Simon Gregg leads evening practice at Daytona
November 13, 2014
Steve Kent, Jr., sets pace for TA2, Dean Martin and Russ Snow lead TA3
Simon Gregg powered the No. 59 Derhaag Motorsports Chevrolet Corvette C7 to the top of the charts in the Trans Am Series’ second practice of the day at Daytona International Speedway this evening.
Gregg’s time of 1:46.521 led all competitors during the session, but Gregg was one of few drivers to actually improve his time from the earlier mid-day session, courtesy of lower track temperatures at the end of the day. Gregg enters this weekend in a battle for second in the TA class Championship with Amy Ruman, driver of the No. 23 McNichols Company Chevrolet Corvette; if he can maintain his speed throughout the weekend, it should provide a valuable edge as the season comes to a close on Saturday.
2014 Champion Doug Peterson, in the No. 87 3Dimensional.com Chevrolet Corvette, was second in the session with a time of 1:46.598, while Ruman was third with a 1:46.763; as the top three were all within three tenths of each other.
In TA2, Steve Kent, Jr., in the No. 07 BC Race Cars Chevrolet Camaro, set the pace with a 1:55.611. Kent won the TA3 race here last year and has so far made a comfortable transition to TA2 this weekend, leading the likes of Adam Andretti, in the No. 44 Engineered Components Chevrolet Camaro, and Kevin Poitras, in the No. 73 PostPlastics Chevrolet Camaro, who finished second and third with times of 1:54.487 and 1:54.727.
In TA3’s American Muscle Group, Dean Martin, driving the No. 52 Full Tilt Boogie/Rehagen Racing Ford Mustang, showed off his talent with a 1:57.738 beating out Thomas Ellis, in the No. 00 Palm Express Ford Mustang, and Todd Napieralski, in the No. 39 Tremec/SKF/Backstreet Performance Chevrolet Camaro, who logged times of 2:00.215 and 2:01.279.
In the International Group, Russ Snow, behind the wheel of the No. 20 Carbotech Chevrolet Corvette, set the pace with a 1:56.176. Lee Saunders, in the No. 84 Landsearch LLC/ Dodge Viper, was second with a 1:58.012 while David Mazyck, in the No. 71 Archer Racing/ Race-keeper/ Team TK Dodge Viper, was third with a 1:58.749.
Trans Am will return to the track for qualifying tomorrow, Friday, November 14, 2014, at 11:30 a.m. for the TA class and at 12:30 p.m. for TA2 and TA3. The 103.24 mile, 29-lap race at 10:30 a.m. EST on Saturday November 15.
Keep up with all the action this weekend at www.gotransam.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/gotransam and on Twitter at @gotransam.
