On This Day in Trans Am History: June 12, 2016
June 12, 2021
June 12, 2016 New Jersey
Paul Fix made his move in traffic with two laps remaining to win Round 4 of the 2016 Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli, the Hank Sauce Weekend of Thunder at New Jersey Motorsports Park.
It was the first victory of the season for Fix, driving the No. 50 StopFlex.com/TheCarCoach.com/
Looking for her fourth-consecutive New Jersey victory, Amy Ruman dominated the race in the No. 23 McNichols Company Corvette, leading 39 of the 45 laps. Fix took second in lap 12, with the top two pulling away from the field. The pair hit lapped traffic with two laps remaining, delaying Ruman slightly. Fix took advantage by going to the inside and taking the lead.
“There were a few opportunities for the lead,” Fix said. “I knew that traffic was going to come in to play, as it always does here, with there only really being one good passing opportunity at full song, which is in turn one. And it was just perfect timing; I was in the right place at the right time, stuck it right next to her and capitalized in turn 2 and away I went. The race came down to waiting for that great opportunity.”
Defending Trans Am champion Ruman held on for second and continued to hold the series’ lead with her third podium finish of the season.
Pole winner Cliff Ebben finished third in the No. 36 Stumpf Ford/McMahon Group Ford Mustang. He led the opening four laps before holding third in the 27-car field for the majority of the 101-mile event.
David Pintaric took fourth in the No. 57 Kryderacing Corvette, followed by the No. 03 Corvette of Jim McAleese.
Andrew Aquilant led all the way to win TA3 in a Corvette.
Eighteen-year-old sensation Ernie Francis Jr. led all the way to win TA4 and keep his season streak intact at four victories in the No. 98 BetaTools/Liquid Performance Ford Mustang. He would go on to capture his third-straight Trans Am title.
Tim Kezman won in TA5 in the No. 4 Fall-Line Motorsports Porsche 997.
The previous day, Tony Buffomante led a 16-car field to win the TA2® race in the No. 34 Mike Cope Racing Ford Mustang. Dillon Machavern took second in the No. 24 Heritage Motorsports Mustang, followed by the No. 74 PuraVida Tequila Chevrolet Camaro of Gar Robinson.
This was the fifth Trans Am at New Jersey’s Thunderbolt Raceway layout. Ernie Francis Jr. would win overall the final race there in 2017, keeping him undefeated by winning four races in three classes.
