Trans Am returns to VIR as 2013 Season heads towards climax

 

Everyone always wants to end the year on a high note, to eek out a few final victories before the curtain closes on a revolutionary Trans Am Season.  Momentum can mean everything, and a solid end to this year’s season may help teams already looking towards next year build a foundation going forward. 

 

So while Cameron Lawrence, in the #11 Ctek/Motorstate/NorthStar Battery Chevrolet Camaro, and Doug Peterson, driver of the #87 3Dimensional.com Chevrolet Corvette, are in very strong positions going forward in the Championship chase, there’s still plenty to race for.  A win is a win, and a podium placement is a podium placement. 

 

Round 8 of the Trans Am Season will feature Trans Am’s return to Virginia International Raceway, a venue that Trans Am visited in 2009, 2010 and 2011.  Trans Am returns to a different VIR—the famous Oak Tree Turn retains its title, but now appears barren after its namesake fell earlier this year—the current turn is nearly unrecognizable in comparison to years past. 

 

Similarly, the Trans Am Series that returns in 2013, after a one-year hiatus, is barely recognizable in comparison to 2011.  Then Trans Am featured what was just the start of the now skyrocketing TA2 class, then a hodgepodge of Chevy Camaros, Monte Carlos, Impalas and even a lone Ford Taurus—in an assortment of body styles to boot.  Now they’ve been replaced by wave after wave of new Camaros and Mustangs, raring to go racing. 

 

Joining the TA and TA2 classes is the TA3 class, completing Trans Am’s cycle with a tribute to the production racing that the Series was founded upon, another tribute to the past that has helped the Series gain momentum.

 

Side by side with Trans Am will be the Sportscar Vintage Racing Association taking part in their Heacock Classic Gold Cup.  Within SVRA will be a plethora of cars that raced in Trans Am in the past; and with SVRA and Trans Am sharing a paddock, it’s a powerful mix of the past and present of Trans Am—something for fans of all eras of racing to join together in celebrating, a brilliant legacy and a bright future, together on a singular weekend. 

 

In the TA class, Doug Peterson will be faced with challenges from a motivated field, and plenty of drivers are looking to make their mark on the podium.  One driver to watch will definitely be Amy Ruman.  Ruman and the #23 McNichols Company Chevrolet Corvette had a furious run at Brainerd International Raceway, overcoming an early setback caused by a freshly paved track surface that was showing the wear from a full weekend of racing.  Ruman set a track record in her effort and landed on the podium, in third for the first time since Sebring International Raceway. 

 

“That was some incredible racing and even though we were hoping to make a little bit more ground in the championship with a win, I’m still very happy to be back on the podium,” said Ruman.  “We worked hard to get a set up to work with the new surface as quickly as we could, as it was pretty slippery out there.  I’m disappointed we lost ground early in the race, but it was thrilling to come back through the field the way we did.” 

 

It’s been a long run for Ruman; but now with her car seemingly repaired in full from the rough outing at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park and running well, she’s a threat to claim victory at any remaining race. 

 

The same goes for Tony Ave, in the #4 Lamers Motor Racing/PME Egnines/RPX Chevrolet Corvette, and defending TA Champion Simon Gregg in the #1 Gregg Motorsports Chevrolet Corvette.  Cliff Ebben has placed on podium after podium this year as well; he and the #36 Stumpf Ford/McMahon Group Ford Mustang are, along side Gregg, the closest challengers to Peterson claiming the title this year. 

 

All of the aforementioned drivers each have more than simply an entrant’s chance to podium; they’re all drivers more than capable of winning come Sunday’s race.  It’s a level of unpredictability that comes with a competitive field, deep in talent. 

 

In TA2, it is hard to question the talent of Cameron Lawrence; but just as with Peterson, the field behind the TA2 points leader is equally deep in talent.  One driver who is certain to be eager to mount a return to the podium is Robert Huffmaster, driver of the #27 Kryderacing/VIRSec Chevrolet Camaro, who, like Lawrence, is a member of the growing number of young, talented racers in TA2. 

 

Huffmaster has been the victim of multiple mechanical issues so far this year, but every time the Kryderacing hotshot has been able to finish a race, he’s finished strong, placing no lower than fourth, with three podium placements to his name.  Most recently he claimed pole at Brainerd International Raceway and set a track record during the qualifying session, only to have the #27 Camaro give away through the race.   However, the rest of the field should be well aware that Huffmaster is more than capable of causing them a few headaches in these final few races.  

 

“A DNF is always heartbreaking,” said Huffmaster.  “But at Brainered we found speed that I believe will carry over to VIR and give us another opportunity to fight for a win.  To come out of the weekend with the pole was very exciting for the whole team—it’s a result we want to repeat, and then some.”  

 

It would also be foolish to discount two TA2 veterans in the paddock, two-time defending Champion Bob Stretch, in the #98 Wheels America/Fix Rim Mobile Chevrolet Camaro, and Pete Halsmer, in the #12 Ctek/Motorstate/NorthStar Battery Chevrolet Camaro.  This time last year both drivers were battling for the 2013 TA2 Championship, a battle that Stretch eventually won; but Halsmer and Stretch combined for all but just one TA2 win last year.  They are also the two drivers closest to Lawrence in the points. 

 

TA3 will features a plethora of production powered Ford Mustangs in yet another strong showing for the American Muscle Group.   Making his sixth appearance on the year will be defending TA3 Champion Chuck Cassaro, in the #76 Cassaro Enterprises/StackData/Aeromotive/Metallica Ford Mustang.  Cassaro is the current point standings leader in the group but is coming off a substantial collision at Brainerd International Raceway. 

 

If Cassaro’s performance suffers any dips in the final three races it could be just the opening that Rob Bodle, piloting the #16 Caribbean Food Delights Ford Mustang, is hoping for.  Bodle is currently second to Cassaro in the points and is more than capable of capitalizing on any opportunity that may present itself if Cassaro suffers any setbacks in the aftermath of BIR.

 

Trans Am will first take to the track at VIR on Friday September 27, at 11:35 a.m. EDT for an official practice session, followed later than evening by another practice session of 5:00 p.m. 

 

Qualifying will take place at 11:35 a.m. on Saturday in preparation for the 101.37 mile Trans Am Race at 12:45 p.m. on Sunday for Round 8 of the 2013 Trans Am Season. 

 

For more information on Round 8 of the 2013 Season and all things Trans Am visit www.gotransam.com, follow the Series on Twitter @gotransam.com or visit Trans Am on Facebook at www.facebook.com/gotransam.