Lopez and Buffomante lead practice sessions as Homestead-Miami weekend commences
October 8, 2016
Hometown teams showcase with Epic Motorsports and Breathless Pro Racing
HOMESTEAD, Fla. [October 8, 2016] – With Round 9 of the 2016 Trans Am Championship at Homestead-Miami Speedway officially underway and on schedule, the Trans Am Series held a set of two practices as drivers and teams alike worked to dial-in their setups to the 2.273-mile modified “roval” course after seeing Friday’s customary test day canceled.
TA2 opened the weekend with an independent practice session that saw Tony Buffomante, in the No. 34 Mike Cope Racing Ford Mustang, continue his streak atop the charts. Buffomante, the current points leader, comes into Homestead-Miami with two consecutive victories under his belt— at Road America and Virginia International Raceway. Now, on the banks of the speedway, a far stretch from the scenic turns of VIR, Buffomante continues to showcase his speed, this time with a 1:21.907 lap—which if replicated in qualifying this afternoon would be a TA2 new track record.
Buffomante was followed in the session by the Robinson Racing duo of Shane Lewis, in the No. 72 Pura Vida Tequila/ 74 Ranch Resort Chevrolet Camaro, and defending TA2 champ Gar Robinson, in the No. 74 Pura Vida Tequila/ 74 Ranch Resort Chevrolet Camaro, who finished second and third in the session with times of 1:22.682 and 1:22.834, respectively.
Tony Buffomante’s Mike Cope Racing teammates Dillon Machavern, in the No. 24 Heritage Motorsports Ford Mustang, and Justin Haley, in the No. 99 Braun Foundation Ford Mustang, completed the TA2 top five with times of 1:23.465 and 1:23.517, respectively. The TA2 top ten also featured, in order, Justin Haley, Jordan Bernloehr, Keith Prociuk, Tom Sheehan and Jordan Bupp.
Shortly thereafter, the TA, TA3 and TA4 classes took to the course for a practice session of their own with Miami local and 2014 race victor RJ Lopez, in the No. 06 RepublicaBrewing/Optica Lopez Chevrolet Corvette, once again setting the pace on his home track with a time of 1:18.074.
Lopez has qualified atop the TA class in the last two of Trans Am’s appearances at Homestead-Miami and seems set to continue that streak. However, come race day he will look to avoid the poor luck that saw his 2015 effort cut short only 20 laps into the race.
Simon Gregg, in the No. 59 Derhaag Motorsports Chevrolet Corvette, was a somewhat distant second the session with a time of 1:19.093, while current points runner-up Paul Fix, in the No. 50 StopFlex.com/TheCarCoach.com/Chevron Techron Chevrolet Corvette, was third quick with a time of 1:19.125. David Pintaric, in the No. 57 Kryderacing Cadillac CTS-V, and Cliff Ebben, in the No. 36 Stumpf Ford/McMahon Group/ Lamers Ford Mustang, completed the TA top five with times of 1:19.165 and 1:19.748, respectively.
The TA class top ten consisted of, in order, AJ Henriksen, Claudio Burtin, Kenny Bupp, Jon Leavy and Charles Wicht. Defending champion Amy Ruman was sidelined for the session with transmission issues.
The TA3 class was led by the Miami-based Epic Motorsports team of Randy Mueller, in the No. 0 Epicmotorsports/Bizbloom.com BMW M3, and Michael Camus, in the No. 08 Bizbloom.com/ MCM Holdings Inc. BMW M3, with times of 1:25.086 and 1:25.337, respectively.
The Breathless Racing trio of Fernando Seferlis, in the No. 28 Compulab Panama Aston Martin, Mel Shaw, in the No. 22 Bay Commercial Group/ BETA Chevrolet Corvette, and Hugh Boocher, in the No. 46 Performance Driving Group Chevrolet Corvette, completed the TA3 top five with times of 1:29.368, 1:33.941 and 1:34.458, respectively.
TA4 was led by now three-time champion and Miami native Ernie Francis, Jr., in the No. 98 BetaTools/ Liquid Performance Ford Mustang, with a time of 1:27.037 as he continues his pursuit of a perfect season, this time on his home track. However, the 2015 victor at Homestead-Miami, Thomas Ellis, in the No. 00 Palm Express Ford Mustang, presents one of the largest threats to Francis’ streak in recent memory and followed him closely in the session with a time of 1:27.823.
Trans Am will return to the track later this afternoon for qualifying to determine the starting order for tomorrow’s two 102.15-mile, 45 lap races.
Joining Trans Am on the weekend is SCCA Pro sanctioned US Formula 4, holding their final race of the 2016 Season.
Tickets may be purchased at the gate for $10 on Saturday, $15 on Sunday or a Weekend Pass may be purchased for $20. Children 12 and under are free. General admission parking will be available in the infield for free.
Fans can follow along with the action at www.gotransam.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/gotransam and on Twitter at @gotransam. Live timing and scoring will be available during each session.
TA2 Practice 1 Results in Full
TA, TA3 and TA4 Practice 1 Results in Full
Round 9 of the 2016 Trans Am Championship Remaining Event Schedule:
Saturday, October 8, 2016
1:30 PM – TA2 Practice
1:44 PM — TA2 Qualifying
2:10 PM – TA3/TA4 Practice
2:24 PM — TA3/TA4 Qualifying
2:50 PM – TA Practice
3:04 PM — TA Qualifying
Sunday, October 9, 2016
7:00 AM – Gates Open
11:00 AM – TA2, Powered by AEM, Race
1:15 PM – TA/TA3/TA4 Race
