David Pintaric edges out Paul Fix for Watkins Glen Pole

 

“It’s overwhelming,” Pintaric said.  “To put my name as a winner of a pole, considering all the people who have come before me, it’s overwhelming.” 

 

Pintaric set a time of 1:50.141 in the #57 Kryderacing/WRP Investments Chevrolet Corvette just beating out Paul Fix and the #4 StopFlex/Beebe Racing/PME/Lamers Chevrolet Corvette, who timed in at 1:50.161.  Pintaric’s time was just two tenths of a second off of the track record. 

 

“The gap between Paul and I, that just shows the quality of the competition,” Pintaric said.  “It makes you feel like you earned something.  The closer the times are the more rewarding it is.” 

 

Pintaric has finished fourth in the last two Trans Am races, just missing out on podium.  He sees Watkins Glen as an opportunity to break into the top three.

 

“I like this track a lot.  I’ve raced here countless times; I’ve had success in the dry, success in the wet—but I’m going to let the race come to me.  It’s 100 miles.  A lot of things can happen.  Patience is going to be key—we’ll see what happens.”

 

Following Pintaric was the Tony Ave Racing duo of Paul Fix, winner of round three at Lime Rock, and Doug Peterson, current TA point leader and driver of the #87 3Dimensional.com Chevrolet Corvette.  It only seemed fitting that a car built by Tony Ave Racing edged out Fix and Peterson, who also drive Tony Ave Racing cars; and while Ave may have stepped back from the race track for the time being, he will not be arguing with his impact on the TA class. 

 

Bob Stretch, driver of the  #98 Wheels America/ Fix Rim Mobile Chevrolet Camaro, picked up right where he left off at Lime Rock, where he won the race outright.  Come the Trans Am Race tomorrow at 3:15 p.m. EST, Stretch will find himself in starting position for the TA2 class—a position in which one would expect a two-time defending Champion to be—all while setting at TA2 qualifying record time of 1:56.019 and beating out the rest of the 15 car TA2 field. 

 

While the year has not started ideally for Stretch, he currently sits 26 points behind TA2 point leader Cameron Lawrence; but if he can use his starting position to his advantage come race day to replicate his result at Lime Rock, he could be well on his way towards the top of the point table in his pursuit of a third straight TA2 title.  

 

Cameron Lawrence will not be quick to relinquish his lead; he’s yet to miss a podium and will have his #11 Ctek/Motorstate/NorthStar Battery Chevrolet Camaro in second position for the TA2 class behind Stretch tomorrow.  Following Lawrence will be Trans Am veteran, and teammate, Pete Halsmer in the #12 Ctek/Motorstate/NorthStar Battery Chevrolet Camaro.  The Miller Racing duo will likely be pressuring Stretch for the duration of the race; but if anyone can hold up to that pressure, it is the two-time defending Champion. 

 

In TA3, Lime Rock winner David Seuss found himself surrounded by competition, facing down a fresh contingent of Trans Am rookies in TA3 Mustangs and proved himself able to hold his own.  Seuss and the #9 Northern Light/ Porsche 996 GT3 set the best time in the production-based class with a 2:05:555.

 

“I’ve got to tell you, I just love this track,” Seuss said.  “You really charge every turn here; you go in, you get your braking done early, then you put both feet into the accelerator and press as hard you can.  That’s how you drive Watkins Glen.  It’s just a really fun track.”

 

Seuss was also glad to see the addition competition in the TA3 class. 

 

“The turn out in TA3 here is just fantastic, Seuss said.  “I remember when Trans Am was just being revitalized by this ownership group; the first race didn’t have a great turn out—but now look at it, we have 33 cars this weekend.  I see TA3 as being in that same position.  This is the first time we’ve really put together a good field; and once we get together that critical mass of regulars, I think you’re going to see this class really take off.”

 

Following Seuss was the #37 JOMAC Bodies and Cranes/Debs Peppers Ford Mustang of Rich Jones and the #17 XLR8Diesel Trucks/SKS Equipment Ford Mustang of Steve Kent, Jr.  Both are rookies to Trans Am, participating in their first race, but both drivers were only separated by three-hundredths of a second in qualifying, setting up for what should be an interesting TA3 race.

 

The 33 car Trans Am field takes to the historic course at Watkins Glen tomorrow at 3:15 p.m. EST for Round Four of the 2013 Trans Am Series.