Prociuk Scores Pro-Am Win in CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series Season Opener at Sebring

March 5, 2025

Sebring, FL – [February 25th, 2025] – The Mike Cope Racing team kicked off the 2025 Trans Am Championship CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series during Round 1 at the iconic Sebring International Raceway. 

With a lineup of Thomas Merrill, Valentin Aguirre, Keith Prociuk, Tom Sheehan, Will Robinson, Bob Accardo, and Jim Gallaugher we came with a full tent of seven cars. The challenging bumpy 3.74-mile circuit always tests consistency and patience and this year was no exception. 

Keith Prociuk led the charge for our team and came home the winner in the Pro-Am class with a last lap change of position! "It feels great to be on the top step of the podium. Thanks to CUBE 3 and Trans Am. Jared (Odrick), that was a great drive from the back. You were keeping me honest in my mirrors. Barry (Boes), that was definitely your race. You got taken out there on the last lap and I capitalized. I wish we had more green laps, but I certainly had a fantastic car. Thanks to the team, thanks to the Trans Am staff for keeping us safe out there. I'm looking forward to more of these," said Prociuk. 

Prociuk ran a very smart and consistent race to put himself in a position to get the win! What a great start to the year for him and the team on the No. 9 HP Tuners / Cope Ford Mustang! They earned some valuable points in the Pro-Am Championship and they're hopeful to carry this momentum into Road Atlanta at the Mission Foods Road Atlanta SpeedTour.

Valentin Aguirre made his debut in the Trans-Am series and finished the weekend with a well deserved P12 finish in the No. 12 Arrecifes Argentina Memo Corse / CAN / Elf Oil / Cope Ford Mustang. The 28 year old Argentinian Turismo Carretera stock car driver adapted himself to our Cope Mustang very quickly! "It was a weekend full of learning and growth with the car," said Valentin. "We started the race in P14, and despite a collision that made things challenging towards the end, we managed to fight back and cross the finish line in P12 overall. Thanks Mike Cope Racing for the great work throughout the weekend, and Trans-Am for the warm welcome." 

Tom Sheehan is back with us this season again in the No. 97 Vixen Cycle Co. / LTK Insulation Technologies / Cope Ford Mustang. The season opener saw Tom qualify P29 and put forth a promising start during the race. Tom was making swift passes, getting up to P17 and P2 in class before an incident with 19 laps to go. It was a hard fought race for the team and he was making great progress on track before some bad luck struck towards the end!

Bob Accardo had some troubles early in the opening laps but recovered to a very solid 9th place finish in the Pro-Am class in our No. 39 Make-A-Wish America / Cope Ford Mustang! Accardo welcomed a special kid named Kevin out to Sebring, who is a 16 year old that recently overcame Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. For six months Kevin went through chemo treatment and his strength and resilience prevailed and on September 5 th 2024, his prayers were answered when he received the wonderful news that he had entered remission! Kevin had a fantastic time with his family experiencing everything there is to a Trans-Am series race weekend! Bob and our team loved having them around. A big thanks to the Make-A-Wish Foundation for helping make this experience happen for Kevin and supporting Bob's efforts to race with us at Sebring!

Thomas Merrill is back once more, but this year is in the No. 26 HP Tuners / Franklin Road Apparel / Cope Chevy Camaro. "I had a lot of fun driving through the field and making my way up from 13th to 4th, but didn't quite get the outcome we had in mind," Merrill said. "The engine lost a cylinder with two laps to go, but overall the car was strong and we'll be back to get the job done next time in Road Atlanta." 

Will Robinson and Jim Gallaugher both had some troubles that halted their efforts forward. They are both eagerly awaiting the next round of the Trans Am Championship Presented by Pirelli CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series at Road Atlanta on March 20-23rd! 

For more information about Mike Cope Racing and Cope Race Cars, call 727-201-8910 or email megan@mikecoperacecars.com.