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Trans Am Series growth spreads to TA3 class

June 4, 2013

Over the past year, the Trans Am Series has experienced unprecedented growth. Now, in the 2013 Season, that growth continues. The season kicked off with a decade-high 35-car opener at Sebring International; and over the course of the season, TA2 car counts have doubled as interest in the iconic Mustangs and Camaros, which are heavily featured in the class, has constantly increased.

Now, the TA3 class has become the target of similar growth and interest. The production-based class was created during the 2012 Season as an outlet for drivers who wanted to participate in the legendary Trans Am Series, but still showcase the power of a factory-built production racecar.

In 2013, a fresh influx of interest has arisen for the TA3 class with numerous drivers ready to try their hands at professional racing and having a shot at a Trans Am Championship. This fresh wave of Porsches, BMWs and Mustangs has spurred the class to new heights this season; and soon that growth will only increase even more with the addition of Robert Korzen and Steve Kent—both of whom will be making their first Trans Am appearances at Watkins Glen as members of the 7-car TA3 entry, a portion of the 35-car Trans Am field.

Korzen, a veteran of NASA and the Mustang Challenge, will be joining the TA3 class along with his #22 EliteClassics.net Ford FR500 Mustang—powered by a newly added Coyote engine that earned him five second-place finishes in 2012. Now Korzen will by applying his craft in the TA3 class. A self-proclaimed student of the sport, Korzen looks forward to joining the Trans Am competition.

“My priorities for 2013 and Trans Am are to make my car a showcase for the TA3 class,” Korzen said. “I’m honored to be able to participate in a series as storied as Trans Am and am ready to race at the pro-level.”

Korzen will face stiff competition from pre-existing drivers like 2012 TA3 Champion Chuck Cassaro but will also be going head-to-head with fellow addition Steve Kent of Fredrick, Maryland. Kent’s journey to the Trans Am lineup is a lengthy one. With roots in drag, dirt and late model stock racing, Kent eventually made his way to NASA with the intention of moving to a professional series.

“As a driver, and a team, we’re ready to move to a professional series and the history, tracks and competition made Trans Am the right choice,” Kent said. “I’m ready to take the car control I learned from dirt racing and the wins in NASA and build on my skills as a driver in Trans Am.”

Kent will be driving a newly constructed Mustang GT with Watson Engineering components, his latest in a long line of Fords. The aforementioned XLR8 Diesel Trucks/SKS Equipment Ford Mustang will join a growing number of muscle cars in the class, including Cassaro’s #76 Stack Data/Aeromotive/Metallica Ford Mustang and TA3 rookie Rob Bodle’s #16 Caribbean Food Delights Ford Mustang, as they compete against European machinery the likes of 2013 opener winner David Seus and the Northern Light 996 Porsche, Tim Gray and the Ryan Companies US Inc. GT3 Cup 997 Porsche and Mickey Mills and the Mills Racing BMW M3. Combined, the field will join the TA and TA2 classes in continuing to usher in a new era of explosive growth for the Trans Am Series.