Fix, Kent, Jr., showcase speed as Trans Am opens Lime Rock Weekend, Next Dimension 100
May 22, 2015
Ernie Francis, Jr., and Randy Mueller lead TA3 in first practice session
LAKEVILLE, Con. (May 22, 2015) – The Trans Am Series kicked off the Next Dimension 100, Round 4 of the 2015 Trans Am Championship, at Lime Rock Park with practice sessions led by Paul Fix and Steve Kent, Jr., in their respective sessions.
In preparation for their standalone race, the 3-Dimensional Services Muscle Car Challenge, the TA2 class took to the track first in an independent session that saw Kent, Jr.’s No. 07 BC Race Cars Chevrolet Camaro atop the charts with a time of 54.118.
Kent was followed by Tony Ave, two-time defending Champion, in the No. 70 Lamers Motor Racing Ford Mustang, with a time of 54.306, strong enough for second in the session; while current points leader, Cameron Lawrence, in the No. 1 MOPAR Dodge Challenger, was third in the session with a time of 54.618.
Kevin Poitras, in the No. 73 Post Plastics Chevrolet Camaro, and Adam Andretti, in the No. 44 Engineered Components Ford Mustang, rounded out the top five with times of 54.772 and 54.814, respectively.
Paul Fix, in the No. 4 StopFlex.com/TheCarCoach.com Chevrolet Corvette, led the way for the TA class, and all of the second practice session, with a time of 51.402, continuing his annual dominance on the Connecticut-based track where he was victorious in 2014 and 2013. Fix was followed in the TA class by Tony Ave Racing teammate Doug Peterson, two-time defending Champion and driver of the No. 87 3Dimensional.com Chevrolet Corvette, with a time of 51.443, just hundredths shy of Fix’s time. Simon Gregg, in the No. 59 Derhaag Motorsports, was third fastest in the session with a time of 51.882.
Adam Andretti, in the No. 47 Engineered Components Chevrolet Corvette, and Jim McAleese, in the No. 03 McAleese and Associates/ Jetco Chevrolet Corvette, rounded out the top five in the TA class with times of 52.516 and 52.526, respectively.
The TA3 class joined the TA on track for practice, with Randy Mueller and Ernie Francis, Jr., leading the way for their respective subgroups within the production based class.
Francis, in the No. 98 Breathless Performance Chevrolet Camaro, continued his hot streak coming off a victory at Road Atlanta with a time of 57.935, enough to beat out current points leader Todd Napieralski, in the No. 39 Tremec/SKF/Backstreet Performance Chevrolet Camaro, for the top spot. Napieralski was second fastest in the American Muscle Group with a time of 58.896; while Mel Shaw, in the No. 22 Bay Investments Ford Mustang, was third with a time of 1:00.225.
Randy Mueller, behind the wheel of the No. 0 Epic Motorsports/MCM Holdings BMW M3, set the pace for the International subgroup with a time of 57.125 in only his second Trans Am event. Mueller was followed by a fellow newcomer; Cindi Lux, in the No. 45 Lux Performance Dodge Viper, with a time of 58.315 as she made her Trans Am debut. Defending Champion Jason Berkeley, in the No. 67 BMG Management Chevrolet Corvette, warmed up with a time of 58.846 as he prepared to continue his title defense on his home track.
The Trans Am Series will return to the track for “Fast Five” qualifying at 1:25 PM EDT with each class participating in a separate session beginning with TA, followed by TA2 and TA3. Drivers will have a second chance to qualify later in the day at 5:05 PM, following the second practice sessions which will take place starting at 4:20 PM.
Both Trans Am Races, the 3-Dimensional Services Muscle Car Challenge and Next Dimension 100 will take place tomorrow, May 23, at 1:00 PM and 3:15 PM, respectively.
Fans can keep up with all the action at www.gotransam.com, www.facebook.com/gotransam and on Twitter at @gotransam.
