Fix and Andretti lead evening practice at VIR
September 26, 2014
Ernie Francis, Jr., and Norm Betts set pace for TA3
ALTON, Va. (Sept. 26, 2014) – Once again it was Paul Fix and the No. 4 Stopflex.com/Tony Ave Racing Chevrolet Corvette who led the Trans Am Series during an on track session, this time with a lap time of 1:48.584 around the track at Virginia International Raceway (VIR).
The conclusion of the second practice session of the day marked the sixth consecutive session of any form that Fix has led since his return to the Trans Am last round at Lime Rock Park. Now, that trend seems set to continue.
That is not to say that Fix does not have competition this weekend; last year’s VIR victor, Simon Gregg, only had the No. 59 Derhaag Motorsports Chevrolet Corvette off the mark by less than two tens of a second with a 1:48.771, claiming second position in the session. Likewise, Amy Ruman, in the No. 23 McNichols Company Chevrolet Corvette, improved on her previous time of 1:50.117 with a 1:49.138 as she moved from fifth to third.
Defending Champion Doug Peterson, in the No. 87 3Dimensional.com Chevrolet Corvette, was fourth fastest with a 1:49.316 while John Baucom, in the No. 86 Baucom Motorsports Ford Mustang, was fifth with a 1:50.442.
In TA2, Adam Andretti, driving the No. 44 Engineered Components Chevrolet Camaro, set the fast lap for the session with a 1:54.765, the best turned by a TA2 car on the day.
Defending TA2 Champion and points leader Cameron Lawrence, in the No. 1 CTEK/NorthStar Dodge Challenger, was only slightly behind with a 1:55.168, as the duo of Andretti and Lawrence remain just as close on track as they are in the points with only 19 separating the two Championship contending drivers.
Lawrence’s teammate, Tommy Kendall, in the No. 11 CTEK/NorthStar Miller Racing Dodge Challenger, was third in the session with a time of 1:55.588, while Tony Buffamonte, in the No. 79 Ilmor Powerd Mike Cope Chevrolet Camaro, was fourth with a time of 1:55.702 and Bob Stretch, in the No. 98 FixRim/Wheels America Chevrolet Camaro, was fifth with a lap time of 1:56.212.
In TA3, Ernie Francis, Jr., continues to showcase the skillset that has him leading the American Muscle Group points from behind the wheel of the No. 9 Breathless Performance Chevrolet Camaro as he led the TA3 class with a time of 2:00.549. Following Francis was Todd Napieralski, in the No. 39 Tremec/SKF/Backstreet Chevrolet Camaro, with a 2:02.478 and Thomas Ellis, in the No. 00 Palm Express Ford Mustang, with a 2:02.983.
Norm Betts, in the No. 82 Hoosier/VP Fuels Chevrolet Corvette led the International Group with a 2:09.041 as the group saw limited participation in the session.
Trans Am will return to the track at 12:00 p.m. EDT tomorrow, Saturday, September 27 for qualifying in preparation for the 101.37-mile Trans Am race for Round 10 of the 2014 Trans Am Championship which will take place on Sunday, September 28, at 12:45 p.m.
Keep up with the action throughout the weekend at www.gotransam.com, Facebook www.facebook.com/gotransam and Twitter at @gotransam.
