Cameron Lawrence named official winner of TA2 at Mid-Ohio

 

The victory will mark Lawrence’s fourth win of the year behind the wheel of the #11 Ctek/Motorstate/NorthStar Battery Chevrolet Camaro in what has been a rather remarkable championship charge for the 21-year-old Miller Racing driver.  Lawrence is yet to finish lower than second in the 2013 season and has a substantial points lead over runner-up, and two-time-defending TA2 Champion, Bob Stretch, driver of the #98 Wheels America/FixRim Mobile Chevrolet Camaro. 

 

Lawrence began the race in second position on the grid, behind pole sitter Stretch.  However, he was quickly over taken by the #27 KRYDERACING/VirSec Chevrolet Camaro of Robert Huffmaster during the first lap and then by Adam Andretti in the  #44 Engineered Components Chevrolet Camaro, during the second.  Lawrence would then remain in fourth for the first half of the race.  Lawrence showed a calmness that usually comes only from seasoned veterans, content to follow and drive well, waiting for an opportunity—a style very much like that often exhibited by teammate and Trans Am veteran Pete Halsmer. 

 

On the 22nd lap Lawrence would overtake the #27 of Huffmaster and move into third position and then overtake Stretch on the next lap, as the defending champ was forced to make a pit stop. There, Lawrence would remain until the checkered flag of the time-shortened 40-lap race (due to multiple full course yellows), finishing .656 seconds behind Andretti.  

 

Prior to today’s ruling the TA2 victor from Mid-Ohio was Adam Andretti; however, a ruling by Trans Am Series Tech was made in regards to a technical specification on #44 car.  The Series does not believe that the violation was made intentionally and was a team error, not that of the driver.  As a result the car was disqualified from the Mid-Ohio race.  

 

The victory increases Lawrence’s point total to 120, increasing his lead in TA2.  Bob Stretch currently sits in second with 77 points and Robert Huffmaster with 66.  Lawrence’s Miller Racing teammate, Pete Halsmer, is not far behind with 62 points.

 

The top three from the Mid-Ohio race in TA2 are now, in order, Cameron Lawrence, Robert Huffmaster and Gregg Rodgers.  This marks Rodgers first podium appearance of the year in the #33 Trans Am Proline Pinnacle Autosport Chevrolet Camaro. 

 

Lawrence will also be awarded the Mid-Ohio TA2 track record with a time of 1:28.028.