Trans Am commences final stretch with Virginia International Raceway
September 21, 2016
Stretch of five races in seven weeks puts Trans Am championship battles front and center
ALTON, VA. [September 21, 2016] – With just over seven weeks remaining in Trans Am’s 50th Anniversary Season, five events remain with roughly 40 percent of they year’s points up for grabs—setting the stage for a mad battle to the top of the championship podiums. Virginia International Raceway (VIR) marks the first of this crucial series of events, with races from a multitude of classes ready to once more shake up the point standings.
The weekend, Round 8 of the 2016 Trans Am Championship, will feature two 101.37-mile races, each 31 laps around the 3.27-mile road course, with TA, TA3 and TA4 holding a multiclass race and TA2 an independent race of their own. Trans Am will be joined at VIR by the Sportscar Vintage Racing Association (SVRA), holding the Heacock Classic Gold Cup with over 250 vintage and historic Sports Racing, Formula and Production/GT race cars featuring alongside Trans Am, in a weekend long celebration of motorsport.
VIR marks the beginning of the end for the 2016 season. Both TA and TA2 are currently the site of vigorous championship battles with both defending champions, Amy Ruman, in TA, and Gar Robinson, in TA2, doing everything in their power to mount a successful title defense against numerous challengers. Their efforts, combined with the tightly contested fall championship in TA3, leaves Trans Am with more than its fair share of end-of-season drama with the Series’ 50th anniversary set to close in style, all commencing with VIR.
The honest truth is both defending champions have their work cut out for them. In TA, the top five is separated by a meager 30 points— the margin between a first place finish and DNS in a single race. Ruman and the No. 23 McNichols Company Chevrolet Corvette still hold the top position in the points but are followed by Cliff Ebben, and the No. 36 Stumpf Ford/McMahon Group Ford Mustang, by only 11 points. The two are also joined by a resurgent David Pintaric, in the No. 59 Kryderacing Cadillac CTS-V, only five points behind Ebben—creating a potential three-way brawl for the coveted Trans Am championship.
Still well within reach, but with plenty of work to do are Simon Gregg, in the No. 59 Derhaag Motorsports Chevrolet Corvette, and Paul Fix, in the No. 4 StopFlex.com/ TheCarCoach.com/Chevron Techron Chevrolet Corvette, with 146 and 145 points to Ruman’s 175.
When considering VIR, Ruman will look to improve on last year’s results which saw her finish fourth, with Cliff Ebben, John Baucom, David Pintaric and race winner Paul Fix all finishing ahead of the eventual champion. Fix’s victory in 2015 was his second consecutive at VIR in Trans Am at a track where he’s constantly showcased speed. If Fix is to mount a final championship charge, he couldn’t ask for a better place than VIR to make a statement of intent.
Joining the TA championship top five at VIR will be Claudi Burtin, Kerry Hitt, Richard Grant, Vincent Allegretta, Tim Rubright, Joseph Freda, John Baucom, Jim McAleese and Mickey Wright.
If the margins in the TA championship are considered close, the TA2 Championship battle could be labeled razor thin. Tony Buffomante, in the No. 34 Mike Cope Racing Ford Mustang, currently leads the way with 161 points hot off a victory last round at Road America, but defending Champion Gar Robinson, in the No. 74 Pura Vida Tequila/ 74 Ranch Resort Chevrolet Camaro, remains only four points behind despite a 20th place finish at Road America.
Justin Haley, in the No. 99 Braun Foundation Ford Mustang, currently sits third with 155 points while Louis-Phillippe Montour, in the No. 77 Speedlogix Racing Dodge Challenger, with 144 and Dillon Machavern, in the No. 24 Heritage Motorsports Ford Mustang, with 143 complete the TA2 championship top five— with all three easily within striking distance.
Together the top TA2 drivers have created some of the tightest year end competition the TA2 class has ever seen, potentially lining up a finish more thrilling than last year’s finale at Daytona that saw Cameron Lawrence, Adam Andretti and Gar Robinson all vying for silverware.
Either way, VIR remains somewhat open to the taker with previous TA2 race winners Cameron Lawrence (in 2013 and 2015) and Adam Andretti (in 2014) absent. Tony Buffomante captured pole in 2014 and set the fast lap in 2014 and 2015—landing on the podium in 2015, a result that would be welcomed by both Buffomante and the Mike Cope team this year.
The TA2 field will also feature Lawrence Loshak, Keith Prociuk, Jordan Bernloehr, Brian Kubinski, Curt Vogt, Hal Musler, Tom West, Tony Cook, Shane Lewis, Kyle Marcelli, Tom Sheehan, John Atwell, Tony Ave and Steve Kent, Jr.
TA3 will showcase one of its largest fields of the year with a mix of production powered racers, both, domestic and international set to compete on behalf of their respective manufacturers. Current points leader and defending victor, Randy Mueller, in the No. 0 Epic Motorsport/Bizbloom.com BMW M3, will be in attendance. With the class’ Spring Championship already under his belt, Mueller will look to build his Fall points lead over rookie Conor Flynn, in the No. 95 Irish Mike’s Automotive Porche 997.
The Viper contingent will also be out in full force in TA4 with the Lux Performance duo of Cindi Lux and Steve Streimer, in the No. 42 and 45 Lux Performance Group Dodge Vipers, and 2015 champion Lee Saunders, in the No. 84 Landsearch LLC Dodge Viper ACRX, in attendance. Also featuring American-made horsepower will be Randy Kinsland, in the No. 11 Crossroads Motorsports Chevrolet Corvette, and Russ Snow, in the No. 20 Guardian Services/ AIM Sports Chevrolet Corvette, both racing out of nearby North Carolina, and Mel Shaw, in the No. 22 Bay Commercial Group Chevrolet Corvette.
Joining Flynn and Mueller in featuring for the European side will be Milton Grant, in the No. 5 Sentry Self/ Marriott Porsche 997, and Michael Camus, in the No. 08 Bizbloom.com/MCM Holdings BMW M3.
In TA4, Ernie Francis, Jr., in the No. 98 Beta Tools/Liquid Performance Ford Mustang, will look to secure yet another win in his pursuit of perfection in the TA4 class championship as he closes out his final season of racing in the production classes—his eyes firmly set on the TA class for 2017. Francis, who won at VIR in 2015 and 2014, will face spartan opposition to a repeat with only Rich Jones, in the No. 37 JOMAC/ Sparta Steel Ford Mustang, and Rob Bodle, in the No. 16 Caribbean Food Delights Ford Mustang, entered at VIR.
Fans can follow along with the action throughout the weekend at www.gotransam.com, on Twitter at @gotransam and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/gotransam.
Championship points entering Round
Trans Am Weekend Schedule
Friday, September 23, 2016
11:25 AM – 11:45 AM TA, TA3 and TA4 Practice
11:45 AM – 12:05 PM TA2 Practice
4:35 PM – 4:55 PM TA One Shot Qualifying
4:55 PM – 5:15 PM TA and TA3 One Shot Qualifying
5:15 PM – 5:35 PM TA2 One Shot Qualifying
Saturday, September 24, 2016
11:25 AM – 12:35 PM TA, TA3 and TA4 Race
5:05 PM – 6:15 PM TA2 Race
All times eastern
Upcoming Trans Am Broadcasts
Thursday, September 22, 2016 at 3:00 AM – The Trans Am 100 at Road America
Saturday, September 24, 2016 at 7:00 AM – The ETE Reman Transmissions Muscle Car 100 at Road America
Saturday, September 24, 2016 at 12:00 PM – The Trans Am 100 at Road America
