Fix and Andretti capture third consecutive pole positions in TA, TA2 in Fast Five Qualifying
June 13, 2015
Michael Camus leads the way for TA3
MILLVILLE, NJ. (Saturday June 13, 2015) – Paul Fix captured his third consecutive TA class pole during “Fast Five” qualifying at New Jersey Motorsports Park in preparation for Round 5 of the 2015 Trans Am Championship, the MPT Industries Weekend of Thunder. Fix’s time of 1:16.679 was just shy of the existing track record and puts the No. 4 StopFlex.com/TheCarCoach.com Chevrolet Corvette in prime position to follow up a Lime Rock Park victory with an identical result as Fix continues his championship pursuit.
Defending Champion Doug Peterson, driver of the No. 87 3Dimensional.com Chevrolet Corvette, was second fastest in the session with a time of 1:17.317, securing, along with Fix, another side-by-side start for the Tony Ave Racing team. John Baucom, in the No. 86 Baucom Motorsports Ford Mustang, was third in the session with a time of 1:17.317; while Simon Gregg, in the No. 59 Derhaag Motorsports Chevrolet Corvette, and Jim McAleese, in the No. 03 McAlleese and Associates Chevrolet Corvette, rounded out the Fast Five with times of 1:18.036 and 1:18.256.
In the TA2 class Adam Andretti, in the No. 44 Engineered Components Ford Mustang, captured what was also his third consecutive pole while setting a new track record with a 1:20.631 lap time. Andretti will now attempt to convert his speed into a podium placement and break a stream of poor luck over the past few races that has seen his performance hampered by transmission issues.
Rookie Gar Robinson, in the No. 74 74 Ranch Resort Chevrolet Camaro, will start in second position tomorrow, the result of a 1:20.905 lap time. Meanwhile Lawrence Loshak, in the No. 5 Raybestos Powertrain Ford Mustang, will start third after a time of 1:21.644.
The TA2 “Fast Five” also includes Steve Kent, Jr., in the No. 83 Bulk Nation/ CBRT Ford Mustang, with a time of 1:21.713 and Dillon Machavern, in the No. 24 Unifirst/PPG Ford Mustang, with a time of 1:21.873.
The TA3 class “Fast Five” was led by Michael Camus, in the No. 08 Epic Motorsports/ MCM Holdings BMW M3, with a lap time of 1:24.977. The pole position gives Camus an edge in his pursuit of a second consecutive podium placement after finishing second at Lime Rock Park in the International Group.
Ernie Francis, Jr., in the No. 98 Breathless Performance Chevrolet Camaro, was second fastest in TA3 with a time of 1:25.202, representing the American Muscle Group as he pursues his third consecutive victory.
Camus’ teammate Randy Mueller, in the No. 0 Epic Motorsports/ MCM Holding BMW M3, will start in third position after a 1:25.237 lap time. Lee Saunders, in the No. 84 Landsearch LLC Dodge Viper, and defending International Group Champion Jason Berkeley, in the No. 67 BMG Management Chevrolet Corvette, also secured Fast Five positions with times of 1:25.304 and 1:26.789, respectively.
Trans Am will hold a second practice session later today at 4:20 p.m. EDT along with a second chance to qualify at 4:50 p.m., allowing drivers in all classes the opportunity to requalify for positions outside the locked in “Fast Five.”
Both Trans Am races will take place tomorrow, Sunday June 14, with the MPT Twelve Lubricant & Penetrant 100, featuring TA2, at 11:50 a.m. and the MPT Fuel Systems Full Cleanse 100, featuring TA and TA3, at 3:10 p.m. with both races constituting Round 5 of the 2015 Trans Am Championship.
Provisional TA "Fast Five" Qualifying
