Ave takes second consecutive pole, Lawrence leads TA2

 

Ave most recently took pole at Road Atlanta, en route to a victory over second place finisher Mike Skeen, in what was Ave’s return to the #4 Lamers Motor Racing/ PME Engines/ RPX Chevrolet Corvette.   With plenty of experience on the course, including multiple 24 Hours, Ave is continuing to show why he is considered one of the modern Trans Am greats and a two-time Champion.  

 

Gregg finished the session in second position with a time of 1:45.217 despite only completing two laps before being sidelined for the rest of the session.  Gregg and the #1 Derhaag Motorsports Chevrolet Corvette currently sit second in the points standings; and a strong time would have gone a long ways toward helping him retain that position come the end of this, the Trans Am Season finale. However, due to an engine change Gregg will be moved to the back of the TA pack.  

 

Ave’s teammate, and 2013 Trans Am Champion, Doug Peterson, in the #87 3Dimensional.com Chevrolet Corvette, was third in the session, just behind Gregg with a time of 1:45.597. Peterson will begin the race in P2, next to Ave.  

 

Following the top three was a tightly knit pack of six drivers led by Cliff Ebben, in the #36 Stumpf Ford/ McMahon Group Ford Mustang, David Pintaric, in the #57 Kryderacing/WRP Investments Chevrolet Corvette, and Amy Ruman, in #23 McNichols Company Chevrolet Corvette.  Ebben will have third position for the start of the race.

 

The record TA2 entry was led by 2013 TA2 Champion Cameron Lawrence, in the Ctek/Motorstate/NorthStar Battery Chevrolet Camaro, whose time of 1:53.496 will put him on pole yet again.  Lawrence’s Championship has been secure since Virginia International Raceway, three rounds ago; however, he is yet to miss a pole or victory since clinching the title.  

 

Teammates Tom Sheehan and Bob Stretch, in the #97 Damon Insulation/Fix Rim Mobile Chevrolet Camaro and #98 Wheels America/ Fix Rim Mobile Chevrolet Camaro, were second and third in the session with times of 1:54.680 and 1:54.890. 

 

In TA3, Trans Am newcomer and 15 year old wonder-kid, Ernie Francis, Jr., led the record TA3 entry in qualifying with a time of 2:00.847.   So far, Francis, Jr., who is making his first ever Trans Am appearance is happy with the experience. 

 

“Trans Am has been incredibly welcoming for us so far,” Francis, Jr., said.  “They’ve worked hard at making us a part of the family here.  And I’m pretty happy with the pole position today; it should be a good race out there tomorrow.”

 

“This is only my second time here, and last time we did not even get on track, so we’re learning on the fly.  What’s key here, as opposed to other road courses, is drafting to save on fuel.  It’s going to be critical tomorrow to try and work with some other cars out there to get to the front and stay in the front.”  

 

“We bought this Camaro as a factory car and our race shop, Breathless Performance, built it into a World Challenge GTS race car, that could also race in American Iron and Trans Am TA3.  We’re trying to explore the limits of the car right now and look into how we can run it out there, and so far it has been very competitive.” 

 

Meanwhile, current TA3 Champion Chuck Cassaro is fighting for his Championship against Trans Am Rookie of the Year contender Rob Bodle.   Cassaro, in the #76 Stack Data/Aeromotive/Metallica Ford Mustang, was fourth in the TA3 American Muscle Group, leading Bodle by several seconds.  The two will determine the 2013 TA3 American Muscle Champion on race day tomorrow.  

 

Trans Am will take to the track tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. EST for the 99.68 mile Trans Am race, the tenth and final round of the 2013 Season.