Trans Am set for Homestead-Miami weekend
October 7, 2016
With Miami area weather clearing, Trans Am’s southern show rolls on
MIAMI, Fla. [October 7, 2016] – With only four events remaining in the 2016 Trans Am Championship, the Trans Am Series is set to hold Round 9 at Homestead-Miami Speedway with two 102.15-mile, 45 lap races around the 2.273-mile modified road course on Sunday, October 9. Both races, the TA2 exclusive race and the TA, TA3 and TA4 multi-class race, will feature heated championship battles with the TA and TA2 class battles both set to come down to the wire as the Series’ 50th Anniversary Season comes to a close.
The last few rounds of racing have seen defending TA class champion Amy Ruman, in the No. 23 McNichols Company Chevrolet Corvette, in the midst of a heated battle for her title belt. Despite wining two of the first four races of the year and grabbing an additional second place finish in round four, Ruman has seen her once dramatic points lead dwindle after not finishing above seventh in the past four events. Now with Paul Fix, in the No. 4 StopFlex.com/TheCarCoach.com/Chevron Techron Chevrolet Corvette, charging hard after podiuming the past two races and winning last round at Virginia International Raceway, Ruman will have her hands full over the final four events.
To make maters even more difficult, David Pintaric, in the No. 57 Kryderacing Cadillac CTS-V, and Cliff Ebben, in the No. 36 Stumpf Ford/ McMahon Group Ford Mustang, are looming large as well— just points behind Fix and have their own championship hopes on the line with every passing race.
Ruman does have history in her corner, however, as the defending champion secured victory at HMS in 2015, with Cliff Ebben finishing second and Paul Fix third. 2014’s victor, Miami native and hometown hero RJ Lopez, in the No. 06 Republic Brewing/ Optica Lopez Chevrolet Corvette, is also entered and stands capable of shaking up the championship race with a victory of his own.
The battle for the TA2 championship remains a dogfight atop the points with Tony Buffomante, Justin Haley, Gar Robinson, Lawrence Loshak and Dillon Machavern all within 40 points of each other in a race that seems destined to go down to the finale at Daytona International Speedway— leaving each driver with no margin for error over the final four rounds.
Dillon Machavern, in the No. 24 Heritage Motorsports Ford Mustang, sees Trans Am’s return to HMS come at the most opportune time. Machavern stands as the only driver entered who has previously visited the TA2 podium at Homestead after pushing then-champion Cameron Lawrence down to the wire in 2015— a repeat result would give Machavern a much needed boost in his own Championship pursuit with the No. 24 currently sitting a full 39 points behind teammate and points leader Tony Buffomante.
Buffomante, in the No. 34 Mike Cope Racing Ford Mustang, enters the weekend coming off of two consecutive victories at Road America and Virginia International Raceway but now leaves his long-standing comfort-zone of classic road courses for the “roval” of Homestead-Miami. Justin Haley, another member of the Mike Cope paddock and driver of the No. 99 Braun Foundation Ford Mustang, enters the weekend with similar momentum, three podiums in three races, but plenty of experience on the banks; as the NASCAR ladder fixture and current K&N Pro East Series champ seeks what could be his second championship of the year.
Defending Champion Gar Robinson, in the No. 74 Pura Vida Tequila/ 74 Ranch Resort Chevrolet Camaro, is accustomed to the pressure atop the championship points and hasn’t fallen further than third position all year. However, he will be eager to snap a streak of three races without a podium—dating back to his victory at Brainerd International Raceway in Round 5.
Finally, Lawrence Loshak, in the No. 5 Pennzoil Platinum/ MOMO/ ETE Reman Chevrolet Camaro, has steadily worked his way up through the point standings and back into title contention after a solid, but unspectacular, start to the year. Now the No. 5 seems to be hitting its stride with four top three qualifiers and two podium finishes, including a victory at Mid-Ohio, in four races.
In TA3, the Miami-based team of current points leader Randy Mueller, in the No. 0 Epic Motorsports/ Biz Bloom.com BMW M3, and Michael Camus, in the No. 08 Epic Motorsports/ BizBloom.com BMW M3, will be amongst the favorites to secure victory in the production based class with Connor Flynn, Dave Rici, Hugh Boocher, Fernando Seferlis and Randy Kinsland all ready to challenge— in fact, Kinsland, who pushed Mueller down to the wire at VIR only to fall short over the last few laps, is the only class entrant not a resident of the Sunshine State.
Camus has the overall championship in TA3 all but wrapped up, while Connor Flynn and Kinsland are both in position to contend for the class’s fall championship—instituted after the merger of the now defunct TA5 into the class.
In TA4, freshly minted three-time champion Ernie Francis, Jr., in the No. 98 Beta Tools/Liquid Performance Ford Mustang, will continue his pursuit of perfection while celebrating his 2016 Championship amongst friends and family as the Miami native looks to continue his victory streak on his home track. Francis and the Breathless Pro Racing team will make an announcement in regards to the young champion’s future on Saturday as well.
However, Dave Ricci, in the No. 71 Southeast Guardrail Chevrolet Camaro, and Florida native Thomas Ellis, in the No. 00 Palm Express Ford Mustang, will be eager to play the role of spoilers on Francis’ big weekend—with Ellis wielding the credentials to back it up, a victory over Francis in 2015 at Homestead.
Due to the conditions within the local area from Hurricane Matthew, Trans Am and Homestead-Miami canceled Friday’s test day, moving load-in from Thursday to Friday. Saturday and Sunday’s schedules remain unaffected.
Trans Am will be joined on the weekend by 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.
Championship Points Entering Round 9
Round 9 of the 2016 Trans Am Championship Event Schedule:
Saturday, October 8, 2016
7:00 AM – Gates Open
9:50 AM – TA2 Practice
10:35 AM – TA/TA3/TA4 Practice
1:30 PM – TA2 Qualifying
2:10 PM – TA3/TA4 Qualifying
2:50 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
