Tony Ave leads the way in practice as Trans Am debuts at NOLA
October 9, 2015
Robinson sets the pace for TA2, Lux and Francis, Jr., fast in TA3
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AVONDALE, La. [October 9, 2015] – The Trans Am Series made its formal debut on the 2.75-mile 16 turn course at NOLA Motorsports Park with the first practice session of the weekend, Round 10 of the 2015 Trans Am Championship.
In a surprising turn of events, it was Tony Ave who led the way in the TA class. Ave, recently plying his trade in TA2, is making a return to the class in which he won two championships during the 2010 and 2011 seasons, as he fills in for Doug Peterson behind the wheel of the No. 87 3Dimensional.com Cadillac CTS-V. Ave wasted little time getting back into the swing of things in the TA class, setting the fast time for the session, a 1:38.253, despite having to navigate 40 cars throughout the narrow NOLA course.
Ave was followed in the TA class by Paul Fix, driver of the No. 4 StopFlex.com/TheCarCoach.com Chevrolet Corvette, setting a 1:39.018 lap in preparation for yet another points battle in his Championship showdown with Amy Ruman, driver of the No. 23 McNichols Company Chevrolet Corvette. With Ruman still 14 points ahead in the Championship race, Fix knows that there is plenty of ground to be made up, both at NOLA and throughout the remainder of the season.
Simon Gregg, in the No. 59 Derhaag Motorsports Chevrolet Corvette, was third quickest with a time of 1:39.062, just hundredths off of Fix’s time. Ruman was not far behind with a time of 1:39.982, fourth in the session; while John Baucom, in the No. 86 RoadRaceParts.com Ford Mustang, rounded out the TA class top five with a time of 1:40.234.
In TA2, Gar Robinson, in the No. 74 74 Ranch Resort Chevrolet Camaro, got off to a strong start with a time of 1:43.378. Robinson, currently second in the points, has a 30 point gap to close on current points leader Cameron Lawrence for a shot at the TA2 Championship. Robinson was joined atop the TA2 charts by his teammate and veteran racer Shane Lewis, in the No. 72 74 Ranch Resort Chevrolet Camaro, who turned a time of 1:43.482 to give Robinson Racing a one-two in the session.
Rookie Dillon Machavern, in the No. 24 Heritage Motorsports Ford Mustang, was third with a time of 1:43.932. Adam Andretti, in the No. 44 Engineered Components Chevrolet Camaro, was fourth with a time of 1:44.396; while two-time Champion Cameron Lawrence, in the No. 1 MOPAR Dodge Challenger, completed the TA2 top five with a time of 1:44.592.
In TA3, Trans Am’s production based class, the session was led by Ernie Francis, Jr., in the No. 98 Breathless Racing Chevrolet Camaro, in the American Muscle Group and Cindi Lux, in the No. 45 Lux Performance Dodge Viper, in the International Group.
Francis, who currently holds a strong points lead atop the American Muscle Charts, was similarly strong in practice with a time of 1:49.190. Todd Napieralski, in the No. 39 Tremec/SKF/Backstreet Chevrolet Camaro, was second fastest in the session with a time of 1:51.542—a time he will aim to improve in his pursuit of Francis for the American Muscle Championship. Francis’ Breathless Racing teammate, Fernando Seferlis, in the No. 28 Compulab Panama Chevrolet Camaro, was third in the session with a 1:54.335.
Lux began her final weekend of the Trans Am season in style, turning a 1:48.182 lap from behind the wheel of her Viper—while not in the Championship hunt, Lux has had a strong string of success in the races she has elected to enter, success she and her team will aim to emulate this weekend. In that pursuit, Steve Streimer, in the No. 42 Lux Performance Dodge Viper, gave the team a one-two atop the practice charts with a 1:49.037. Carey Grant, in the No 55 Courtyard Hotel by Marriott Porsche 997 GT3, was third in the International Group with a time of 1:50.889.
Trans Am will return to the track at NOLA Motorsports Park at 3:30 p.m. CT this afternoon for a series of three Fast Five qualifying sessions with TA at 3:30 p.m., TA2 at 3:50 p.m. and TA3 at 4:10 p.m.
On Saturday, October 10, Trans Am will hold a second practice session at 10:20 a.m., followed by the second chance to qualify at 11:05 a.m. On Sunday, October 11, Trans Am will hold an 8:15 a.m. warm up in preparation for the 101.75 mile, 37 lap Trans Am race for Round 10 of the 2015 Trans Am Championship.
About The Trans Am Series:
The Trans Am Series, America’s Road Racing Series, began igniting the passion of motorsports fans across the world in 1966 and has been home to some of the greatest names in road racing. Today, Trans Am continues to honor its legacy, while challenging the status quo in racing, through meaningful racing platforms and a driver-oriented focus. The Trans Am Series is operated by The Trans Am Race Company, LLC (TARC), through a five-year agreement in which TARC oversees the management and marketing of the Trans Am Series. SCCA Pro Racing sanctions Trans Am events and provides operations services to the Series.
Defending Champions include: Doug Peterson (TA), Cameron Lawrence (TA2), Ernie Francis, Jr., (TA3 American Muscle) and Jason Berkeley (TA3 International).
For more on the Trans Am Series visit www.gotransam.com, “like” Trans Am on Facebook at www.facebook.com/gotransam, or follow Trans Am on Twitter at @gotransam.
