Paul Fix and Rafa Matos Grab First Trans Am Poles of 2018 at Sebring
March 3, 2018
Tim Kezman and Andrew Aquilante lead production classes
SEBRING, Fla. [March 3, 2018] – Paul Fix and Rafa Matos secured pole position for tomorrow’s pair of Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli competitions at Sebring International Raceway, the Series’ opening round for the 2018 season. Joining the two in setting fast laps for their classes were Tim Kezman and Andrew Aquilante in TA3 and TA4.
Fix, in the No. 4 StopFlex.com/CarCoachReports.com Ford Mustang, captured his 14th career pole with a 2:01.644 lap around the iconic 3.74-mile course. For his efforts Fix will start at the head of the multi-class TA, TA3 and TA4 competition, slated to run for 27 laps (100.98-miles) or 70 minutes, whichever comes first. Sebring marks a return to the Series for Fix, a veteran of Trans Am who made his debut in 2002, amassing 65 starts, 11 wins and 21 podiums over the course of his career.
“I’m happy to be back in Trans Am,” said Fix. “It’s my first love in racing. And I’m happy to be back in a Ford Mustang, my favorite car. Tony Ave puts together a great car and has a great crew; it’s a first-class operation. They care so much and have put together a first-class car for me. Sebring, Trans Am, it’s a beautiful sunny day—what more could you want?”
Fix has three previous Trans Am starts at Sebring, a frustrating 17th in 2016, a third place finish in 2015, and a 23rd place in his second career start in 2001.
“The competition is going to be tough,” said Fix. “There are a couple of cars that are really fast, but pole position means a lot as well—getting out there in front. Sebring is such a fast racetrack; so hopefully, before I run into traffic, we’ll be able to do what we need to stay out front. I’m looking for a great race.”
To stay in front Fix will need to keep at bay a talented TA class top five, led by defending TA class champion Ernie Francis, Jr., in the No. 98 Frameless Shower Doors Ford Mustang. Francis qualified behind Fix by seven hundredths of a second turning a 2:01.714 to Fix’s 2:01.644. Francis, a native of Florida, led much of the Sebring race in 2016 before suffering a part failure in the final stages.
TA class newcomer Lawrence Loshak, in the No. 2 Pennzoil/ ETE Reman/ GoShare Chevrolet Camaro, was third quick with a time of 2:02.041—on his second and final lap of the session. Last year’s Sebring winner Cliff Ebben, in the No. 36 Stumpf Ford/McMahon Group Ford Mustang, and Chris Dyson, in the No. 20 CD Racing Ford Mustang, completed the TA class top five with laps of 2:03.220 and 2:03.807, respectively.
The TA class qualifying top ten also included, in order, Simon Gregg, Amy Ruman, David Pintaric, John Baucom and Daniel Urrutia, Jr.
In TA2, making preparations for the single class TA2 Muscle Car Challenge powered by AEM competition, it was Rafa Matos who secured pole from behind the wheel of the No. 88 3-Dimensional Services Group Chevrolet Camaro. The pole is Matos’ second in six appearances and came his way after a 2:07.875 lap. While Matos showed plenty of speed in 2017, the No. 88 is yet to reach the top step thanks to a series of mechanical and electrical issues. But with a new year underway, a self-assured Matos is confident in the retooled No. 88 and ready to take to the track with 30 fellow TA2 competitors tomorrow.
"The team has worked extremely hard building this car,” said Matos. “And thanks to Howe Enterprises for this machine. The car has been just flawless all weekend long; I was quickest in every session so I didn’t want to look like a fool in qualifying. I was really happy to put it all together. The conditions in our session were extremely difficult; it was very hard to see because of the sun. We made some changes right before qualifying, which we were a little unsure of; but the car reacted extremely well.”
For the past four years the TA2 win at Sebring has come from pole position with Dillon Machavern (2017), Gar Robinson (2016), and Cameron Lawrence (2014), 2013) all bringing home victories. Matos expects a similar result come tomorrow.
“The pole is very important,” said Matos. “Being up front, there’s less of a chance of any accident; and Sebring is not a very easy track to overtake on. We’re really good in the infield and we have a good engine, our goal is to stay in front throughout the race. I’m having a great time. Trans Am—it’s the real deal. It’s real racing. I had a bit of experience with stock cars in Brazil; the cars are similar to what we have in TA2 and for me it was a smooth transition. I think this will be a great year.”
One of the drivers tasked with chasing down Matos will be the man who starts alongside him, Marc Miller, driver of the No. 12 Speedlogix/ Prefix Dodge Challenger, who turned a 2:08.339 lap of his own. The start will mark Miller’s official TA2 debut, following up on an exhibition appearance in 2016 as he joins the Stevens-Miller team full time in 2018.
Keith Prociuk, in the No. 9 HP Tuners Chevrolet Camaro, qualified a career high third with a 2:08.818 lap, while Shane Lewis, in the No. 92 Turnkey Industries/ Surphis Chevrolet Camaro, and Tony Ave, BC Race Cars Chevrolet Camaro, completed the qualifying top five with 2:08.884 and 2:08.993, respectively.
Qualifying in the TA2 top ten were, in order, Louis-Philippe Montour, Tony Buffomante, Ethan Wilson, Jordan Bupp and Peter Klutt.
In TA3, Tim Kezman secured his fourth career pole in the No. 44 Fall-Line Motorsports Porsche 991 GT3 Cup, the first of a Fall-Line sweep of the top three. Kezman, 2017 TA3 championship runner-up, will start tomorrow’s multi-class TA, TA3, TA4 race with teammate and 2017 champ Mark Boden alongside, in the No. 46 Porsche 991 GT3 Cup. Kezman’s pole setting lap stands a 2:09.401, beating out Boden’s 2:10.143.
2017 TA3 Rookie of the Year Tom Herb, in the No. 16 Fall-Line Motorsports Porsche 991 GT3 Cup, was third quick in TA3 qualifying with a 2:11.648; while Dave Ricci, in the No. 71 Breathless Racing Chevrolet Camaro, and Alline Cipriani, in the No. 60 Ginetta Cars Ginetta G55, completed the qualifying top five with times of 2:14.278 and 2:18.546.
Randy Kinsland, in the No. 11 RF Engines Chevrolet Corvette, was one of the competitors expected to compete with the Porsche contingent but missed the qualifying session outright.
Andrew Aquilante, in the No. 32 Phoenix Performance/Hawk Chevrolet Camaro SS, would set pole behind a new TA3 class qualifying record 2:13.017 lap—breaking the mark of 2:13.968 set by Brian Kleeman in 2017. Tomorrow will mark Aquilante’s fourth Trans Am start but first TA4 appearance, having previously competed in the TA3 class where he captured two victories.
Defending champ Brian Kleeman, in the No. 07 DWW Motorsports/RaceTech Seats Ford Mustang, will be tasked with hunting down Aquilante tomorrow and will have the benefit of starting alongside after a 2:14.915 mark of his own. Debutant Ronald Hugate, in the No. 52 Phoenix Performance/ Hawk Ford Mustang, will start on the inside of the second row for TA3 after a 2:16.250 qualifying effort.
Chris Outzen, in the No. 09 DWW Motorsports/ itrackzone Ford Mustang, and Steven Davison, in the No. 22 DAVinci Plastic Surgery Aston Martin Vantage GT3, completed the TA3 field with times of 2:18.909 and 2:21.669.
Tomorrow will see the TA, TA3 and TA4 classes take to Sebring International Raceway at 11:05 AM ET for their multi-class competition, and the TA2 class take the green flag at 3:05 PM ET for the Muscle Car Challenge presented by AEM. Both races will consist of 101.98 miles (27 laps) or 70 minutes, whichever comes first, and constitute Round 1 of the 2018 Trans Am Championship.
Fans can keep up with the remainder of the event and all of The Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli at www.gotransam.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/gotransam and on Twitter at @gotransam.
All results provisional until posted final.
Provisional TA3, TA4 Qualifying
Remaining Event Schedule:
Sunday March 4, 2018
11:05 AM – 12:20 PM TA, TA3, TA4 Race
3:05 PM – 4:35 PM TA2 Muscle Car Challenge powered by AEM Infinity
*all times eastern.
Session Coverage:
Live Timing: All on-track sessions can be followed at www.gotransam.com and on the Race Monitor app available on Windows, Android, iOS and OSX.
Text Commentary: Updates provided throughout sessions on Twitter at @gotransam.
