Ruman sets the tone in first practice session at Daytona International Speedway

November 12, 2015

Shane Lewis leads TA2, while Martin Ragginger and Dean Martin pace TA3

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. [November 12, 2015] – Amy Ruman and Paul Fix spent little time reigniting a season-long rivalry atop the TA class charts in the first practice session of Bullet Liner Weekend, the final race of the 2015 Trans Am Championship. Meanwhile, Robinson Racing started the weekend well in TA2 with Shane Lewis and Gar Robinson taking the top two spots in the class, while season debutants Martin Ragginger and Dean Martin led the TA3 International and American Muscle Groups, respectively.

TA3 was led by a set of fresh faces to the Trans Am Series this year with Martin Ragginger, in the No. 47 Foametix Porsche 997, setting the pace in the International Group and Dean Martin, in the No. 51 Picture Cars East Ford Mustang, following suit in the American Muscle Group.

Ruman, in the No. 23 McNichols Company Chevrolet Corvette, set the fast lap of the session with a time of 1:47.255 just edging Fix, in the No. 4 StopFlex.com/TheCarCoach.com Chevrolet Corvette, and his time of 1:47.393. Together, the two have been a constant force atop the TA2 charts throughout the entirety of the 2015 Trans Am Championship; and now they are in the midst of one final race for the ultimate prize—the TA class Championship. Ruman enters the race with a 25-point lead on Fix, but the Championship remains a possibility for Fix depending upon how Saturday’s race pans out.

Doug Peterson, in the No. 87 3Dimensional.com Cadillac CTS-V, was third quickest in the TA class with a time of 1:47.682, while R.J. Lopez, in the No. 16 Optica Lopez Chevrolet Corvette, and Claudio Burtin, in the No. 7 Bullet Liner Chevrolet Corvette C7r, completed the top five with times of 1:48.050 and 1:48.646, respectively.

In TA2, road racing veteran, and Trans Am rookie, Shane Lewis, driver of the No. 72 74 Ranch Resort Chevrolet Camaro, led the way with a time of 1:52.390, as Robinson Racing captured the top two spots in the session with Gar Robinson, in the No. 74 74 Ranch Resort Chevrolet Camaro, turning a 1:52.600. The Robinson Racing team enters the weekend with aspirations of securing the TA2 Championship, but to do so Gar Robinson, who enters the weekend 13 points behind current leader Cameron Lawrence, will need to both a strong performance and the cards to fall his way. However, if the first session is anything to go by, Robinson’s weekend is off to a strong start and his Championship hopes are very much alive.

Tony Ave, in the No. 04 PD For Life Chevrolet Camaro, was third quickest with a time of 1:52.764 while Tommy Archer, in the No. 54 c3controls Chevrolet Camaro, and Tony Buffomante, in the No. 34 Bestline Superior Lubricants Ford Mustang, where fourth and fifth with times of 1:52.856 and 1:53.059, respectively.

Martin Ragginger, making his Trans Am debut, led the International Group with a time of 1:55.104 beating out 2015 TA3 International Champion Lee Saunders, in the No. 84 LandSearch LLC Dodge Viper, who turned a 1:57.104, for the group’s top spot. Veteran Russ Snow, in the No. 23 Guardian Services/ AiM Chevrolet Corvette, was third quickest in the group with a time of 1:58.812, while Frank Lussier, in the No. 53 NFS Autosport/KSR Racing Dodge Viper, and Randy Mueller, in the No. 0 Epic Motorsports/MCM Holdings BMW M3, complete the group top five with times of 1:59.351 and 1:59.832, respectively.

In TA3’s American Muscle, Dean Martin, making his Trans Am return and first appearance of the season, led the way with a time of 1:57.424, beating out two-time TA3 American Muscle Champion Ernie Francis, Jr., in the No. 98 Breathless Racing Chevrolet Camaro, who turned a 1:58.460. Cameron Maugeri, making his Trans Am debut in the No. 06 BTI Motorsports Ford Mustang, was third in the session with a time of 2:00.307. Brian Kleeman, also debuting in the No. 88 ICS Learning Group Ford Mustang, and Tim Rubright, in the No. 77 BlueKnobAuto.com Ford Mustang, rounded out the group top five with times of 2:02.474 and 2:02.897, respectively.

The Trans Am Series will return to the track to continue Bullet Liner Championship Weekend this afternoon for “Fast Five” qualifying commencing at 4:30 p.m. ET. The Series will then return to the track Friday, November 13th at 12:30 p.m. for a second practice session followed immediately by second chance qualifying at 12:55 p.m. Bullet Liner Championship weekend will then conclude with the 103.24 mile, 29 lap Trans Am race at 10:30 a.m. ET.

Full Session Results

 

About Bullet Liner: 

Bullet Liner is proud to serve as the sponsor of Bullet Liner Championship Weekend at Daytona International Raceway, the final Trans Am race of the 2015 Season.  Bullet Liner is the industry leader for high performance, spray on beadliners and protective coatings.  Bullet Liner is powered by Ax-sella (Accella) performance materials and is backed by more than 30 years of experience in the coatings business.  Every Bullet Liner includes a lifetime warranty.  

To learn more about Bullet Liner, contact one of their 200 dealers across the country or go to www.bulletliner.com