Tony Ave leads practice at Daytona International Speedway

 

Ave powered the #4 Lamers/PME Engines/ RPX Chevrolet Corvette to a session-fast time of 1:45.708, as the Trans Am Series took to the track for the second time this weekend—despite a slightly damp track surface.  The first session of the weekend was thoroughly drenched by early morning storms, making this for many drivers their first appearance on track for the weekend. 

 

Following Ave was 2012 Trans Am Champion Simon Gregg, in the #1 Derhaag Motorsports Chevrolet Corvette, with a time of 1:47.810.  Gregg is currently in a battle with Cliff Ebben, who was third fastest during the session in the #36 Stumpf Ford Chevrolet Corvette, for second place in the year-end point standings for the TA class—as the Championship has already been claimed by Doug Peterson for the 2013 Season. 

 

Cameron Lawrence, 2013 TA2 Champion and driver of the #11 Ctek/Motorstate/NorthStar Battery/Bay Investments Chevrolet Camaro, led the TA2 class with a time of 1:54.128.  He was promptly followed by Adam Andretti, in the #44 Engineered Components Chevrolet Camaro, with a time of 1:55:083—this is Andretti’s first appearance in Trans Am since Mid-Ohio earlier this year. Third was Trans Am newcomer Kenneth Quartuccio in the #42 East Side Service Chevrolet Camaro.  This was Quartuccio’s first appearance in Trans Am, and his 1:56:924 provided a strong first showing and a glimpse at what his Trans Am future might hold.

 

TA3 was led by Steve Kent, Jr, in the XLR8DieselTrucks/SKS Equipment Ford Mustang, with a time of 2:01.129, representing the American Muscle Group.   In the International Group within TA3, David Seuss, in the #9 Northern Light Porsche 996 GT3, set the fast lap at 2:01.735.   The session was also the first Trans Am appearance for Ernie Francis, Jr., in the Breathless Performance/Hydraulic Jeans Chevrolet Camaro. 

 

The Trans Am Series will take to the track tomorrow, Saturday, November 16 for qualifying at 10:40 a.m. EST in preparation for the 99.68 mile Trans Am race on Sunday at 1:00 p.m.

 

Keep up on all things Trans Am at www.gotransam.com, on Twitter at @gotransam and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/gotransam.