Simon Gregg leads the way in first session at BIR
August 30, 2014
It was Simon Gregg, driver of the No. 59 Derhaag Motorsports Chevrolet Corvette, who led the way for the Trans Am Series as it took to the 2.5-mile competition course at Brainerd international Raceway for practice, the first session of this, Round 8 of the 2014 Trans Am Series.
Gregg’s time of 1:29.113 led all 29 cars on track, as the 2012 Trans Am Champion powered the Derhaag C7 Corvette to the top of the charts. Following Gregg was the familiar face of Amy Ruman, in the No. 23 McNichols Company Chevrolet Corvette, who set a time of 1:30.518. Ruman and Gregg only have 1 point separating them in the TA Championship chase, with Gregg currently second and Ruman third; as they continue their pursuit of defending Champion and points leader Doug Peterson, Driver of the No. 87 3Dimensioanl.com Chevrolet Corvette.
Jim McAleese, in the No. 03 McAleese & Associates Chevrolet Corvette, was third in the session with a time of 1:31.130. McAleese stands to earn valuable points this weekend if he can continue this performance throughout the weekend; McAleese currently stands seventh in the points and leads the Rookie of the Year standings for TA.
Cliff Ebben, in the No. 36 Stumpf Ford/ McMahon Group Ford Mustang, was fourth in the session, while defending TA Champion Doug Peterson was fifth.
Rookie Ron Keith, in the No. 25 Mike Cope Racing Ford Mustang, led the TA2 class during the practice session with a time of 1:33.297, good enough for a track record should he perform similarly come qualifying later this day. Keith was followed by former TA2 Champion Bob Stretch, in the No. 98 FixRim Mobile Wheel Repair Chevrolet Camaro, in second with a time of 1:33.997 and the No. 73 Mike Cope Racing Chevrolet Camaro of Kevin Poitras in third with a 1:34.056.
The Miller Racing duo of Cameron Lawrence, in the No. 1 CTEK/NorthStar Miller Racing Dodge Challenger, and Tommy Kendall, in the No. 11 CTEK/NorthStar Miller Racing Dodge Challenger, were fourth and fifth, respectively, with times of 1:34.372 and 1:35.025.
Jerry Green led the International Group and all of the TA3 class in the No. 93 Ever Greene Jewelry Porsche GT3 Cup with a time of 1:34.907, which also stands to set a track record if Greene replicates it in qualifying later today.
In the American Muscle Group current points leader Ernie Francis, Jr., in the No. 9 Breathless Performances Chevrolet Camaro, led the session with a 1:37.929, beating out Todd Napieralski, in the No. 39 Tremec/SKF/Backstreet Performance Chevrolet Camaro, for the top spot. Chuck Cassaro, defending Champion and driver of the No. 76 StackData/Aeromotive/Metallica Ford Mustang, was third in the session.
Trans Am will return to the track at BIR for qualifying later this day at 2:40 p.m. CDT for qualifying in preparation for tomorrow’s 100-mile, 40 lap, Trans Am Race at 4:15 p.m. CDT for Round 8 of the 2014 Trans Am Championship.
Fans can keep up with all the action at www.gotransam.com, on Twitter at @gotransam, and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/gotransam.
