Greg Pickett Secures 22nd career Trans Am pole with Portland Performance
July 29, 2017
Shane Lewis tops TA2 qualifying
PORTLAND, Ore. [July 29, 2017] — Greg Pickett will be on pole tomorrow as he makes his 183rd Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli start tomorrow at Portland International Raceway (PIR), Round 3 of the 2017 Trans Am West Coast Championship. Shane Lewis also secured the TA2 class pole in qualifying action, and, in doing so, tied the TA2 West championship lead.
The pole, coming by way of a 1:12.455 lap around the 1.967-mile PIR course, stands as the 22nd of Pickett’s Trans Am career and second at Portland—the first coming in 1978, the same year Pickett secured Trans Am’s Category II Driver’s Championship. The pole puts Pickett, wheeling the No. 68 Pickett Racing Ford Mustang, in prime position to pursue what would be his first Trans Am victory since 2009 at Road Atlanta, a feat that would mark his 18th all-time win while he becomes the first Trans Am competitor to ever notch a Trans Am victory in five separate decades. Pickett already has a career victory at PIR, coming in 1984.
Pickett was followed in the TA class by Brian Richards, in the No 12 Canned Heat/ Amantii Chevrolet Camaro, who turned a 1:14.310 and Ken Davis, in the No. 64 Davis Stone Chevrolet Corvette, turning a 1:15.980.
In TA2, Shane Lewis, in the No. 92 Turnkey Industries Chevrolet Camaro, topped the class with a 1:16.299 lap of his own, securing his fourth career TA2 pole, just edging out Portland native Brad McAllister, in the No. 24 PortlandImplantDentistry.com Ford Mustang, who logged a fast lap of 1:16.391. The race between the two competitors could be pivotal in the TA2 West Coast Championship, with the qualifying positions leaving the two drivers tied atop the point standings.
Justin Napoleon, in the No. 90 Turnkey Industries Chevrolet Camaro, was third quick with a 1:17.314 while his father Joe Napoleon, in the No. 91 Turnkey Industries Chevrolet Camaro, was fourth with a 1:17.880. Trans Am debutant David Smith, in the No. 22 Shockwave Suspension Seating Chevrolet Camaro, completed the TA2 top five with a 1:21.022 lap.
- REVISION -
Following post- qualifying technical inspection the No. 90 of Justin Napoleon was excluded from the results as per Trans Am Rules: TARP 14.4.2 (Minimum Body Height) and TARP 14.4.13.3 (Maximum Wing Height)
Provisional TA Qualifying Results
Provional TA2 Qualifying Results - Revised
- Addition - TA3 and TA4 Qualifying -
In TA3, Steve Streimer, a native of Portland and driver of the No. 42 Lux Performance Dodge Viper, easily set pole on his home track with a 1:16.971 lap— edging the TA2 class leaders. Steimer has a history of success in TA3 with five career wins in the production-based class. If he can replicate the feat come tomorrow Streimer will move into a three-way tie for second all time in TA3 history. TA3 West points leader Oli Thordarson, in the No. 22 Alvanka Networks Chevrolet Corvette, was second quick in the session with a 1:21.717.
In TA4, Trans Am debutant Tim Brown, in the No. 66 Brown Bros Ford Lincoln Ford GT4 Mustang, set the fast lap, a 1:18.628, over points leader Guy Dreier, in the No. 13 Guy Dreier Designs Maserati Gran Tourismo GT4, who turned a 1:22.456.
Provisional TA3, TA4 Qualifying Results
Joining the Trans Am West Coast Championship on the weekend will be the Sportscar Vintage Racing Association holding the Portland Vintage Racing Festival.
Fans can follow the action throughout the weekend at www.gotransam.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/gotransam and on Twitter at @gotransam.
Round 3 of the Trans Am West Coast Championship Schedule:
Saturday July 29, 2017
4:55 PM – 5:15 PM TA3/TA4 Qualifying
Sunday July 30, 2017
11:05 AM – 12:35 PM Race
*all times Pacific
Session Coverage:
Live Timing: All on-track sessions can be followed at www.gotransam.com and on the Race Monitor app available on Windows, Android, iOS and OSX.
Text Commentary: Updates provided throughout sessions on Twitter at @gotransam
