Trans Am’s first practice at New Jersey Motorsports Park concludes

 

Halsmer, in his #12 Ctek Battery Chargers/Motorstate/Allstar Chevrolet Camaro, had the quickest lap for TA2, posting in at 1:27.483, and toping out at 94.396 miles per hour.  He had this to say about his experience: “I’ve never run here before.  So it’s interesting, it’s really a hot day so that makes the track a little breezy I think.  But it’s really about getting used to something new, how the turns are, how fast you can get through them, where you can go, where you can stop.“

 

Halsmer was so focused on learning the new track he didn’t realize he’d posted the fastest lap, and his teammate Mike Miller and posted the second fastest. In fact the news took him off guard, “We were?  It’s a really good start then, I won’t complain.”  

 

In the TA class, Tony Ave once again set the standard for speed posting both the fastest lap at 1:17.564 and the highest speed of 104.430 miles per hour in his Lamers/PME Engines/Rpx Chevrolet Corvette.    His teammate Doug Peterson, in the 3Dimensional.com Chevrolet Corvette, was close behind as the duo led all competitors in both speed and lap times.  

 

TA2 driver Michael Wilson, in his #08 Wilson’s Carpet Chevrolet Monte Carlo, made some noise as well, however it was due to a broken drive shaft.  However, it won’t keep him out of the race, or even tomorrow’s practice and he was very confident on that matter: “We’ll be out there.  If we have to work all night, we’ll do it.”  

 

Known around the paddock for his bravado and determination, Wilson, a New Jersey, native is currently second in the TA2 points standing and is proud of it and is planning to climb even higher in the standings, “We’re going to win here at New Jersey.  I’ve raced here before, I love the track, and they’ve done a great job with it. I think it’s a very professional track.  I’m thrilled that Trans Am is here.”  Just for good measure he threw in:  “I plan to win at Watkins Glenn as well."