On This Day in Trans Am History:

April 1, 2000:

The new millennium of Trans Am Championship presented by Pirelli competition continued with Round 2 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Brian Simo, driving the Tommy Bahama Qvale Mangusta, ran down polesitter Paul Gentilozzi’s Jaguar XKR and won by 0.689 seconds. It was the second-straight victory for Simo, who won the season opener at Sebring.

Simo started second and ran behind Gentilozzi for the opening 12 laps in the 44-lap contest. Stu Hayner then passed both Simo and Gentilozzi to take the lead, with Simo following Hayner to take second. Simo then passed Hayner on a restart and led the final 18 circuits, although challenged by the Jaguar driver in the losing laps. Hayner crashed out with 14 laps remaining.

The 36-car field included current competitors Tomy Drissi (fifth), Jon Leavy (10^th) and Simon Gregg (14^th), plus broadcaster Chris Neville (fourth), Bob Ruman (11^th) and legends John Paul Jr. (21^st) and Willy T. Ribbs (26^th).

This was Trans Am’s lone visit to Charlotte’s superspeedway/infield road course, then known as Lowe’s Motor Speedway.

Read more on Trans Am history here- http://gotransam.com/about/Our-History/59342

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