of the race after building up a large lead. Baucom inherited first position from RJwith five laps to go—a lead he never relinquished despite challenges from the No. 59 of Simon Gregg.
“We’ve come close so many times,” said Baucom. “One of our very first races was here in 2001, so it’s good to be back here in Detroit and especially to good to win here. We knew it would be a challenge especially as bumpy as the course was, and the biggest thing was going to be staying off of the walls— we knew we had a great car and would be in the mix if we could survive and make it to the end. Traffic ultimately didn’t play a huge factor, fortunately, as it’s really hard to pull off a pass here.”
Baucom was followed in the TA class by Gregg, driver of the No. 59 Derhaag Motorsports Chevrolet Corvette, and Lopez—who remained in the final top three despite his misfortune, a testament to the punishment the TA class took throughout the mixed-condition race that saw more than half of the field not complete the full 25 laps.
For Adam Andretti, who started fifth in the TA2 class, the victory came after a race full of heated battles for the TA2 lead with Cameron Lawrence, driver of the No. 11 TI Automotive Dodge Challenger, and Gar Robinson, driver of the No. 74 Pura Vida Tequila/ 74 Ranch Resort Chevrolet Camaro. It also came with a touch of redemption after falling short of the podium in Dual 1 despite Andretti leading the majority of the race.
“To be here in Motor City, no matter what, that’s a big deal,” said Andretti. “We had two Challengers on the podium sandwiching a Camaro, and that’s really what Detroit is all about. I’ve been coming to this place, to Belle Isle, since I was 13 years old so maybe my dreams of winning here as a kid caught up with me yesterday; and I lost my concentration for just a moment and that cost me my race yesterday. But today my focus was on bringing this thing home for ECC Motorsports, Anchor Bolt and Screw and all these people that have made this possible. It’s just so special to be up here and be a victor here at Detroit and a really big weekend for our family. It’s been a big couple of weeks with the Indy 500 win last weekend for Michael’s team and Alexander Rossi; so to sit up here has made for a great day here in Detroit and I’m proud to be here representing Trans Am.”
With only four laps remaining in the timed race, Andretti managed to overtake Robinson to retake the lead, just before the track went under a full course caution for a stopped car and increasingly poor weather conditions, where it remained through the checkered flag.
The pass proved to be vital and secured Andretti his sixth career Trans Am victory, while also earning him the Cool Shirt Systems Cool Move of the Race. Robinson would finish second while Cameron Lawrence would finish third. The TA2 top five was completed by AJ Henrksen, in the No. 47 ECC/Anchor Bolt & Screw ChevrolLouis-Philippe Montour, in the No. 77 SpeedLogix/Montour Limited Dodge Challenger.
“Gar Robinson is an amazing competitor; we fought the championship down to the last lap last year,” said Andretti. “Battles with Gar are absolutely outstanding because you know he’s going to race you clean, but it’s still going to be tight. We were door to door; I think we touched a little bit because I smelled rubber and fiberglass together. It happened right in front of a big group of fans so it’s hard not to catch that out of your peripheral vision, all of them rising to their feet. Its just always exciting to put on a show; and when you can do it with the caliber of talent like a Gar Robinson, it just makes it that much more special.”
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In TA4 Ernie Francis, Jr., worked his way up through the field, after starting dead last, to engage in a race long battle for the lead with Detroit native Dean Martin, in the No. 52 Picture Cars East Ford Mustang. Francis ultimately secured victory in a move very similar to Andretti’s, also just before the field went under its final full-course caution.
“This win has to be right up there with the first championship that we won,” said Francis. “We just came out here to see how we stack up against serious competition like Dean Martin and his team. We had some issues yesterday. The car had a little bit of a misfortune, and we ended up not finishing in that race; so we had to start in last place in today’s race so we knew we had an uphill battle. The rain and traffic definitely played a big part today, so I can’t thank the crew enough. You dream of racing in places like Detroit, so getting a win here is absolutely amazing.”
Martin, the victor of yesterday’s Dual 1 in TA4, would finish second while Craig Capaldi, in the No. 8 Wolverine Bronze Ford Performance, finished third. The TA4 top five was completed by Brian Kleeman, driver of the No. 07 DWW Motorsports Ford Mustang, and Chuck Cassaro, driver of the No. 76 KohR Motorsports Ford Mustang, who finished fourth and fifth respectively.
The Motor City 100, presented by 3-Dimensional Services Group, consisted of two 50-minute Duals, together marking the Trans Am Series’ first appearance in Detroit since 2001. The event stands as an invitational, non-points race, and not a part of the 2016 Trans Am Championship.
Dual 1 victors were RJ Lopez, in the TA class, Kyle Marcelli, in the TA2 class, and Dean Martin, in the TA4 class. The Dual 1 top three finishers by class were as follows: TA— Lopez, Paul Fix and John Baucom; TA2—Marcelli, Marc Miller, Cameron Lawrence; TA4—Martin, Brian Kleeman, Todd Napieralski.
The Stevens-Miller team of Louis-Philippe Montour were the recipients of the PitBoxes.com Crew of the Race for their efforts in repairing the No. 77 in time to finish fourth in TA2 in Dual 2, after the car suffered damage in Dual 1 earlier in the weekend.
Fast laps in Dual 2 of the Motor City 100, presented by 3-Dimensional Services Group were set by RJ Lopez, 1:34.898 in TA, Gar Robinson, 1:37.541 in TA2, and Ernie Francis, Jr., 1:40.561 in TA4.
The Trans Am Championship will resume next weekend, June 10-12, at New Jersey Motorsports Park for Round 2 of the 2016 Trans Am Championship.
Fans can keep up with the Trans Am Series throughout the yearat www.gotransam.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/gotransam and on Twitter at @gotransam.
ALL RESULTS PROVISIONAL UNTIL POSTED FINAL.
Final Results - #47 (Henricksen) DQ'd Addendum A: Trans Am 2 General Motors LS3 Engine, A12
About:
3-Dimensional Services Group:
The 3-Dimensional Services Group is a global leader in rapid manufacturing incorporating full-service prototype, low-volume production and assembly. The companies utilize state-of-the-art technology to provide flexible manufacturing solutions to its customers with a unique approach to tooling and design validation without compromising quality, all to meet the demands of today’s compressed timing. The companies’ capabilities include rapid prototyping of solid models; state-of-the-art fiber laser technology to cut, weld, drill and surface treat; robotic lasers for fabricating; waterjet cutting; high-speed CNC machining centers for power, speed and accuracy; stamping, forming and injection molding presses as well as a pattern and model shop.
The Trans Am Series:
The Trans Am Series, America’s Road Racing Series, began igniting the passion of motorsports fans across the world in 1966 and has been home to some of the greatest names in road racing. Today, Trans Am continues to honor its legacy, while challenging the status quo in racing, through meaningful racing platforms and a driver-oriented focus. The Trans Am Series is operated by The Trans Am Race Company, LLC (TARC), through a five-year agreement in which TARC oversees the management and marketing of the Trans Am Series. SCCA Pro Racing sanctions Trans Am events and provides operations services to the Series.
Defending Champions include: Amy Ruman (TA), Gar Robinson (TA2), Ernie Francis, Jr., (TA3 American Muscle) and Lee Saunders (TA3 International). For more on the Trans Am Series visit www.gotransam.com, “like” Trans Am on Facebook at www.facebook.com/gotransam, or follow Trans Am on Twitter at @gotransam.
