Ebben sets the pace on home track during Road America practice
August 27, 2015
Robinson edges Buffomante for TA2 fast lap
ELKHART LAKE, Wis. (AUGUST 27, 2015) – Cliff Ebben showcased years of experience around the legendary 4.048-mile, 14 turn, course at Road America turning the fast lap of the Trans Am Series’ first, and somewhat abbreviated, session of the Next Dimension 100 weekend, a 2:06.915.
Ebben, driver of the No. 36 Stumpf Ford/McMahon Group Ford Mustang, is a native of nearby Appleton, Wisconsin, and has been a fixture at the Elkhart Lake track throughout his racing career. This weekend he will put the entirety of his knowledge to the test against an 18-car TA field while navigating the rest of the 64-car Trans Am entry.
Amy Ruman, in the No. 23 McNichols Company Chevrolet Corvette, followed Ebben in the session with a time of 2:07.370, impressive given that the No. 23 missed several testing sessions while the team juggled mechanical gremlins. Doug Peterson was third quickest with a time of 2:08.650 from behind the wheel of his new Cadillac CTS-V.
In TA2, Mid-Ohio victor Gar Robinson picked up exactly where he left off—atop the charts. Robinson’s time of 12:16.085 in the No. 74 74 Ranch Resort Chevrolet Camaro was enough to just edge out Tony Buffomante, in the No. 34 Bestline Superior Lubricants Ford Mustang, who logged a 2:16.203. Two-time defending Champion Cameron Lawrence, in the No. 1 MOPAR Dodge Challenger, was third quickest with a time of 2:16.695.
Todd Napieralski, in the No. 39 Tremec/SKF/Backstreet Chevrolet Camaro, led TA3’s American Muscle subgroup with a time of 2:26.300, outdoing his teammate Bill Baten, in the No. 85 Hendrickson USA Chevrolet Camaro, who was second in the group with a time of 2:28.397. Fernando Seferlis, in the No. 28 Compulab Panama Chevrolet Camaro, was third in the session with a time of 2:35.243.
The International Group of TA3 was led by Cindi Lux, in the No. 45 Lux Performance Dodge Viper, with a time of 2:21.242, while defending Champion Jason Berkeley, in the No. 67 BMG Management Chevrolet Corvette, was second with a time of 2:24.149. Lee Saunders, current points leader and driver of the No. 84 Landsearch LLC Dodge Viper, was third with a time of 2:25.535.
Trans Am will return to the track tomorrow, Friday, August 28, at 9:00 a.m. CDT for “Fast Five Qualifying” with each class featured in an independent 15-minute session. The second practice session of the weekend will follow at 10:30 a.m. succeeded immediately by the second chance to qualify at 11:00 a.m. The 100-mile Next Dimension 100 will take place at 9:30 a.m. CDT Saturday, August 29 for Round 8 of the 2015 Trans Am Championship.
