Lawrence edges Andretti for pole in TA2, setting stage for Championship showdown
November 14, 2014
Peterson takes pole at Daytona for TA class, Martin and Saunders set tone for TA3
PROVISIONAL - DAYTONA, Fla. (Nov. 14, 2014) – One of the most tightly contested Championship finishes in Trans Am history was given another element of excitement as TA2 class qualifying came to a close at Daytona International Speedway. Now, Cameron Lawrence, in the No. 1 CTEK/NorthStar Battery Dodge Challenger, and Adam Andretti, in the No. 44 Engineered Components Chevrolet Camaro, will start side by side when the 103.24 mile Trans Am race commences tomorrow.
Lawrence’s time of 1:51.319 stands as a new track record, breaking his own qualifying record set last year. Andretti was not far behind with a 1:51.938.
Lawrence, the defending Champion, currently leads Andretti by two points, one curiosity of his pole setting qualifying time. The lead is a slender one though, given that a single position in the race is worth three points. Together, Lawrence and Andretti seem set for a race for the TA2 Championship that could very well find itself in the Trans Am history books.
Lawrence’s teammate, and four-time Trans Am Champion, Tommy Kendall, in the No. 11 CTEK/NorthStar Battery Dodge Challenger, will start in third position after a lap time of 1:52.356— a significant rebound for the No. 11 after having to sit out the previous two sessions with engine problems.
Ron Keith, in the No. 25 Offsite Image Management Ford Mustang, will start fourth after a 1:52.528, while Steve Kent, Jr., in the No. 07 BC Race Cars Chevrolet Camaro, will start fifth after a 1:52.714.
In TA, Doug Peterson displayed the form that saw him crowned 2014 TA Champion in Trans Am Series qualifying at Daytona International Speedway as he led the class out on track during the earlier of the two qualifying sessions. Peterson powered the No. 87 3Dimensional.com Chevrolet Corvette around the 3.56 mile road course to the tune of a 1:44.960 lap time.
The time was enough to edge out Amy Ruman and the No. 23 McNichols Company Chevrolet Corvette who held the top position throughout much of the session with a time of 1:45.143; she’ll remain P2 for the race as she looks to beat out Simon Gregg for second place on the year end podium.
Paul Fix, in the No. 4 StopFlex.com/Tony Ave Racing Chevrolet Corvette, will start third as his time of 1:45.149 was only a few thousandths off that of Ruman’s. Fix has won the past two TA races this year and will pose a serious threat to both his teammate Peterson and Ruman for the top spot at the end of the race.
Simon Gregg, in the No. 59 Derhaag Motorsports Chevrolet Corvette, will start fourth after a 1:45.598 while Jim McAleese, current rookie of the year points leader and driver of the No. 03 McAleese & Associates Chevrolet Corvette, will begin in fifth position after a 1:46.937.
In TA3’s American Muscle Group, Dean Martin, driving the No. 52 Full Tilt Boogie/Rehagen Racing Ford Mustang, led the way with a 1:56.014, a track record for the production based group. Following Martin were 2014 TA3 American Muscle Champion, Ernie Francis, Jr., in the No. 9 Breathless Performance Chevrolet Camaro, with a time of 1:57:307, and Todd Napieralski, in the No. 39 Tremec/SKF/Backstreet Performance Chevrolet Camaro, with a 1:57.998.
TA3 International was led by Lee Saunders, in the No. 84 Landsearch LLC Dodge Viper, who set a track record time of 1:55.613 on his way to his third pole of the year. Following Saunders was David Mazyck, with a 1:58.650 from behind the wheel of the No. 71 Archer Racing, Race-Keeper/Team TK, who will start in second position; while Jason Berkeley, in the No. 67 BMG Management Chevrolet Corvette, turned a 2:00.603.
Berkeley’s position will help him as he attempts to secure the 2014 TA3 International Championship from Norm Betts, in the No. 82 Hoosier/ VP Fuels Chevrolet Corvette, who will start two places back in fifth. If either Berkeley or Betts secures that Championship, it will be their first as well as securing rookie of the year honors.
Trans Am will take to the track tomorrow, November 15, at 10:30 a.m. EST for Round 11 of the 2014 Trans Am Championship, the Trans Am Season Finale, for 103.24 miles, 29 laps around the Daytona International Speedway road course, as two Championships will be determined and another year of Trans Am racing goes into the history books.
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