On this Day in Trans Am History: July 29, 1990
July 29, 2020
July 29, 1990
Tommy Kendall concluded a sizzling month of July with his third Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli victory, winning at Road Atlanta in the Cars & Concepts No. 01 ICI/Olivetti Chevrolet Beretta.
Winless in the opening five races of the campaign, Kendall won at Cleveland and Des Moines prior to the Road Atlanta event. He continued that momentum into the second half of the season, capturing three additional victories en route to his first of four career Trans Am titles.
Darin Brassfield, also a two-time winner in early 1990 competition, finished second in the No. 5 Neo Life Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme, 2.5259-seconds behind.
Winning the pole with a lap of 1:22.115-seconds, Kendall led the opening seven laps, pressured early by front-row starter Sharp in the No. 33 Newman-Sharp Racing Oldsmobile Cutlass.
Brassfield started fifth but needed only two laps to take third. Brassfield then caught Sharp to the inside in Turn 7. Three laps later, Brassfield took the lead from Kendall in the same location, setting the fastest lap of the race in the process.
Brassfield led 12 laps before yielding the lead to Sharp, who took advantage of traffic. Sharp then led 10 circuits. Kendall took second when Brassfield had an off-and-on. Kendall then closed up to Sharp, taking the lead with an inside move in Turn 1 with 11 laps remaining, and led the rest of the way. Brassfield took second in Turn 1 with two laps remaining, and held the position in a fender-banging battle with Sharp over the final two laps.
“It didn’t come easy,” Kendall said after the race. “Our ICI/Olivetta Beretta was the class of the field in qualifying. Darin bodyslammed me and got by me, and that allowed Scott to get by me also. I just cooled my heels and watched the fireworks. When I caught Scott in Turn 1 it enabled me to clear of them, and boy, they put on a battle behind me.”
Sharp, a three-time SCCA National Champion moving to the pro ranks, finished third. He was followed by Rob Fellows in the No. 47 Motorcraft/AER Ford Mustang, Robert Lappalainen in the No. 4 John Player Special/Roush Mustang, and Irv Hoerr in the A/C Rochester Oldsmobile.
Thirty-two of the 35 qualifiers took the green flag, with Scott Lagasse cutting a tire shortly after taking the green flag in the No. 97 Morrison Motorsports Corvette. Lagasse spun and was collected by the Mustangs of Max Jones and Wayne Akers. Jones was able to continue, finishing 24th.
Watch the full race here: https://www.facebook.com/
