Hometown heroes lead first practice at Road America
August 26, 2016
Loshak and Ebben lead the way for TA2 and TA, Lux and Francis pace TA3 and TA4
ELKHART LAKE, Wisc. [August 26, 2016] – Lawrence Loshak, Cliff Ebben, Cindi Lux and Ernie Francis, Jr., set the pace as The Trans Am Series opened up its 45th appearance at Road America with practice sessions for its two 101.2-mile races, the TA2 class ETE Reman Transmissions Muscle Car 100 Presented by Pura Vida Tequila and the TA, TA3 and TA4 multiclass Trans Am 100 race, with both constituting Round 7 of the 2016 Trans Am Championship.
In TA2, Wisconsin native Lawrence Loshak, driver of the No. 5 Pennzoil Platinum/ ETE Reman Chevrolet Camaro, wasted little time picking up where he left off last round at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course where he captured his first career Trans Am victory. Today, at Road America, Loshak led all TA2 competitors in practice with a time of 2:14.667 around the 4.048-mile circuit, well beneath the qualifying track record— a 2:16.124 set by Cameron Lawrence two years ago.
Loshak currently resides sixth in the championship points; a solid result here, on his home track, would propel the Milwaukee, Wisconsin, native into direct contention for the coveted TA2 championship.
Loshak was followed in the session by Mike Cope Racing teammate Dillon Machavern, in the No. 24 Heritage Motorsports Ford Mustang, with a time of 2:15.132. Machavern, currently second in the championship points, will look to bolster his own points tally this weekend in pursuit of the current leader Gar Robinson, who was third quick in the session with a time of 2:15.484.
The TA2 practice session top five was completed by Justin Haley, in the No. 99 Braun Foundation Ford Mustang, with a time of 2:15.542 and Louis-Philippe Montour, in the No. 12 DCW Dodge Challenger, with a 2:15.549. The TA2 class top ten also featured Tony Buffomante, Shane Lewis, Keith Prociuk, Tom Sheehan and Tommy Archer, in that order.
In TA, Cliff Ebben, of Appleton, Wisconsin, in the No. 36 Stumpf Ford/ McMahon Group Ford Mustang, showcased the culmination of hundreds of laps around his home track with a time of 2:05.142. Ebben has two career Trans Am victories at Road America, coming in 2009 and 2011. While Ebben is yet to secure a win in 2016, he has been in contention multiple times only to be hampered by mechanical failures; Road America may provide the perfect opportunity to break his streak of misfortune.
Ebben was followed in the session by Paul Fix, in the No. 50 StopFlex.com/ TheCarCoach.com/ChevronTechron Chevrolet Corvette, who turned a 2:06.387. Current points leader Amy Ruman, in the No. 23 McNichols Co. Chevrolet Corvette, was third quick with a time of 2:07.055. Ruman, in the midst of defending her 2015 Championship, has fallen victim to her own streak of misfortune over the past few races—but again Road America provides the opportunity for redemption.
The TA class top five was completed by Vincent Allegretta, in the No. 41 TA Sights and Sounds/ Dr. Dave Chevrolet Corvette, and Mid-Ohio victor Simon Gregg, in the No. 59 Derhaag Motorsports Chevrolet Corvette, with times of 2:08.715 and 2:08.715, respectively. The top ten also featured RJ Lopez, Jim McAleese, David Pintaric, AJ Henricksen and John Baucom.
In TA3, Cindi Lux, in the No. 45 Lux Performance Dodge Viper ACRX, led the way with a time of 2:19.529. Road America will mark Lux’s third appearance of the year, where she is yet to miss the podium but has seen the top step elude her. Lux was followed by Mark Boden, in the No. 47 FallLine Motorsport/ Calypso Porsche 997, who turned a 2:19.868 in his first Trans Am appearance at Road America, in this, his rookie season.
Lux’s teammate, and last year’s class victor at Road America, Steve Streimer, in the No. 42 Lux Performance Dodge Viper ACRX, was third in the TA3 class with a time of 2:20.491. Streimer has already secured a victory this season at Brainerd International Raceway in Round 5.
In TA4, two-time defending Champion Ernie Francis, Jr., in the No. 98 Beta Tools/Liquid Performance Ford Mustang, led the way with a time of 2:23.233 in his pursuit of a three-peat in three years on the Road America track. So far, Francis is undefeated this season in his ongoing title defense. Standing in his way is Todd Napieralski, in the No. 39 TREMEC/SKF/Backstreet Chevrolet Camaro, who was second quick in the session with a time of 2:24.005. Rich Jones, in the No. 37 JOMAC/Sparta Steel Ford Mustang, was third quick in the session with time of 2:30.022.
Remaining Trans Am Weekend Schedule:
Friday, August 26, 2016
1:00 PM – 1:20 PM TA2 “Fast Five” Qualifying
1:25 PM – 1:45 PM TA “Fast Five” Qualifying
1:50 PM – 2:10 PM TA3/TA4 “Fast Five” Qualifying
4:00 PM – 4:20 PM TA2 Practice 2
4:25 PM – 4:45 PM TA/TA3/TA4 Practice 2
4:50 PM – 5:10 PM “2nd Chance to Qualify” – all classes
Saturday, August 27, 2016
8:50 AM – 10:00 AM Trans Am 100
10:20 – 11:30 AM ETE Transmissions Muscle Car 100 Presented by Pura Vida Tequila
all schedule times are central
How to watch on CBS Sports Network
The Trans Am 100 at Road America, featuring TA, TA3 and TA4 – Sunday, September 18, 2016 at 4:00 PM ET
The ETE Reman Transmissions Muscle Car 100 Presented by Pura Vida Tequila, featuring TA2 – Saturday, September 24, 2016 at 10:00 AM ET
Additional Upcoming Broadcasts:
The First Energy Trans Am 100, featuring TA, TA3 and TA4 - Saturday, August 27 at 12:00 PM ET
The Pura Vida Tequila Muscle Car 100 Presented by ETE Reman - Saturday, September 17 at 10:30 am ET
###
About ETE Reman
ETE Reman is the world’s largest transmission-focused provider of warrantied, better-than-new remanufactured automatic transmissions for domestic and import cars and trucks. With over 225,000 sq. ft. of manufacturing facilities, operations nationwide, and more than 450 employees, ETE is one of the fastest-growing companies in the automotive aftermarket. Family-owned and operated, ETE is a recognized industry leader in technology, innovation, and R&D, with extensive testing facilities as well as the ability to test its materials, lubricants, processes and people on the race track.
