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The Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli is the longest-running professional road race series in the United States. The Trans Am Series was founded by racing factory pony cars in the late 1960s. More than 50 years after their launch, Mustangs, Camaros and Challengers continue to be sold today, with Trans Am racing credited as playing a major role in their success and longevity. The SpeedTour will host the professional race series at 19 events nationwide in 2023. 

 

Will Rodgers Comes from the Back to Win Race 2 of the Sonoma SpeedTour, Gio Ruggiero Earns First CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series Victory


 

Hampton Continues GT Win Streak

SONOMA, Calif. (April 21, 2024) – In contrast to yesterday’s Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli Western Championship race, which was filled with mechanical issues and attrition, Race 2 at Sonoma Raceway was a caution-free battle between drivers, where speed was critical and mistakes were costly. XGT driver Will Rodgers recovered from an early mechanical failure yesterday to come from the back with record speed and win overall for the second time in 2024 following a battle with Dylan Lupton, who was competing in his debut weekend with the series. In the CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series,17-year-old Nitro Motorsports driver Gio Ruggiero dominated his class in just his second Western Championship race, leading every lap to win his first-ever Trans Am event.

 

Notes of Interest

  • This was Will Rodgers’ second XGT win of the season. He won Race 2 at Thunderhill Raceway Park last month, also coming from the back of the field.
  • Rodgers was the polesitter for Race 1, but experienced a broken axle on lap 1, resulting in a 26th-place finish. He took the green flag today from the very back of the pack.
  • This was Rodgers’ seventh-career victory in the XGT class.
  • Cars fielded by Chris Evans Race Cars swept both races at Sonoma, with Michelle Nagai winning the class and race overall yesterday.
  • Gio Ruggiero won his first-career Trans Am race in his second Western Championship start.
  • Ruggiero finished 18th yesterday after a loss of fuel pressure took him out of contention on lap four.
  • Ruggiero also races in Trans Am’s National Championship, competing for Nitro Motorsports.
  • David Hampton has won every GT race so far in 2024. 

Chris Evans Race Cars’ XGT entries were the class of the field all weekend, with Michelle Nagai winning yesterday’s race in her No. 72 Nagai Racing/Berkeley Jet Drive Chevrolet Camaro. Today, she started second overall behind teammate Dylan Lupton in the No. 79 Lupton Excavation Ford Mustang, who despite having an early parts failure yesterday, laid down the fastest lap of Race 1 to earn a first-place starting spot today. When the green flag waved, it appeared that Lupton would drive away with the victory, opening up a 2.4-second gap over second place on lap one, and extending the advantage to nearly twelve seconds by lap 12. However, teammate Will Rodgers in the No. 12 Central Welding Supply Ford Mustang was on a mission. Starting last due to a mechanical issue yesterday, it only took Rodgers 10 laps to take over second place and set his sights on the lead. With a large gap and lots of speed, Lupton was able to keep Rodgers at bay until lap 26, when Rodgers finally was able to close in and complete the pass.

 

Once Rodgers got clean air in the point position, he was able to put down consistently impressive lap times, driving away from Lupton to secure the victory, both in his class and overall. Now third, Nagai was close to capturing her second podium of the weekend, but with only two laps remaining, she broke an axle, forcing her into the paddock before the race’s conclusion. This allowed Tim Rankin, who had held the fourth position for the duration of the event, to slide into the last podium spot just before the checkered flag waved. Nagai was fourth, and Rick Wright in the No. 45 AR Motorsports Audi R8 LMS GT3 rounded out the top five.

 

“This was a pretty good race for us, going from last to first after our troubles yesterday,” said Rodgers. “We broke an axle coming to the green flag in Race 1, and didn't get to finish one lap, so that didn't get me a good starting spot for today. But I’m happy to kind of endure all the way through, pass everybody and catch Dylan [Lupton] in a pretty good spot with traffic. We had a little battle. Hats off to everybody at Chris Evans Race Cars. These cars, my orange one right there, and all of them, are the most badass racecars on this earth, I swear. There's nothing better, honestly. I had so much fun out there. Every time I get out of the racecar, there’s just a big smile on my face. So, thank you very much to Chris [Evans] for allowing me to show the performance of these cars. I’m just happy to finish one out again. Thank you.”

 

XGT Top Five:

1. Will Rodgers, No. 12 Central Welding Supply Ford Mustang

2. Dylan Lupton, No. 79 Lupton Excavation Ford Mustang

3. Tim Rankin, No. 5 TCR IT Solutions Ford Mustang

4. Michelle Nagai, No. 72 Nagai Racing/Berkeley Jet Drive Chevrolet Camaro

5. Rick Wright, No. 45 AR Motorsports Audio R8 LMS GT3

After a frustrating run in yesterday’s race due to a mechanical issue, Gio Ruggiero in the No. 8 Nitro Motorsports Ford Mustang was looking for redemption. Fortunately, despite his troubles in Race 1, he laid down the fastest lap of the CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series competitors, putting him first on the starting grid today. Once the green flag waved, Ruggiero was without equal, and it took only a few laps before he had opened a multi-second gap on second place. Once again running the fastest laps in the class, the 17-year-old drove away from the field to earn his first-career Trans Am victory.

 

Behind him, Race 1 winner Tim Barber in the No. 33 DIG Motorsports Ford Mustang worked hard to defend second place, but Michael LaPaglia in the No. 31 Papini’s Garage/F.A.S.T. Auto/Howe Ford Mustang methodically chipped away at his advantage until lap 19, when the two were racing side by side. LaPaglia emerged with the runner-up spot, which he maintained for the remainder of the event. It appeared that Barber would secure the third spot on the podium, but he had Kyle Kelley’s No. 80 PK+k Properties/UPRacing.com Ford Mustang getting larger in his rearview mirror as the laps waned. With only three laps remaining, Kelley was able to make the pass, taking third place. Barber crossed the finish line in fourth, followed by Tim Lynn in the No. 71 RoofOptions Ford Mustang in fifth.


 

“I just want to thank everybody from Nitro Motorsports for working so hard,” said Ruggiero. “We had some issues yesterday; we had a problem with the car, so we had to come in the pits and get it fixed up. But we battled through it, and we brought the win home today. I just want to thank everybody at Toyota Racing for all their help and support, and my mom and dad. Thank you.”

 

CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series Top Five:

1. Gio Ruggiero, No. 8 Nitro Motorsports Ford Mustang

2. Michael LaPaglia, No. 31 Papini’s Garage/F.A.S.T. Auto/Howe Ford Mustang

3. Kyle Kelley, No. 80 PK+k Properties/UPRacing.com Ford Mustang

4. Tim Barber, No. 33 DIG Motorsports Ford Mustang

5. Tim Lynn, No. 71 RoofOptions Ford Mustang

The GT class race was the closest of the day, as David Hampton in the No. 14 AR Motorsports Porsche Cayman GT4 CS MR and Kevin Michaels in the No. 98 Killer Shrimp Restaurant Chevrolet started back-to-back in 17th and 18th overall and never ran more than a second apart for the majority of the event. Hampton started first in class, but Michaels took over the lead by lap seven, despite losing his ABS a few laps earlier. A cat-and-mouse game ensued for the next 25 laps, with Hampton nipping at Michaels’ heels. On lap 33, a car in another class got into the middle of the battle, forcing Michaels off the track at the exit of Turn 9 just long enough for Hampton to retake the lead. Hampton was flawless for the next seven laps, taking the checkered flag for the fourth time this season.

 

“After following him all that time, I was really hungry to pass him; I just needed to get a little bit more,” said Hampton on the podium. “I tried to find a mistake from this guy, but he's such a solid driver; it was virtually impossible. I wondered, ‘Where am I going to pass this guy?’ It was going to be desperation. I think the last couple of laps were going to be really entertaining for us. I like the way this guy drives. He's so solid. I'm sorry that's the way the race ended. But it was a great race, man, I just can't thank you enough.”

 

GT Results:

1. David Hampton, No. 14 AR Motorsports Porsche Cayman GT4 CS MR

2. Kevin Michaels, No. 98 Killer Shrimp Restaurant Chevrolet Corvette

Full race results can be found here.


 

The Western Championship next hits the track in two weeks at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca for a doubleheader weekend, May 2-5. Tickets can be purchased here.
 

 
 

Michelle Nagai Wins Overall in Sonoma Race 1, Tim Barber Gets Second TA2 Win of 2024



Steve Goldman Wins TA, David Hampton Wins GT

SONOMA, Calif. (April 20, 2024) – With a record turnout of competitors this weekend at the Sonoma SpeedTour, Race 1 for the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli’s Western Championship at Sonoma Raceway was a wild one, starting out with a multi-car incident on lap one and ending with a timed finish. Michelle Nagai in the No. 72 Nagai Racing/Berkeley Jet Drive Chevrolet Camaro survived the attrition in her class to lead XGT before making a mid-race pass to ultimately win the race overall. Tim Barber in the No. 33 DIG Motorsports Ford Mustang dominated a huge field in the CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series, leading every lap in the class and the first 20 circuits overall, with both he and Nagai earning their second victories of 2024.

 

Notes of Interest

  • Michelle Nagai won her second XGT race of the season, winning in Race 1 of the season opener at Thunderhill Raceway Park.
  • This was Tim Barber’s second victory of 2024. He also won Race 1 at Thunderhill. This is only Barber’s second event weekend back in action since 2005, when he raced in Trans Am’s GTA class.
  • David Hampton has won every GT race so far this season, earning his third victory today on his birthday.
  • Steve Goldman also earned his second win of 2024 in the TA class.
  • The race results today were identical to those in Race 1 at Thunderhill

XGT cars dominated the weekend’s practice and qualifying sessions, claiming the first four starting positions for today’s event. However, trouble hit many of the class’s participants early. After the wave of the green flag, the top-four XGT competitors battled hard going into Turn 2. Polesitter Will Rodgers (No. 12 Central Welding Supply Ford Mustang) immediately broke an axle, allowing Xuanqian Wang to take the lead, but Wang got loose on cold tires and lost control of his No. 22 AURALIC North America Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO, crashing into the tire barrier. Dylan Lupton (No. 79 Lupton Excavation Ford Mustang) also sustained damage in Turn 2, suffering a critical parts failure, which took him back to the garage. Michelle Nagai in the No. 72 Nagai Racing/Berkeley Jet Drive Chevrolet Camaro was the only one of the top-four starters to make it through the melee, maintaining the lead for the class but losing the overall point position to TA2’s Tim Barber. Nagai closely trailed Barber for the next 20 laps before finally taking the overall lead. Once she had clean air in front of her, she was able to open up a solid margin over him. The field closed up due to a full-course caution in the closing laps, but when green-flag racing resumed on lap 31, Nagai had no trouble maintaining her lead and taking the overall victory.

 

“We've got to give it up to the good Lord, we'll start there,” said Nagai on the podium. “Thank you, God, for this beautiful day, for keeping us safe. We all came out of this pretty darn good. Next is going to be Jefferson Racing and Chris Evans. The reality of it is that the track paving is incredible. The Trans Am Series out on the West Coast is starting to get it. I mean, we are getting it. We had so many cars out here this weekend. So come on, guys. Keep coming out. Step up. Get an XGT car. Let's do it.”

 

XGT Results:

1. Michelle Nagai, No. 72 Nagai Racing/Berkeley Jet Drive Chevrolet Camaro

2. Tim Rankin, No. 5 TCR IT Solutions Ford Mustang

3. Dylan Lupton, No. 79 Lupton Excavation Ford Mustang

4. Chris Evans, No. 92 Central Welding Supply Ford Mustang

5. Will Rodgers, No. 12 Central Welding Supply Ford Mustang 

Tim Barber in the No. 33 DIG Motorsports Ford Mustang took the green flag first in the CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series and fifth overall, but after making his way through the kerfuffle in Turn 2 on lap one, he emerged as the overall race leader. He held the point position for the next 20 laps before being overtaken by Nagai for the race lead, but Barber’s position in class never wavered as he held off an enormous field of fast TA2 competitors. For much of the race, Barber was defending against Michael LaPaglia in the No. 31 Papini’s Garage/F.A.S.T. Auto/Howe Ford Mustang, but on lap 23, LaPaglia fell off the pace with a broken upright bolt. Brad McAllister (No. 2 Straumann and Zimbis Ford Mustang) took second from LaPaglia, but he suffered a battery issue one lap later, which took him out of contention. Michele Abbate in the No. 30 GHOST/Nitro Motorsports Ford Mustang then gained control of the second position after running in the top five for the entire race. Barry Boes was next in the No. 32 Accio Data/TRB Autosport Ford Mustang, but he experienced a hard crash into the tire barrier, bringing out the final full-course yellow of the race on lap 25. When green-flag racing resumed, Kyle Kelley in the No. 80 PK+k Properties/UPRacing.com Ford Mustang slid into the third podium spot, which was a tremendous accomplishment after he took the green flag from the 24th position. He was followed by Troy Ermish in the No. 38 Ermish Racing Ford Mustang, who started 27th, and Tim Lynn in the No. 71 RoofOptions Ford Mustang, who started 14th, giving them both well-earned top-five finishes.


 

“First, I’ve got to thank Jeremy at DIG Motorsports, as well as Dan and Dave; it’s small crew, but they're knocking it out of the park,” said Barber. “Thanks to the CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series. This is an awesome series. The speed these cars achieve for the cost value is amazing. It's all about tire management with the new surface out here at my home track. There have been a lot of changes to the car this weekend, I'm glad we've managed to keep it together. We're still kind of chasing it, and we haven't had a session where we don't change a bunch of things, but it worked out.”


 

CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series Top Five:

1. Tim Barber, No. 33 DIG Motorsports Ford Mustang

2. Michele Abbate, No. 30 GHOST/Nitro Motorsports Ford Mustang

3. Kyle Kelley, No. 80 PK+k Properties/UPRacing.com Ford Mustang

4. Troy Ermish, No. 38 Ermish Racing Ford Mustang  

5. Tim Lynn, No. 71 RoofOptions Ford Mustang

 

CoolBoxx Coolest Move of the Race:

Kyle Kelley, No. 80 PK+k Properties/UPRacing.com Ford Mustang

David Hampton in the No. 14 AR Motorsports Porsche Cayman GT4 CS MR was able to stay far ahead of Kevin Michaels in the No. 98 Killer Shrimp Restaurant Chevrolet Corvette for much of the race, with Hampton starting 20th and Michaels starting 26th. However, both drivers worked their way through the field and were running 12th and 13th as the laps wound down. Unfortunately for Michaels, his Corvette lost its ABS in the final laps of the race, taking him out of contention and allowing Hampton to win his third race of the season on his birthday.

 

“Well, we affectionately call my car the Pesky Porsche for a reason,” said Hampton. “I try to make this thing go as fast as I can and to do all that I can. I’ve got to thank my team, the AR Motorsports guys, all the spotters, my wife that shows up diligently for me. She's so dedicated; it's awesome. This has just been a fantastic day. And the guys out there were awesome. I think everybody drove clean. There was a lot of stuff going on, but that's the way it goes. Just a fun day.”

 

GT Results:

1. David Hampton, No. 14 AR Motorsports Porsche Cayman GT4 CS MR

2. Kevin Michaels, No. 98 Killer Shrimp Restaurant Chevrolet Corvette

As the only TA-class car in today’s race, Steve Goldman in the No. 13 LIG Racing Chevrolet Corvette did not have much difficulty taking the checkered flag, but the fact that he took the green flag was, in itself, an accomplishment. After losing his transmission in testing, Goldman missed practice and qualifying while he and his team worked through the night and morning to be able to start today’s event. Beginning the race in the last position, Goldman worked his way up to 17th overall to claim his second TA win of the season.

 

“First of all, huge thanks to Connor, John, and Tim,” said Goldman atop the podium. “We pulled the better part of an all-nighter fixing the transmission because we had a dog here that blew up. Luckily, we had some parts. Just being out there was quite an accomplishment, so I don't feel that bad being on the podium alone. Big shout-out to the quality of all these drivers; best field I've ever been a part of. Just really impressive, all the drivers and all the crews. Thanks for letting me run with you guys. Another shout-out to all the folks at Trans Am. Ben [Cissell] and everybody who just does such a great job. Look at this location and this weather; what more can you ask for? Lastly, I just want to thank all my Bay Area friends and family that came out and are flying the LIG Racing Colors. Thank you all very much. I appreciate it.”

 

TA Results:

1. Steve Goldman, No. 13 LIG Racing Chevrolet Corvette

Full race results can be found here.


 

Race 2 of the Sonoma SpeedTour is tomorrow at 11:20 a.m. PT. Teams will have the opportunity to practice from 8:10-8:35 a.m. PT and the starting grid will be set by fastest times in Race 1.
 

 
 

Will Rodgers Takes Sonoma Raceway Pole,

XGT Cars Top the Speed Charts


 

Thunderhill Race 1 Winner Tim Barber Fastest in CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series, David Hampton Tops GT

SONOMA, Calif. (April 20, 2024) – Practice and qualifying are complete for the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli Western Championship at Sonoma Raceway. XGT’s Will Rodgers in the No. 12 Central Welding Supply Ford Mustang was quickest in qualifying, earning the Pole Award with a time of 1:30.401. Much like in practice yesterday, the XGT class topped the speed charts, claiming the top-four starting positions for today’s race.

 

Thunderhill Race 1 winner Tim Barber in the No. 33 DIG Motorsports Ford Mustang was fastest in the CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series with a best time of 1:34.138, while David Hampton in the No. 14 AR Motorsports Porsche Cayman GT4 CS MR was best in GT with a time of 1:39.559.

 

“The weekend so far has been, honestly, pretty great,” said Rodgers. “Pretty flawless by this Chris Evans Race Cars/Jefferson Racing XGT program. These guys are the best in the business, so usually these weekends go pretty well. The car they provided me, as always, is lightning fast. These XGT cars are so much fun to drive. With the repave here at Sonoma, now that it's super grippy, we're going really fast. I had even more in me in qualifying, but I got stuck behind a lapped car coming to the line. I think we were definitely in the 1:29 bracket, which was my goal, but regardless, still on the pole. Happy about that. Again, I'm just excited to show the performance of these XGT cars, and why they belong as one of the top classes in the Trans Am Series. I'm honored to race these cars, and we'll try to continue the winning streak later today.”

 

Race 1 of the Sonoma SpeedTour will be contested today at 1:00 p.m. PT.

 

XGT Qualifying:

1. Will Rodgers, No. 12 Central Welding Supply Ford Mustang (1:30.401)

2. Xuanqian Wang, No. 22 AURALIC North America Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO (1:30.871)

3. Dylan Lupton, No. 79 Lupton Excavation Ford Mustang (1:32.928)

4. Michelle Nagai, No. 72 Nagai Racing/Berkeley Jet Drive Chevrolet Camaro (1:34.064)

5. Rick Wright, No. 45 AR Motorsports Audi R8 LMS GT3 (1:34.813)

 

CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series Qualifying Top Five:

1. Tim Barber, No. 33 DIG Motorsports Ford Mustang (1:34.138)

2. Gio Ruggiero, No. 8 Nitro Motorsports Ford Mustang (1:34.427)

3. Michele Abbate, No. 30 GHOST/Nitro Motorsports Ford Mustang (1:35.004)

4. Barry Boes, No. 32 Accio Data/TRB Autosport Ford Mustang (1:35.041)

5. Michael LaPaglia, No. 31 Papini’s Garage/F.A.S.T. Auto Ford Mustang (1:35.259)

 

GT Qualifying:

1. David Hampton, No. 14 AR Motorsports Porsche Cayman GT4 CS MR (1:39.559)

2. Kevin Michaels, No. 98 Killer Shrimp Restaurant Chevrolet Corvette (1:42.949)

 

Full qualifying results can be found here.

 

XGT Practice:

1. Will Rodgers, No. 12 Central Welding Supply Ford Mustang (1:32.741)

2. Dylan Lupton, No. 79 Lupton Excavation Ford Mustang (1:32.888)

3. Michelle Nagai, No. 72 Nagai Racing/Berkeley Jet Drive Chevrolet Camaro (1:33.583)

4. Xuanqian Wang, No. 22 AURALIC North America Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO (1:34.994)

5. Chris Evans, No. 92 Central Welding Supply Ford Mustang (1:36.033)

 

CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series Practice:

1. Tim Barber, No. 33 DIG Motorsports Ford Mustang (1:34.565)

2. Gio Ruggiero, No. 8 Nitro Motorsports Ford Mustang (1:34.681)

3. Barry Boes, No. 32 Accio Data/TRB Autosport Ford Mustang (1:34.864)

4. Troy Ermish, No. 38 Ermish Racing Ford Mustang (1:35.668)

5. Michele Abbate, No. 30 GHOST/Nitro Motorsports Ford Mustang (1:35.956)

 

GT Practice:

1. David Hampton, No. 14 AR Motorsports Porsche Cayman GT4 CS MR (1:40.482)

2. Kevin Michaels, No. 98 Killer Shrimp Restaurant Chevrolet Corvette (1:44.363)


 

Full practice results can be found here.

 

Rafa Matos Wins at NOLA to Become Winningest CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series Driver in History



Drew Finishes Second, Merrill Third After Maier Experiences Last-Lap Heartbreak

AVONDALE, La. (April 14, 2024) – Two-time champion Rafa Matos took the checkered flag for the 21st time in the CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series at NOLA Motorsports Park, making him the winningest driver in the history of the class. Matos earned his first pole of the year and dominated the final 27 laps in Round 3 of the 2024 Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli season, securing his place in the record books and putting him on a trajectory to capture his third TA2 title.

 

After securing the Pole Award in yesterday’s qualifying session, Matos took the green flag in his No. 60 Concord American Flagpole/Nitro Motorsports Ford Mustang next to Connor Mosack in the No. 77 Silver Hare Racing/PRG Chevrolet Camaro. The field fanned out at the start, and third-place starter Jake Drew (No. 7 Silver Hare Racing Chevrolet Camaro) took the front row three wide in a daring move that paid off with the race lead after exiting Turn 1. Before the conclusion of lap one, points leader and fourth-place starter Tyler Gonzalez in the No. 40 Nitro Motorsports Ford Mustang received damage which required a visit to pit road, and tenth-place starter Thomas Merrill in the No. 26 HP Tuners/Cope Race Cars Ford Mustang shot up to the sixth position.

 

Drew maintained the point position by a marginal gap for the first 10 laps while the first 12 cars ran nose to tail, but Matos was able to clear Drew for the lead on lap 11. Once Matos had clean air in front of him, he was able to pull away from his competitors, putting more and more space between him and second place. Without a full-course caution to reset the field, Matos cruised to the victory, followed by Drew. The action didn’t stop behind Matos and Drew, as Ben Maier in the No. 80 BOE Marine/Nitro Motorsports Ford Mustang fought up to third after starting fifth and maintained the position until the final laps despite Merrill, now fourth, constantly challenging him. Unfortunately for Maier, a transmission problem on the final lap brought him to a stop before the checkered flag waved, relegating him back to 12th. Merrill inherited the final podium slot, and Thomas Annunziata (No. 90 Nitro Motorsports Ford Mustang) finished fourth, followed by Caleb Bacon (No. 18 CB Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro), who had fought his way up from 13th to round out the top five.

 

The Pro/Am race was wild from start to finish, with two-time winner Barry Boes (No. 27 Team SLR-M1 Racecars Ford Mustang) and Tom Sheehan (No. 97 Vixen Motorcycle/LTK Insulation Ford Mustang) experiencing early issues which took them out of contention. Keith Prociuk (No. 9 HP Tuners/Cope Race Cars Ford Mustang) drove to his first Pro/Am win of 2024 in his 101st Trans Am start, followed by Jim Gallaugher (No. 16 Regulator by Waypointe Ford Mustang) in second and former NFL player Jared Odrick (No. 81 CB Motorsports Ford Mustang) finishing third for his first-career Trans Am podium.

 

"The race went pretty well,” said Matos from the podium. “We felt we had a very fast racecar since the beginning of the weekend, and hats off to the Nitro Motorsports team. I think [team owner] Nick Tucker does a fantastic job assembling a fantastic team. There's a lot of talent on the team, not only the drivers, but the mechanics and the crew chiefs. The race went well. I had the pole position, but got passed in the beginning and waited until I burned some fuel in the car and gained some balance. I went to overtake Jake [Drew] and built up a gap and just managed that gap throughout the race. Just a really good day. I’m proud of the team, proud of Concord American Flagpole Company for allowing us to compete at the highest level. And my 21st win, baby! I was waiting for that one for a long time; it's been a minute. Hopefully it will be the first of many this season and we'll pave our way to our third championship."


 

Notes of Interest:

This was Rafa Matos’ 21st-career victory in 77-career starts, making him the winningest driver in CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series history. He surpassed Cameron Lawrence, with whom he was previously tied with 20 victories.

 

Matos scored his second podium of the season after finishing third at Sebring International Raceway.

 

Matos’ last win came at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course last June. This is his first victory with Nitro Motorsports.

 

Jake Drew captured a second-place podium finish in just his second Trans Am event. He finished fourth in his series debut at Road Atlanta.

 

Three races in, the TA2 Series has not had a repeat winner in its Pro Championship.

 

Former NFL player Jared Odrick earned his first-career Trans Am Pro/Am podium finish in just his third start in the series.


 

All three drivers on the Pro/Am podium were driving a Mike Cope Racing chassis, as were two of the three drivers on the Pro Championship podium.

 

This was the final race for outgoing Trans Am President John Clagett, who has worked for Trans Am for more than 31 years.

 

CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series Top 10:

1. Rafa Matos, No. 60 Concord American Flagpole/Nitro Motorsports Ford Mustang

2. Jake Drew, No. 7 Silver Hare Racing Chevrolet Camaro

3. Thomas Merrill, No. 26 HP Tuners/Cope Race Cars Ford Mustang

4. Thomas Annunziata, No. 90 Nitro Motorsports Ford Mustang

5. Caleb Bacon, No. 18 CB Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro

6. Josh Hurley, No. 20 Greenlight Simulation/BCR Ford Mustang

7. Gavan Boschele, No. 28 Team SLR-M1 Racecars Chevrolet Camaro

8. Connor Mosack, No. 77 Silver Hare Racing/PRG Chevrolet Camaro

9. Keith Prociuk, No. 9 HP Tuners/Cope Race Cars Ford Mustang

10. Eric Cayton, No. 71 Ray Skillman Auto Group Ford Mustang

 

TA2 Pro/Am Podium:

1. Keith Prociuk, No. 9 HP Tuners/Cope Race Cars Ford Mustang

2. Jim Gallaugher, No. 16 Regulator by Waypointe Ford Mustang

3. Jared Odrick, No. 81 CB Motorsports Ford Mustang

 

Omologato Watches Fastest Lap of the Race:

Ben Maier, No. 80 BOE Marine/Nitro Motorsports Ford Mustang


 

Bassett Hard Charger:

Caleb Bacon, No. 18 CB Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro

 

Full race results can be found here.

 

The highlight show of today’s race will air on MAVTV on Thursday, April 18 at 8:00 p.m. ET.

 

The CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series next hit the track at World Wide Technology Raceway for the WWTR SpeedTour, May 10-11. Tickets can be purchased here on SpeedTour.net. 

 

Chris Dyson Makes Late-Race Pass to Earn First Win of 2024 at NOLA



SGT’s Kaylee Bryson Earns First-Career Trans Am Win, Coffey Gets Third Straight GT Victory

AVONDALE, La. (April 13, 2024) ― Paul Menard made a strong showing at the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli race at NOLA Motorsports Park, winning the Pole Award and leading 27 of 37 laps at the NOLA SpeedTour, but Chris Dyson was never far behind. With 10 laps remaining, the defending champion made his way around Menard and the two battled until the checkered flag waved, with Dyson ultimately victorious, claiming the top step of the podium in GYM WEED Winners Circle for the first time in 2024.

 

Racing commenced with Menard and Dyson side by side, but polesitter Menard’s No. 3 Menards/Masterforce Tools Ford Mustang had the advantage early in the event, while Dyson’s CD Racing team dialed in his No. 16 GYM WEED Ford Mustang for long-run speed. Menard pulled away to an early lead, opening up a two-second gap over Dyson before the first full-course yellow was displayed after just two laps. When green-flag racing resumed on lap five, Menard once again led the field, but was unable to maintain as substantial of an advantage over Dyson, with the two separated by only a few car lengths for the next 22 circuits. Dyson’s machine blossomed over the long run while Menard’s tires faded, and Dyson was finally able to maneuver around Menard on lap 27.

 

Just two laps later, the race went under red-flag conditions when Adam Andretti, who was running third in his No. 17 Top Liner/Go Share Chevrolet Camaro, experienced an engine issue and came to a smokey stop just off the racing surface. Racing resumed for the final time on lap 33, and Menard nipped at Dyson’s heels, but he was unable to pass the three-time champion before the checkered flag waved. Dyson claimed his first win of the season, followed by Menard and third-place Tomy Drissi in the No. 8 Franklin Road Apparel Chevrolet Camaro. Dyson was excited to claim his first win of the season after a DNF at Sebring International Raceway and a second-place finish at Road Atlanta.


 

“It’s more fun this way, I'll tell you that,” said Dyson in GYM WEED Winners Circle. “Honestly, this was just a really terrific weekend for the whole GYM WEED team. I'm so thrilled to be back here and standing on top of the podium down here at NOLA. It was a great race with Paul [Menard] the whole way through, and we knew it would be, coming in. We had big speed all weekend, and it just came down to being in the right place at the right time and having a car that could manage our tires. We were just phenomenal on the long runs, and I think this is how it's going to be for the rest of the year. You look at the battle we had in Atlanta with [Adam] Andretti and then Paul here, and Tommy [Drissi] is right up there too. It's a fight every weekend, and that's what makes these wins so meaningful and special. This weekend is especially special for me because my wife Joy is here with me, and I'm just so happy to have her support. I have to thank all the guys. This one's for you. We were down here working hard all winter, and I think we've got a great car to take everywhere. We've got nothing to do but win now because [Paul Menard is] in the lead, and we’ve got to go chase him.”

 

Notes of Interest:

This was Chris Dyson’s first victory of the 2024 season. It is his his second-consecutive win at NOLA Motorsports Park.

 

Second-place Paul Menard earned his second podium of the year after winning the season opener at Sebring.

 

Tomy Drissi earned his first podium of 2024.


 

Kaylee Bryson in SGT earned her first-career Trans Am Series win in just her fourth start.

 

Chris Coffey has won all three GT races of the 2024 season.

 

This was John Clagett’s final TA/XGT/SGT/GT race as Trans Am Series President following more than 31 years with the series.

 

TA Top Five:

1. Chris Dyson, No. 16 GYM WEED Ford Mustang

2. Paul Menard, No. 3 Menards/Masterforce Tools Ford Mustang

3. Tomy Drissi, No. 8 Franklin Road Apparel Chevrolet Camaro

4. Adam Andretti, No. 17 Top Liner/Go Share Chevrolet Camaro

5. Amy Ruman, No. 23 McNichols Co. Chevrolet Corvette

 

EMCO Gears Lap Leader:

Paul Menard, No. 3 Menards/Masterforce Tools Ford Mustang

Kaylee Bryson in the No. 02 Logical Systems Inc./Sam Pierce Chevrolet Corvette won her first-career Trans Am race in just her fourth start in the series. After topping the speed charts for the SGT class in both practice and qualifying, the 23-year-old recipient of the PMH Powering Diversity Scholarship dominated her class, leading every lap of the race by an impressive margin. Milton Grant had a very competitive day, starting at the very rear of the field and piloting his No. 55 Sentry Self Storage/Springhill Suites Porsche 991.1 GT3 Cup up to second after a competitive battle with fourth-place Don McMillon in the No. 51 Salasko Racing Chevrolet Corvette. Joshua Carlson in the No. 36 Enseva/TC Fab/Diercks Ltd. Ford Mustang ran in Bryson’s wake for a majority of the event, but experienced an issue restarting his car after the late-race red flag. He was still able to salvage a third-place finish, earning his third-consecutive podium finish in as many starts.

 

“This is my first time on the podium,” said Bryson from the top step. “I'm glad to get my first win today for my team; they've worked so hard. There's a whole army that goes into this, making this possible, and I'm so grateful for them. The car was on rails all weekend, and I'm super happy to come out here and get first. I'm thankful that everybody drives clean. It was a really fun time out there. Thank you, guys.”


 

SGT Results:

1. Kaylee Bryson, No. 02 Logical Systems Inc./Sam Pierce Chevrolet Corvette

2. Milton Grant, No. 55 Sentry Self Storage/Springhill Suites Porsche 991.1

3. Joshua Carlson, No. 36 Enseva/TC Fab/Diercks Ltd. Ford Mustang

4. Don McMillon, No. 51 Salasko Racing Chevrolet Corvette

5. Richard Forsythe, No. 58 GSpeed/Sambuca Restaurant Chevrolet Corvette 

For the third race in a row, the GT class belonged to Chris Coffey in the No. 97 Norwood Auto Italia/Traffic Grafix Maserati MC GT4, who led the race from start to finish. Laying down the fastest GT lap in qualifying, he led teammate Colin Cohen in the No. 38 Norwood Auto Italia/Traffic Grafix Maserati MC GT4 from green to checkers, finishing an impressive fifth overall.


 

“This feels good; it's always great to be standing up here on the top step,” said Coffey. “I just want to thank Colin [Cohen], because without him, I wouldn't be here. I absolutely had to make sure his car was ready for NOLA. It was a lot of work and we only had three days to get it done, but we did get it done. We got here. I want to thank Alex and Xavier, my crew, my wife Morgan and my son Sam."

 

GT Results:

1. Chris Coffey, No. 97 Norwood Auto Italia/Traffic Grafix Maserati MC GT4

2. Colin Cohen, No. 38 Norwood Auto Italia/Traffic Grafix Maserati MC GT4

Full official race results can be found here.

 

The highlight show of today’s race will air on MAVTV on Thursday, April 18 at 9:00 p.m. ET.

 

The Trans Am Series TA/XGT/SGT/GT classes next hit the track for the Lime Rock SpeedTour at Lime Rock Park, May 24-27. Tickets can be purchased here. 
 
 

 

Rafa Matos Earns CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series Pole Award at NOLA Motorsports Park


 

Nitro Motorsports and Silver Hare Racing Sweep Top Six Starting Spots

AVONDALE, La. (April 13, 2024) – Practice and qualifying have concluded for the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli’s CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series race at the NOLA SpeedTour at NOLA Motorsports Park. Rafa Matos in the No. 60 Concord American Flagpole/Nitro Motorsports Ford Mustang earned the Pole Award with a lap time of 1:39.658. Nitro Motorsports and Silver Hare Racing swept the front of the field, occupying the top six starting spots. The session was exceptionally competitive, with the top-10 starters qualifying within less than a second of each other.

 

“It has been a smooth weekend,” said Matos. “I think we've had a lot of speed since the first test. We managed to be quickest in the first session, then we made some overnight changes. They didn't really work this morning, so we went back to the original setup, and the car is back to where it was yesterday. I'm really happy with the Nitro Motorsports team. Hats off to Concord American Flagpole Company for leading this project and making sure that we have everything we need to compete at the highest level. I'm really happy with the team right now, and hopefully we'll get the job done.”

 

Qualifying:

1. Rafa Matos, No. 60 Concord American Flagpole/Nitro Motorsports Mustang (1:39.658)

2. Connor Mosack, No. 77 Silver Hare Racing/PRG Chevrolet Camaro (1:39.733)

3. Jake Drew, No. 7 Silver Hare Racing Chevrolet Camaro (1:39.845)

4. Tyler Gonzalez, No. 40 Nitro Motorsports Ford Mustang (1:39.871)

5. Ben Maier, No. 80 BOE Marine/Nitro Motorsports Ford Mustang (1:39.938)


 

Full qualifying results can be found here.

 

Practice:

1. Tyler Gonzalez, No. 40 Nitro Motorsports Ford Mustang (1:39.263)

2. Rafa Matos, No. 60 Concord American Flagpole/Nitro Motorsports Mustang (1:39.723)

3. Thomas Annunziata, No. 90 Nitro Motorsports Ford Mustang (1:39.761)

4. Thomas Merrill, No. 26 HP Tuners/Cope Race Cars Ford Mustang (1:40.255)

5. Julian DaCosta, No. 17 Team SLR-M1 Racecars Chevrolet Camaro (1:40.416)


 

Full practice results can be found here.

 

The race will be contested tomorrow at 12:05 p.m. CT. It will be broadcast LIVE on MAVTV. It can also be streamed live here.

 

The highlights show of the CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series race will air on MAVTV on Thursday, April 18 at 8:00 p.m. ET. 
 

 
 

Points Leader Paul Menard Earns First Pole of 2024

at NOLA Motorsports Park


 

Kaylee Bryson Fastest in SGT, Chris Coffey Quickest in GT

AVONDALE, La. (April 12, 2024) – Practice and qualifying have concluded for the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli at NOLA Motorsports Park. Paul Menard in the No. 3 Menards/Master Force Tools Ford Mustang claimed his first pole of 2024 with a time of 1:33.951. This was Menard’s first pole since 2022 at the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL. Menard currently leads the TA class point standings.

 

“This is my first time to this track and first time to New Orleans; I've always been curious about the city and everybody's been so nice,” said Menard. “It’s such a great city. I wish we had more time to actually go out and explore a little bit. The racetrack is fun. It's really flat. They did a really nice job with the layout. The layout of the racetrack has got a little bit of everything. There’s a high speed drag strip, the esses are really fast. It's got a couple of hairpins that are really slow; it’s very technical.”

 

TA Qualifying Top Five:

1. Paul Menard, No. 3 Menards/Master Force Tools Ford Mustang (1:33.951)

2. Chris Dyson, No. 16 GYM WEED Ford Mustang (1:34.735)

3. Adam Andretti, No. 17 Top Liner/Go Share Chevrolet Camaro (1:35.728)

4. Tomy Drissi, No. 8 Franklin Road Apparel Chevrolet Camaro (1:37.634)

5. Amy Ruman, No. 23 McNichols Co. Chevrolet Corvette (1:38.484)


 

SGT Qualifying:

1. Kaylee Bryson, No. 02 Logical Systems Inc./Sam Pierce Chevrolet Corvette (1:42.687)

2. Joshua Carlson, No. 36 Enseva/TC Fab/Diercks Ltd. Ford Mustang (1:44.643)

3. Don McMillon, No. 51 Salasko Racing Chevrolet Corvette (1:49.392)

4. Milton Grant, No. 55 Sentry Self Storage/Springhill Suites Porsche 991.1 (1:49.454)


 

GT Qualifying:

1. Chris Coffey, No. 97 Norwood Auto Italia/Traffic Grafix Maserati MC GT4 (1:45.968)

2. Colin Cohen, No. 38 Norwood Auto Italia/Traffic Grafix Maserati MC GT4 (1:51.097)


 

Full qualifying results can be found here.


 

TA Practice Top Five:

1. Paul Menard, No. 3 Menards/Master Force Tools Ford Mustang (1:35.309)

2. Chris Dyson, No. 16 GYM WEED Ford Mustang (1:35.314)

3. Adam Andretti, No. 17 Top Liner/Go Share Chevrolet Camaro (1:37.160)

4. Tomy Drissi, No. 8 Franklin Road Apparel Chevrolet Camaro (1:37.812)

5. Amy Ruman, No. 23 McNichols Co. Chevrolet Corvette (1:38.180)


 

SGT Practice:

1. Kaylee Bryson, No. 02 Logical Systems Inc./Sam Pierce Chevrolet Corvette (1:42.961)

2. Joshua Carlson, No. 36 Enseva/TC Fab/Diercks Ltd. Ford Mustang (1:46.366)

3. Milton Grant, No. 55 Sentry Self Storage/Springhill Suites Porsche 991.1 (1:50.391)

4. Don McMillon, No. 51 Salasko Racing Chevrolet Corvette (1:52.469)


 

GT Practice:

1. Chris Coffey, No. 97 Norwood Auto Italia/Traffic Grafix Maserati MC GT4 (1:47.015)

2. Colin Cohen, No. 38 Norwood Auto Italia/Traffic Grafix Maserati MC GT4 (1:50.391)


 

Full practice results can be found here.


 

The TA/XGT/SGT/GT race will be contested tomorrow at 1:10 p.m. CT. The race will be broadcast LIVE on MAVTV and streamed live here. The highlights show of the race will air on MAVTV on Thursday, April 18 at 9:00 p.m. ET. 
 
 

 

Trans Am Series Race Preview: NOLA Motorsports Park

NOLA Motorsports Park

NOLA SpeedTour

🎟️Buy Tickets Here


 

 Track Facts:

Opened: 2011

Length: 2.75 Miles

Layout: 16-Turn Road Course

Entry List: View
 

Qualifying:

Friday, April 12

2:50-3:25 p.m. CT

 

Race:

Saturday, April 13

1:10-2:25 p.m. CT

Race Length: 37 Laps/75 Minutes

 

TV Broadcast:

LIVE on MAVTV

 

Highlights Show:

MAVTV

Thursday, April 18

9:00 p.m. ET

Qualifying:

Saturday, April 13

3:55-4:30 p.m. CT

 

Race:

Sunday, April 14

12:05-1:20 p.m. CT

Race Length: 37 Laps/75 Minutes

 

TV Broadcast:

LIVE on MAVTV

 

Highlights Show:

MAVTV

Thursday, April 18

8:00 p.m. ET

Round 3 in the Big Easy

The Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli heads to NOLA Motorsports Park for the NOLA SpeedTour and Round 3 of the 2024 season. The first two events of the year have already brought plenty of drama, with surprise entries like seven-time Trans Am champion Ernie Francis Jr., an incredibly tight points race, and uncharacteristic struggles for defending champion Chris Dyson in the TA class, while the CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series is once again an exciting battle between Young Guns like Thomas Annunziata and Tyler Gonzalez and experienced champions like Thomas Merrill and Rafa Matos. With no repeat winners yet in TA, TA2 or SGT, the championships are still wide open.


 

NOLA = Championship?

This weekend will be the fourth time that Trans Am has visited the Big Easy, but a trend has seemed to emerged at the Louisiana track. Of the 13 race winners between all of the series’ classes in the first three visits to NOLA Motorsports Park, more than half have gone on to win the championship that year. Will the trend continue with this year’s victors? Below are the NOLA winners who went on to capture the title later that year:


 

Amy Ruman: TA. 2015

Gar Robinson: TA2, 2015

Ernie Francis Jr.: TA3-A, 2015

Tony Buffomante: TA2, 2016

Chris Dyson: TA, 2023

Brent Crews: TA2, 2023

Michael Attaway: GT, 2023


 

John Clagett Says Goodbye

After more than 31 years with the Trans Am Series, John Clagett will work his final event this weekend at NOLA Motorsports Park. Clagett has served as President and CEO of Trans Am Race Company for 13 years and has been affiliated with the Trans Am Series for 31-plus years, previously holding the role of Vice President of SCCA Pro Racing and liaison to the Trans Am Council, and as the series’ Executive Director through two ownership transitions. Under Clagett’s leadership, the Trans Am Race Company has generated a 10-fold increase in revenue over the past decade, while upgrading the series’ race operations, marketing, broadcast and social media outreach. 2023 accomplishments include the successful integration of the Flagtronics electronic marshalling platform, and a robust and growing broadcast package with MAVTV which includes live broadcasts, highlight coverage and a Trans Am docuseries.


 

“My goodness, it seems like yesterday when I became an employee of SCCA, and just a moment ago when I started to form the re-makings of the Trans Am Series with Trans Am Race Company,” reflected Clagett. “It all flew by because I loved what I did, and it never felt like work. But at the same time, my time with the series has been all-consuming. I care so much about the success of Trans Am that I put everything into it. That came at the cost of working nonstop for all these years. I’m grateful that I’ve been able to accomplish all that I have and that I’ve had an amazing team around me. I’m at the point where I can look at the culmination of all that hard work and see how the series has flourished. I’m confident that now is the time that I can step back, turn my focus towards an advisory role, and leave Trans Am in capable hands.”


 

Young Anthem Singers Will Shine at NOLA

This weekend’s Trans Am races will be kicked off with singing by two exceptional young talents. Ayvah Johnson, an 11-year-old New Orleans phenom with 2.2 million likes and over 237,000 followers on social media, will deliver the National Anthem before Saturday’s TA/XGT/SGT/GT race. On Sunday, it will be performed by 14-year-old Ella Grace Francis. Francis is best known for performing the National Anthem at an NFL game between the New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers at the Superdome in front of 70,000 attendees and millions watching the nationally-televised game.


 

EMCO Awarding Lap Leaders

Through a new partnership with EMCO Gears, the TA class will celebrate the driver who leads the most laps of each race, naming them the EMCO Gears Lap Leader. The TA driver who leads the most laps throughout the 2024 season will be presented with the EMCO Gears Lap Leader award at the year-end awards gala, earning a $2,500 prize to use towards EMCO Gears products.


 

Past Winners at NOLA

Out of the three past Trans Am events at NOLA Motorsports Park, there are only two past winners who have returned for this weekend’s races:


 

TA

Chris Dyson, No. 16 GYM WEED Ford Mustang: 2023

Amy Ruman, No. 23 McNichols Co. Chevrolet Corvette: 2015

Dyson’s Bad Luck Continues

Looking at the top five in the TA standings, there is one very familiar name that is surprisingly missing: Chris Dyson. The three-time champion has not had the smoothest start to the 2024 season, running into trouble in his No. 16 GYM WEED Ford Mustang at Sebring International Raceway, where a crash on lap one took him out of the race, and Road Atlanta, where a spin through a competitor’s oil sent him to the back of the pack, forcing him to fight his way back for a second-place finish. Despite the podium finish at Road Atlanta, the Sebring crash set him back far enough in the points that he currently sits sixth in the standings. Fortunately, the points battle in TA is extremely tight, with only 17 points separating him and leader Paul Menard in the No. 3 Menards/Master Force Tools Ford Mustang. Dyson also heads into Saturday’s race as one of only two competitors in the field who have stood on the top step of the podium at NOLA, and he had a successful test at the track during the off-season, where his car showed both long and short-run speed.

 

Andretti Wins in Burtin’s New Chassis

Last year at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Burtin Racing debuted a brand-new TA-class chassis following three years of design and development. In just its second start, Martin Ragginger drove the car to a second-place finish at VIRginia International Raceway. In Trans Am’s last outing at Road Atlanta, the No. 17 Top Liner/Go Share Chevrolet Camaro made it to GYM WEED Winners Circle in just its fourth event, driven by Adam Andretti in a wild race culminating in a photo finish with Chris Dyson in the No. 16 GYM WEED Ford Mustang. Burtin called the chassis a “lifelong dream,” and Andretti, who captured his first TA win since 2019, said that the special win was “everyone in our group living out their dream.”

 

Kaylee Bryson a NOLA Winner

Although she is a relative newcomer in the Trans Am Series, PMH Powering Diversity Scholarship recipient and SGT competitor Kaylee Bryson may have a slight advantage in this weekend’s event at NOLA, as she has recent experience winning at the 2.75-mile track. The driver of the No. 02 Logical Systems Inc./Sam Pierce Chevrolet Corvette competed in the National Auto Sport Association weekend at NOLA in March, where she won two of her four races in the Super Unlimited class and finished second in other two.

 

SGT Battle Heating Up

The SGT class is currently experiencing one of its most competitive seasons to date, with more competitors than ever entered in the class and a close points battle. With a win and a second-place finish, Richard Forsythe in the No. 58 GSpeed/Sambuca Restaurant Chevrolet currently leads the point standings over Joshua Carlson in the No. 36 Enseva/TC Fab/Diercks Ltd. Ford Mustang and Kaylee Bryson. This weekend will see six entrants, twice as many as last year’s event at NOLA. One of this weekend’s competitors is Don McMillon in the No. 51 Salasko Racing Chevrolet Corvette, who returns to the class for the first time since 2022. He has recent experience at NOLA, competing in the GT2 class in the SCCA Super Tour event in February.

1. Paul Menard (184)

2. Keith Grant (180)

3. Adam Andretti (179)

4. Amy Ruman (177)

5. Tomy Drissi (169)

1. Danny Lowry (50) 

1. Richard Forsythe (165)

2. Joshua Carlson (142)

3. Kaylee Bryson (126)

4. Milton Grant (83)

5. Lee Saunders (82)

1. Chris Coffey (157)

2. Joey DaSilva (83)

1. Richard Grant (152)

2. John DeGaynor (80)

3. Billy Griffin (72)

1. Shannon Herford (63)

2. Ricky Sanders (57)

1. Jenn Krpata (63)

1. Jeff Lindstrom (126)

2. Colin Cohen (73)

3. Todd Napieralski (62)

Complete Standings: View
 

Nitro Dominating the Podium

With two races complete for the CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series, one thing is for certain: Nitro Motorsports is dominating. The team has occupied four of a possible six podium spots in the first two events, and currently sits first, second and fourth in the point standings with Tyler Gonzalez (No. 40 Nitro Motorsports Ford Mustang), Thomas Annunziata (No. 90 Nitro Motorsports Ford Mustang) and Rafa Matos (No. 60 Concord American Flagpole Ford Mustang), respectively.

 

Gonzalez Leads the Pack

Rookie and Young Gun Tyler Gonzalez has had a phenomenal start to the 2024 season as the only driver to earn podium finishes at both Sebring and Road Atlanta. Currently leading the overall TA2 point standings, the Rookie-of-the-Year standings and the Young Gun Award standings, Gonzalez also enters this weekend with previous experience at NOLA. The 19-year-old GR Cup Champion ran at the track last year in an SRO GT4 car.

 

Annunziata ‘On The Rise’

Second in the standings, Thomas Annunziata is another young Nitro Motorsports driver experiencing a strong start to the season with a fourth-place finish at Sebring and a second-place finish at Road Atlanta. The future star is going to be featured in an upcoming episode of the MAVTV series On The Rise, which he is filming this weekend at NOLA. Annunziata experienced both highs and lows last year in New Orleans, winning his first-career Pole Award, but starting 29th after his car lost power before hitting the track for the green flag. He ultimately fought his way back to the front, finishing in the top five. Showing why he is currently ‘on the rise,’ in addition to his full-time Trans Am effort, next weekend, the 18-year-old will be making his second-career start in the ARCA Racing Series. He finished second in his ARCA debut at Daytona International Speedway in February.

 

DaCosta Debut

The CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series will have a new face in the paddock this weekend with 16-year-old Julian DaCosta in the No. 17 Team SLR-M1 Racecars Chevrolet Camaro. The young driver joins Trans Am with experience in both the Mazda MX-5 Cup and SCCA’s Spec Miatas.

 

Boes Knows NOLA

Barry Boes in the No. 27 Team SLR-M1 Racecars Ford Mustang continues to sit atop the TA2 Pro/Am Challenge standings after earning his second-consecutive win at Road Atlanta. Boes has a chance to expand his lead this weekend at NOLA, where he experienced success earlier this year. Competing in the SCCA Super Tour event at the track back in February, Boes won both Race 1 and Race 2 in the GT2 class. 

1. Tyler Gonzalez (194)

2. Thomas Annunziata (186)

3. Thomas Merrill (185)

4. Rafa Matos (155)

5. Caleb Bacon (144)

5. Adrian Wlostowski (144)
 

1. Tyler Gonzalez (194)

2. Thomas Annunziata (186)

3. Caleb Bacon (144)

4. Ben Maier (126)

5. Gavan Boschele (120)

1. Tyler Gonzalez (194)

2. Josh Hurley (138)

3. Gavan Boschele (120)

4. Ethan Barker (42)

5. Gio Ruggiero (36)

1. Barry Boes (214)

2. Roberto Sabato (191)

3. Keith Prociuk (166)

4. Chris Durbin (164)

5. Cale Phillips (152)

1. Thomas Ellis (117)

Complete Standings: View

 

 

Trans Am Announces New Technical Director for CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series


 

Doug Nagy Joins Trans Am While Ricky Brooks Embarks on New Endeavor 

CHARLOTTE (April 4, 2024) — The Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli announces Doug Nagy as its new Technical Director for the CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series following the departure of Ricky Brooks. With three decades of diverse experience in motorsports, Nagy’s new role combines leading the technical inspection process, managing the class’s rulebook, and serving as a liaison to TA2 teams, chassis manufacturers, vendors and suppliers.

 

Nagy comes to Trans Am as an FIA-licensed technical inspector, and currently serves as the Technical Director for the American Rally Association and the Chief of Tech for King of the Hammers. He is also a founding partner of Streetwise Motorsports, a specialty vehicle build and repair shop which services sportscar and Rally teams. Previous positions include working as the Motorsports Division Director for Saleen, a Team Manager and Strategist for Bell Motorsports and the Crew Chief and Strategist for Mosler Automotive. His resume boasts impressive accomplishments, such as holding Crew Chief and Strategist positions in prestigious events like the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Rolex 24 at Daytona, 24 Hours of Moroso, the 12 Hours of Sebring and the Baja 1000, earning overall wins and class wins in several events. Nagy is also an experienced competitor, driving in the Baja 1000, American Rally Association, NORRA 1000, California Rally Series and Atlantic Rally Championship.

 

“I am thrilled to accept the position of CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series Technical Director,” said Nagy. “I look forward to continuing to uphold the high standards that have been set for the performance and safety of the teams and the entertainment of the fans.”

 

As a cost-controlled series, parity between racecars is crucial to TA2’s close competition, making the technical inspection process and selection of approved vendors and suppliers crucial. Ricky Brooks has served in the role since 2016 and departs the series after being named the General Manager of Cordele Motor Speedway.

 

"The Trans Am Series will surely miss Ricky Brooks, who has done so much to build the CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series into the great championship it is today, but we understand that he had an opportunity that he could not turn down,” said Trans Am TA/XGT/SGT/GT Technical Director, Aaron Coalwell. “We are very happy to welcome Doug Nagy to the Trans Am staff as TA2’s new Technical Director. I met Doug over 20 years ago when I was the GT Class Technical Manager for the World Challenge Series, and Doug was with Saleen. He has a wide range of experience in motorsports, both on the team and officiating sides. After working at the recent Road Atlanta event with the outgoing Technical Director, we all feel confident that Doug will do a great job in the TA2 Technical Director role."

 

After working side-by-side with Brooks at Road Atlanta, Nagy will take over the position in Trans Am’s next outing at NOLA Motorsports Park, April 11-14.
 

  FR Americas and F4 U.S 

www.framericas.com

Formula Regional Americas Championship & Formula 4 United States Championship, Powered by Honda:  The FIA-certified Formula 4 United States Championship (F4 U.S.) & Formula Regional Americas Championship (FR Americas) are designed as entry-level open-wheel racing series offering young talent the opportunity to demonstrate their skills on an international platform while keeping affordability and safety as key elements. The Championships align with the global FIA development ladder philosophy of using common components to provide a cost-efficient, reliable and powerful racing structure as drivers ascend through the levels on their way to U.S. or global racing success. The F4 U.S. Champion is awarded a scholarship to compete the following season in FR Americas, while the FR Americas Champion is awarded a Super Formula Scholarship from Honda Performance Development and Honda Racing Corporation.

Patrick Woods-Toth and Ryan Shehan Win in FR Americas on Sunday at NOLA Motorsports Park

Patrick Woods-Toth Earns First-Career FR Americas Win

AVONDALE, La. (April 14, 2024) – Patrick Woods-Toth earned his first-career win in Formula Regional Americas Championship (FR Americas) competition during his series debut weekend at NOLA Motorsports Park. The 20-year-old made his transition from karts to cars just a year and a half ago by attending the Radford Racing School F4 U.S. Scholarship program, and went on to win the Formula 4 United States Championship (F4 U.S.) driver championship during his first season racing formula cars. Earning the full scholarship that is awarded to the F4 U.S. championship-winning driver, Woods-Toth (No. 27 Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F3) is set to compete the full season in FR Americas. 

Notes of Interest: 

  • Patrick Woods-Toth earned his first-career victory in just his second FR Americas start. The Canadian also finished on the podium yesterday with a second-place result in Race 1. 
  • Hayden Bowlsbey tied his career-best finish (third) while racing at his home track, NOLA Motorsports Park. A native of New Orleans, the 20-year-old resides in nearby Folsom, La.
  • Jett Bowling’s fifth-place finish is the best of his career; he is also making his FR Americas debut after moving up to the series from F4 U.S. last season. 

Cole Kleck (No. 11 Kleck Racing / International Mechanical Ligier JS F3) led the field off the starting block with Woods-Toth just to his outside. However, it was Titus Sherlock (No. 31 Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F3) who got the jump from his fifth-place starting position to overtake the lead as the field raced through Turn 1. With lights out at 8 a.m., cold tires led two competitors to go off the racing surface and brought out an early safety period. With the race resuming minutes later, Sherlock locked the brakes going into Turn 1 and overshot the corner, allowing Kleck to resume the point position. 

Kleck found himself under intense pressure from Nicolas Ambiado (No. 55 TLink / Allegro Ligier JS F3) and Hayden Bowlsbey (No. 22 Save22 Ligier JS F3), as Ambiado pulled next to Kleck at the start/finish line and Bowlsbey dove in next to them to take it three-wide into Turn 1. Kleck emerged as the leader with Ambiado hot in his tracks, while Patrick Woods-Toth (No. 27 Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F3) worked to reel in Bowlsbey and overtake the third position. As the clock ticked down, Kleck and Ambiado continued to race wheel to wheel, while Woods-Toth closed in on the leaders after taking over the third position. With just a few minutes left, Kleck and Ambiado made contact, sending Ambiado off track and into the Turn 3 tire wall. Woods-Toth darted around Kleck as he gathered himself on track, just before the full-course caution was displayed. A red flag ensued as safety crews worked to retrieve Ambiado’s car and fix the tire barrier. With the clock running out, the checkered flag was displayed and Woods-Toth was declared the winner. Kleck was credited with second and Bowlsbey with third. Ryan Shehan (No. 66 Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F3) and Jett Bowling (No. 02 Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F3) rounded out the top five.


 

     READ MORE:  Race 2 Official Results

 

“It’s nice to be back on the top step of the podium,” said Woods-Toth from atop the box. “We had a good start to last year and we’re having a good start to this year, as well. It’s all thanks to the team and my sponsors for getting us here. Thank you to Orlando, FSMQ, Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport, of course, Glen and Stephen for making the car as fast as it is. There’s another race later on today and we’ll see what we can do.” 
 

Ryan Shehan Returns to the Winners Circle at NOLA Motorsports Park

AVONDALE, La. (April 14, 2024) – Ryan Shehan (No. 66 Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F3) returned to the winner’s circle at NOLA Motorsports Park in Formula Regional Americas Championship (FR Americas) on Sunday afternoon. 

Notes of Interest: 

  • Ryan Shehan kicked off his 2023 campaign by winning at NOLA Motorsports Park, and once again did it this season. The 19-year-old looks to better his ranking after being named the 2023 FR Americas Vice Champion. 
  • Cole Kleck earned three podiums in this weekend’s three races, with his first-career win in Race 1, a second-place result in Race 2 and third in Race 3. Kleck was awarded the Omologato Perfectly-Timed Move of the Race and recognized by the stewards for an outstanding performance this weekend. The award includes a bespoke Omologato timepiece. 
  • Patrick Woods-Toth also had a perfect podium performance this weekend with second-place finishes in Races 1 and 3, and a victory in Race 2. 
  • Jett Bowling recorded both his career-best start (second) and finish (fourth) in Race 3. 
  • Justin Garat earned his first-career top-five finish with a fifth-place result in Race 3. 
  • FR Americas had three different winners in its three races at NOLA Motorsports Park, as Cole Kleck won Race 1, Patrick Woods-Toth took Race 2 and Ryan Shehan was victorious in Race 3. 

Ryan Shehan led the field off the starting block for the third round of the 2024 season. With a quick lap in Race 2, Jett Bowling (No. 02 Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F3) lined up next to Shehan, but it was Hayden Bowlsbey (No. 22 Save22 Ligier JS F3) who got the jump when the lights went out to move into second place. Third-place starter Cole Kleck (No. 11 Kleck Racing / International Mechanical Ligier JS F3) put pressure on both Shehan and Bowlsbey through the opening turns as he looked to overtake both first and second, but he fell to fifth when he dropped two wheels off the racing surface in Turn 6. The caution was displayed later that lap as Anthony Autiello (No. 07 A Autiello Construction Co. Ligier JS F3) spun on the track. 

When the race restarted, Shehan quickly jumped ahead and opened up nearly a two-second lead within just a couple laps. Meanwhile, Patrick Woods-Toth (No. 27 Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F3) set out on a mission to move forward as soon as the green-flag waved. First overtaking Kleck, Woods-Toth then set his sights on Bowlsbey, and secured the second position with over 20 minutes left on the clock. From there, Woods-Toth focused on the leader, slowly chipping away at Shehan’s near two-second lead. The two sped away from the field opening a 12-second gap over the battle for third, as Kleck, Bowling and Titus Sherlock (No. 31 Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F3) fought for position behind them. With less than three minutes left, Kleck and Bowling made wheel-to-wheel contact, which allowed Sherlock to drive past Bowling and overtake fourth just as the full-course caution was displayed. Nicole Havrda (No. 6 Valley Kitchens Ltd/Colonial Countertops Ltd Ligier JS F3) encountered an issue on track, leaving her car stranded along the course and forcing the safety period. Without time to resume the race, the checkered flag waved with Shehan leading the field across the line. Woods-Toth was second, and Kleck was in third. 


 

     READ MORE:  Race 3 Official Results


 

“Yeah, it was a tough race,” said Shehan. “Of course, I had to win the one that was green for most of it, but I'll take it. I just tried to stay consistent. I think I kicked the tires a little bit at the start, so I got a bit worried, but it seemed like the gap was pretty consistent. We have a new tire compound with our Hankook Tires, so I was just learning that. This was really the first full race we had with it. I think I stayed within three-tenths every lap, and they say consistency is key. It worked out today.”

FR Americas is back on track next month at Road America for the Road America SpeedTour, May 16-19. Tickets for the weekend are available on RoadAmerica.com. Live timing and scoring can be accessed on the Race Monitor app, and additional news and updates will be posted on the series’ Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. 
 

 

Teddy Musella Gets Second Win of NOLA SpeedTour Weekend
 

AVONDALE, La. (April 14, 2023) – Teddy Musella (No. 25 Scuderia Buell Ligier JS F4) notched his second victory of the Ligier JS F4 Series weekend at NOLA Motorsports Park. Marking the inaugural weekend of the series, Musella stood on the podium for all three races this weekend, with two victories and a runner-up finish. 

Notes of Interest: 

  • The NOLA SpeedTour marks the first race weekend for the Ligier JS F4 Series, a new stepping stone from karts to racecars in the Parella Motorsports Holdings (PMH) open-wheel ladder system. 
  • Teddy Musella leaves the NOLA SpeedTour weekend as the points leader after earning victories in Races 1 and 3, and a runner-up finish in Race 2. The 14-year-old also earned the Omologato Perfectly-Timed Move of the Race for his performance this weekend, for which he was presented a bespoke Omologato timepiece. 
  • Bacon Zelenka had a career-best performance with his runner-up finish in Race 3. 
  • After spending much of the weekend toward the front of the pack, Daniel Quimby earned his first-career podium in Sunday’s race. 

After finishing on the podium in both of Saturday’s races, Maite Cáceres (No. 6 Abitab/Supermatch Ligier JS F4) led the field down the starting grid with Kekai Hauanio (No. 29 N.E.Where Transportation / New’T Racing Ligier JS F4) to her outside. Hauanio stayed side by side with Cáceres through Turn 1, but pulled ahead as the duo reached Turn 2. By Turn 4 of the opening lap, Cáceres was under pressure from fourth-place starter Musella who pulled ahead as they exited the corner. Musella set his sights on Hauanio and continued his march forward. As they crossed the start/finish line to start the third lap, Musella pulled up next to Hauanio, overtook the lead as they entered Turn 1 and started driving away. 

Behind Musella, Hauanio and Cáceres, a great battle was underway for the fourth position with Bacon Zelenka (No. 45 Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F4), Christopher Parrish (No. 83 Save22 Ligier JS F4) and Daniel Quimby (No. 24 Cruise America/MIR Raceline/FIJI Airways/GalvanizeIns Ligier JS F4) all jockeying for the position. Amid the battle and with just 16 minutes left on the clock, Zelenka spun while running in the fourth position, which caused him to drop all the way back to 10th. 

At the front of the pack, Musella, Hauanio and Cáceres were all running nose to gearbox as the race passed its halfway point. The trio continued to battle as the clock ticked down, and they were only slowed by a full-course caution that was brought out as Parrish’s car lost its engine cover, leaving debris on the track. Safety crews worked swiftly to clear the track, allowing the field to have a three-minute shootout to the checkered flag.

Musella rolled toward the green flag first, with Hauanio hot in his tracks. Just behind him, Cáceres was under attack from Brad Majman (No. 95 Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F4)—who also happened to be celebrating his 15th birthday. Quimby was just behind Majman in fourth, but he had his mirrors full with Zelenka on his gearbox. As they exited Turn 16 coming to the white flag, Zelenka pulled ahead of Quimby to claim the fifth spot. As they reached turn three, Majman overtook the pack to move into the second position with Musella still out front. On the final lap, Cáceres fell back to seventh as she lost the handling on her Ligier chassis. Meanwhile, Musella led the field across the finish line with Majman just behind in second, Hauanio in third, Zelenka in fourth and Quimby behind them in fifth.


 

     READ MORE: Race 3 Official Results

 

“It was a tough race,” said Musella from atop the podium. “Kekai [Hauanio] had a little bit more pace than me at the end—he was having good pace the whole race. Defending down the back straight, especially after that safety car restart, was just a mess, really. Coming out on top is just an amazing feeling. I’d like to thank my family, my dad, Artie [Flores] for coaching me the whole weekend, as well as the team for giving me a great car to do this performance.”

Following the race, the stewards issued a series of decisions which resulted in penalties for both Majman and Hauanio. It was ruled that Hauanio forced a driver off the track during his battle with Cáceres, which resulted in a five-second penalty. Majman was also issued a five-second penalty for jumping the start. With such a tight pack, Majman was relegated to ninth on the official results, with Hauanio just behind him in 10th. Zelenka moved up to second on the official results, with Quimby in third.

Ligier JS F4 is back on track next month at Road America for the Road America SpeedTour, May 16-19. Tickets for the weekend are available on RoadAmerica.com. Live timing and scoring can be accessed on the Race Monitor app, and additional news and updates will be posted on the series’ Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
 

Photos by Gavin Baker Photography.

 

Teddy Musella, Kekai Hauanio Win in Ligier JS F4 Series on Saturday at NOLA Motorsports Park

Series Newcomer Teddy Musella Wins Race 1 at NOLA Motorsports Park

AVONDALE, La. (April 13, 2024) – Teddy Musella earned his first-career victory in the inaugural Ligier JS F4 Series race this morning at NOLA Motorsports Park. New to the series, Musella (No. 25 Scuderia Buell Ligier JS F4) started the race from the pole position and held off challenges from his competitors to lead every lap en route to the checkered flag. 

Notes of Interest: 

  • This morning’s race was the inaugural event for the Ligier JS F4 Series, a new stepping stone from karts to racecars in the Parella Motorsports Holdings (PMH) open-wheel ladder system. 
  • At just 14 years old, Teddy Musella earned his first-career win. 
  • Maite Cáceres returned to the PMH open-wheel ladder after competing in F1 Academy last season. This was her career-best finish within the organization. Cáceres is also a PMH Powering Diversity Scholarship recipient for the 2024 season. 
  • Bacon Zelenka’s third-place finish matches his career-best effort. The 18 year old finished third while racing his first-generation Ligier JS F4 chassis in Formula 4 United States Championship (F4 U.S.) at New Jersey Motorsports Park last July. 

Musella faced his biggest challenge from Kekai Hauanio (No. 29 N.E.Where Transportation / New’T Racing Ligier JS F4), who pulled side by side with Musella during a lap-six restart. Unable to complete the pass, Hauanio made contact with another competitor a few laps later, which damaged his wing and sent him down pit road for repairs. With Hauanio removed from contention, other drivers were looking to get in the mix while fighting for a spot on the podium. 

Maite Cáceres (No. 6 Abitab/Supermatch Ligier JS F4) started the race in the sixth position, and had quietly worked her way up to fourth by the race’s halfway point. With a solid restart on lap nine, she was able to overtake two additional competitors to move into second. Bacon Zelenka (No. 45 Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F4) was also able to capitalize on the misfortune of those in front of him and moved into third with just a few minutes left on the clock. Behind him, Christopher Parrish (No. 83 Save22 Ligier JS F4) had raced from his 10th-place starting position all the way up to fourth, with Pablo Benites Jr. (No. 44 Scuderia Buell Ligier JS F4) and Brad Majman (No. 95 Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F4) battling behind him for the fifth position. Majman ultimately finished fifth on the official results, as Benites was issued a five-second time penalty for a false start without an advantage gained. 


 

     READ MORE: Race 1 Official Results


 

“It's been an incredible weekend so far,” said Musella on the podium. “Being the first-ever race for the Ligier JS F4 Series, getting the pole and leading every lap—it was just an incredible experience. I want to thank my team [Scuderia Buell] that's done so much; my family—my dad, my mom, my sister, and everyone else that's been watching me and supporting me through my career.”
 

Kekai Hauanio Wins a Thrilling Race 2 at the NOLA SpeedTour

AVONDALE, La. (April 13, 2024) – With a pass coming to the white flag, Kekai Hauanio (No. 29 N.E.Where Transportation / New’T Racing Ligier JS F4) won a thrilling Race 2 for the Ligier JS F4 Series during the series’ inaugural weekend at NOLA Motorsports Park. Returning to the cockpit of a first-generation Ligier JS F4 racecar for a second season, Hauanio’s victory marks the first of his career, and only his third podium finish in the car. 

Notes of Interest: 

  • The NOLA SpeedTour marks the first race weekend for the Ligier JS F4 Series, a new stepping stone from karts to racecars in the Parella Motorsports Holdings (PMH) open-wheel ladder system. 
  • Kekai Hauanio earned his first-career win in today’s Race 2 at NOLA Motorsports Park. 
  • After winning this morning’s season opener, Teddy Musella finished second, marking his second podium in just two races. 
  • With her third-place result, Maite Cáceres earned her second podium of the day and her career. 

Teddy Musella (No. 25 Scuderia Buell Ligier JS F4) led the field down the starting grid, but it was Hauanio who pulled side by side with Musella heading down the frontstretch and overtook the lead as they swept through Turn 1. From there, the 17-year-old focused on opening a gap and pulled a second-and-a-half ahead of the field as the race neared the halfway point. Meanwhile, fourth-place starter Maite Cáceres (No. 6 Abitab/Supermatch Ligier JS F4) was strategically working through the field. The Uruguay native moved up to third on the opening lap, and into second by the completion of the fourth lap. Keeping her focus forward, Cáceres continued chipping away at the lead, narrowing the gap to less than a second with just over three minutes left on the clock. She cut another half-second by the next time they passed the start/finish line and pulled to the outside of Hauanio as she entered Turn 1. Set with the preferred line as they raced through Turn 2, Cáceres completed the pass and pulled away with the lead. Later that same lap, as they raced toward the white flag, Cáceres spun in Turn 15 and Hauanio slipped past to regain the lead. From there, it was clear sailing to the checkered flag for Hauanio. 

Musella was fourth with less than two minutes left on the clock, but was able to make his way around Bacon Zelenka (No. 45 Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F4) to overtake third and slid past Cáceres as she collected herself and headed to the white flag. As the checkered flag waved, it was Hauanio, followed by Musella and Cáceres rounding out the top three. 


 

     READ MORE:  Race 2 Official Results


 

“The first race this morning was not to our liking, but we got it done in the second one today,” Hauanio recapped. “[Maite] caught up to me, but we’re going to make some setup changes because it was a little off. We’ll come back tomorrow and hopefully get the win. I have to thank my grandpa for supporting me and Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport for giving me this amazing car.”

Ligier JS F4 wraps up their race weekend tomorrow with Race 3 at the NOLA SpeedTour at 10:20 a.m. CT. Tickets for the day are available on SpeedTour.net/NOLA. Kids ages 12 and under, as well as active-duty military, police and fire with a valid military or work ID, are admitted free. 

All feature races will be available to stream on the SpeedTourTV YouTube page. Live timing and scoring can be accessed on the Race Monitor app, and additional news and updates from the season finale weekend will be posted on the series’ Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
 

Photos by Gavin Baker Photography.

 

 

Cole Kleck Opens 2024 FR Americas Season with a Win at NOLA Motorsports Park

AVONDALE, La. (April 13, 2024) – Cole Kleck kicked off his 2024 campaign in Formula Regional Americas Championship (FR Americas) competition with a victory at NOLA Motorsports Park. Kleck (No. 11 DD Autosport / International Mechanical Ligier JS F3) made a charge through the field after lining up fifth on the grid to take his first-career victory in the season-opening race. 

Notes of Interest: 

  • Cole Kleck earned his first-career win and his second-career podium in FR Americas with today’s performance in Race 1 at the NOLA SpeedTour. 
  • Patrick Woods-Toth earned his first-career podium in his first-career start after winning the 2023 Formula 4 United States Championship (F4 U.S.) driver championship and earning a scholarship to compete in the 2024 season of FR Americas. 
  • Nicolas Ambiado earned his first-career podium in FR Americas competition. The 16-year-old spent last season running his Ligier JS F3 in SVRA while waiting to meet the age requirements of FR Americas. 

Patrick Woods-Toth (No. 27 Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F3) started the race from the point position, but Kleck had a great jump off the starting block, pulling to the inside as they entered Turn 1 and quickly moving into the third position. By Turn 2, he was battling side by side with second-place starter Nicolas Ambiado (No. 55 TLink / Allegro Ligier JS F3), and by Turn 4, he overtook the second position. Kleck entered Turn 6 door to door with then-leader Woods-Toth, but by the exit of the corner, he completed the pass. A pair of full-course cautions left Kleck to defend his position during restarts, but with a fast car, he easily cruised to victory. Woods-Toth crossed the line second, with Ambiado following in third. Titus Sherlock (No. 31 Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F3) finished fourth in his career-first FR Americas race, while Ryan Shehan (No. 66 Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F3), a two-time winner at NOLA Motorsports Park, crossed the line in fifth. 


 

     READ MORE: Race 1 Official Results


 

“We got a little unlucky with the red flag in qualifying and trying to get clean laps in, but my dad and I do practice starts whenever we have time. So, we shot off the line well, came out third in Turn 1, and then battled for second exiting the turn. We got Patrick [Woods-Toth] in Turn 6 [to take the lead].  I want to say great job to Patrick, too. It was amazing racing with all of us drivers. I want to thank God, my family, Darren with DD Autosport, and everyone back at home. I’m just so blessed to be here with all these drivers.”

FR Americas kicks off the action at NOLA Motorsports Park tomorrow with Race 2 at 8 a.m. CT. Race 3 will follow later in the day, with lights out scheduled for 2 p.m. CT.  Tickets for the day are available at the gate or online at SpeedTour.net/NOLA. Kids ages 12 and under, as well as active-duty military, police and fire with a valid military or work ID, are admitted free. 

All feature races will be available to stream on the SpeedTourTV YouTube page. Live timing and scoring can be accessed on the Race Monitor app, and additional news and updates from the season-opening weekend will be posted on the series’ Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

 

Sonoma Raceway

Sonoma SpeedTour

🎟️Buy Tickets Here


 

Track Facts:

Opened: 1968

Length: 2.52 Miles

Layout: 12-Turn Road Course

Entry List: View

Practice:

Friday, April 19

5:35-6:00 p.m. PT

 

Sunday, April 21

8:10-8:35 a.m. PT


 

Qualifying:

Saturday, April 20

8:10-8:35 a.m. PT


 

Races:

Race 1

Saturday, April 20

1:00-2:15 p.m. PT

Race Length: 40 Laps/75 Minutes

 

Race 2

Sunday, April 21

11:20 a.m.-12:35 p.m. PT

Race Length: 40 Laps/75 Minutes

Breaking Records

The Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli’s Western Championship heads to wine country for the Sonoma SpeedTour at Sonoma Raceway. With 34 entries, this weekend’s doubleheader will have the largest field ever for a standalone Western Championship event. The Western Championship has come a long way since its inaugural season in 2017 when it hosted only four races with fields averaging about 13 competitors. In fact, when the West Coast series visited Sonoma Raceway for the first time in 2018, the race included only 14 entrants.

 

A New Sonoma

This year, teams will face an all-new Sonoma surface, as the 2.52-mile circuit completed a repave back in February. Teams will have two optional test sessions on Friday to learn track’s new characteristics before the first official practice on Friday evening.

 

Keeping It Cool

This weekend, the Trans Am Series will unveil a new award on the podium as it welcomes a new sponsor to both the Western Championship and National Championship. The Cool Boxx Coolest Move of the Race will debut at Sonoma Raceway to highlight a cool racing moment such as a great pass, awesome save or display of sportsmanship. Cool Boxx is owned by Matthew Rivkin and Viktor Czapla, Western Championship competitors in the CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series, and produces iceless driver cooling systems. The winner of the Coolest Move will be awarded with one of the company’s Cool Boxx vests. The presentation will take place during the final podium of the Western Championship’s doubleheader weekends, and after the TA2 race at National Championship or combination events. Learn more about Cool Boxx’s products at coolboxx.la.

 

Nitro Goes West

Last weekend at NOLA Motorsports Park, Nitro Motorsports earned its first National Championship win of 2024 with Rafa Matos after dominating the podium in the first two races of the season. This weekend, the team heads west with two of its National Championship competitors. PMH Powering Diversity Scholarship recipient Michele Abbate will pilot the No. 30 GHOST/Nitro Motorsports Ford Mustang, coming fresh off a Pro/Am podium finish at Road Atlanta.17-year-old Young Gun Gio Ruggiero will get behind the wheel of the No. 8 Nitro Motorsports Ford Mustang after making his Trans Am Series debut at Sebring International Raceway in February.


 

New Sponsor for Accardo Jr.

This weekend, CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series driver Bob Accardo Jr. will debut a new sponsor on his No. 39 Chevrolet Camaro. Verbal AUTISM Pro is an app that has recently launched to revolutionize how individuals with autism communicate and connect with the world. The user-friendly mobile application has been developed by a series of experts to provide accessible, effective and affordable support to the non-speaking autism community. It is available for both Apple and Android. Learn more at www.verbalautism.com.

 

Golden State Entries

This weekend’s entry list boasts 15 drivers from the state of California. One driver, Thunderhill Race 1 winner Tim Barber, calls the city of Sonoma home, while Tim Lynn is from nearby Kentfield. Others, such as Michelle Nagai, Dylan Lupton, John Moore, Troy Ermish and Bob Accardo Jr. are all from less than two hours away from the Wine Country track.

 

TA2

John Moore, No. 17 Naake-Klauer Motorsports Ford Mustang (Loomis)

Matthew Rivkin, No. 21 Cool Boxx Chevrolet Camaro (Santa Rosa Valley)

JC Meynet, No. 28 B-Bar Ranch/Killer Shrimp Chevrolet Camaro (Woodland Hills)

Michael LaPaglia, No. 31 Papini’s Garage/F.A.S.T. Auto/Howe Ford Mustang (Murrieta)

Tim Barber, No. 33 DIG Motorsports Ford Mustang (Sonoma)

Troy Ermish, No. 38 Ermish Racing Ford Mustang (Tracy)

Bob Accardo Jr., No. 39 Verbal AUTISM Pro Chevrolet Camaro (Livermore)

Tim Carroll, No. 46 CRDMFG.com Chevrolet Camaro (Santa Ana)

Tim Lynn, No. 71 RoofOptions Ford Mustang (Kentfield)

Kyle Kelley, No. 80 PK+k Properties/UPRacing.com Ford Mustang (Huntington Beach)

Viktor Czapla, No. 88 Cool Boxx Dodge Challenger (Agoura Hills)

Jacob Yesnick, No. 97 McLeod/Sidley Austin Ford Mustang (Rancho Palos Verdes)

 

XGT

Michelle Nagai, No. 72 Nagai Racing/Berkeley Jet Drive Chevrolet Camaro (Newcastle)

Dylan Lupton, No. 79 Lupton Excavation Ford Mustang (Elk Grove)

 

GT

Kevin Michaels, No. 98 Killer Shrimp Restaurant Chevrolet Corvette (Malibu)


 

Past Sonoma Winners

There are four drivers competing at Sonoma Raceway who have previously stood on the top step of the podium at the California track. Greg Pickett has the most victories, winning six times in the Western Championship and three times in the National Championship.

 

TA

Greg Pickett, No. 6 Pickett Racing Ford Mustang

Western Championship: 2023, 2022, 2020 Races 1-3, 2018

National Championship: 1984 Race 1 and Race 2, 1978 (Category II)


 

TA2

JC Meynet, No. 28 B-Bar Ranch/Killer Shrimp Chevrolet Camaro: 2023 (GT)

 

XGT

Will Rodgers, No. 12 Central Welding Supply Ford Mustang: 2023

Chris Evans, No. 92 Central Welding Supply Ford Mustang: 2022 (SGT)

 

Greg Pickett at Sonoma

Greg Pickett in the No. 6 Pickett Racing Ford Mustang is a legend in the Trans Am Series, as the only driver to win a race in six different decades. The 77-year-old holds one National Championship title, claiming the 1978 Category II championship, in addition to two TA class titles in the Western Championship (2017, 2020). Pickett has a long history of success at Sonoma Raceway, and is by far the winningest driver at the track of anyone entered this weekend. Pickett has an impressive six wins at Sonoma Raceway in the Western Championship, including a sweep at the track in 2020 when scheduling changes resulted in three races being contested that season. Pickett’s Sonoma success goes all the way back to 1978 when he won at the track on his way to becoming that season’s Category II champion.

 

Trans Am Debuts

This weekend will see the Trans Am Series debut of Dylan Lupton, an XGT entry in the No. 79 Lupton Excavation Ford Mustang. The Elk Grove, California native comes to Trans Am primarily from the world of NASCAR, racing in the Cup, Xfinity and Truck Series, as well as the ARCA Menards Series and ARCA Menards Series West. Lupton has three previous starts at Sonoma Raceway in Cup, Xfinity and ARCA West, with a best finish of second in ARCA West in 2021.


 

John Moore in the No. 17 Naake-Klauer Motorsports Ford Mustang is also making his first start in the series. From Loomis, California, he is another ARCA West alum, and has a previous start at Sonoma Raceway in the NASCAR Southwest Series.

1. Steve Goldman (115)

1. Greg Pickett (115)

1. Michael LaPaglia (209)

2. Troy Ermish (191)

3. Ken Sutherland (184)

4. Tim Lynn (173)

5. Barry Boes (172)

1. Rick Wright (164)

2. Michelle Nagai (156)

3. Tim Rankin (139)

4. Rob Gordon (133)

5. Will Rodgers (92)

1. David Hampton (100)

Complete Standings: View
 

  Prototype Sprint Series Association 

 Prototype Sprint Series Association presented by Hankook:  Sanctioned by Parella Motorsports Holdings, the Prototype Sprint Series Association presented by Hankook (PSSA) is designed to host owners of Radical, Ligier, Revolution and Wolf Prototype race cars in a sprint race format at some of the most iconic road courses in America. PSSA offers the opportunity to race for just one weekend or compete for the national championship. Points will be awarded for each race with a national champion crowned at the conclusion of the season. The champion will receive a $10,000 prize, along with several product awards. 

 

 

 

  sportscar vintage racing association 

www.svra.com

Sportscar Vintage Racing Association:  SVRA is the largest vintage racing organization in the world. A typical event has several hundred vintage race cars representing over 100 years of automotive history on the track. The drivers of these race cars are high net-worth, prominent professionals. In 2023, SVRA will host 20 events at some of the most iconic race tracks in North America, including Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Sebring International Raceway, Watkins Glen International, WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, Sonoma Raceway and Circuit of The Americas, among others. This nationwide footprint has over 312,000,000 Americans living within 200 miles of our events.

 

 

 

   International GT (IGT)

www.internationalgt.net

International GT is a North American racing series composed of three national championships—the Stuttgart Cup, Maranello Cup and Mission Foods GT3 Cup Trophy. The Stuttgart Cup showcases Porsche Caymans, while the Maranello Cup includes Ferrari Challenge and GT3 cars. The Mission Foods GT3 Cup Trophy features GT3 and Porsche Cup cars. With iconic tracks on its schedule and close, exciting competition on the track, the series  continues to attract both professional and amateur drivers to enjoy the camaraderie of the IGT paddock.  Owned by Parella Motorsports Holdings, IGT is featured at many SpeedTour events across the country, with most race weekends featuring two sprint races and an hour-long enduro to give drivers ample track time. To learn more, visit InternationalGT.net. 

 

 

   Parella Motorsports

IROC Returns July 19-20 at Lime Rock Park

IROC Joins SpeedTour All-Star Race for Star-Studded Weekend at Lime Rock


 

CHARLOTTE (April 19, 2024) – IROC Holdings LLC has announced the first IROC event to be held in nearly 20 years is set to take place July 19-20 at Lime Rock Park as part of the SpeedTour All-Star Race weekend. Featuring both an on-track racing exhibition and static display, the event will reunite original IROC competitors with cars actually raced in the legendary series. 

 

IROC (International Race of Champions) is a series that held races from 1973 to 2006, which brought together the greatest drivers from all forms of motorsport to race identical cars on historic tracks for an all-star extravaganza. In early 2024, NASCAR Hall of Fame member Ray Evernham and former NASCAR Cup Series team owner and venture capitalist Rob Kauffman founded IROC Holdings LLC and announced they had acquired the rights to the iconic IROC brand. The return of IROC to the track this July marks the first step in revitalizing this iconic brand. 

 

“We are thrilled to announce the first IROC event since 2006 will take place at historic Lime Rock Park,” said Evernham. “I began my professional racing career at IROC, so to be part of the team bringing the brand back to life and to the fans is extremely gratifying.”

 

“The event at Lime Rock Park will serve as a great way to kick off what is sure to be an exciting journey to reignite the magic IROC had during its original 30+ year run,” said Rob Kauffman. “We hope this is just one of many announcements for IROC in 2024.”

 

The IROC event at Lime Rock Park will feature original IROC racecars on track and on display in the IROC paddock throughout the weekend. Fans will have the opportunity to see nearly every generation of IROC racecar with many being driven by former IROC drivers. A fan-forward display, the IROC paddock will feature appearances by some of the original IROC racers, Q&A sessions and IROC-branded merchandise.

 

IROC has also opened entry applications for anyone who owns IROC racecars and would like to display or drive them in the event. Those interested in applying can visit iroc-racing.com for more information. In addition, IROC has simultaneously launched their official webstore at shop.iroc-racing.com. 

 

IROC’s return will take place during the SpeedTour All-Star Race weekend at Lime Rock Park, hosted by Parella Motorsports Holdings (PMH). The event will also feature the 60-minute SpeedTour All-Star Race, which gathers icons from Formula 1, NASCAR, INDYCAR and IMSA, and pairs them with competitors from the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli’s CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series to compete as co-drivers in a race that airs live on MAVTV. 

 

“We are thrilled to add IROC to our lineup for the SpeedTour All-Star Race weekend,” said Tony Parella, CEO of PMH. “This is quickly shaping up to be one of the most exciting motorsports events in recent memory—we already have 16 legends committed to race in the SpeedTour All-Star race, with a field that includes Daytona 500 and Indianapolis 500 champions, IROC winners and drivers who have stood atop the podium at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Nürburgring, and Daytona. IROC adds even more star power to an already exciting event. IROC was where the best-of-the-best drivers went to race and prove themselves among their competitors. As Ray [Evernham] and Rob [Kauffman] relaunch the IROC brand, we’re thrilled to be a part of this first outing.”

 

Whether you’re coming to see IROC, the SpeedTour All-Star Race, or any of the other groups racing at Lime Rock Park, a single ticket will get you in for all the action. Single-day and weekend tickets are available at SpeedTour.net with advanced-purchase discounts for both spectator tickets and camping packages. Kids 12 and under are free with the purchase of an adult ticket, and all active-duty military and veterans with a valid military ID will also gain free admission.
 

    trans am series       International GT (IGT)speedtour  sportscar vintage racing association 

FR Americas and F4 U.S Prototype Sprint Series Association

2024 ta2 club schedule

2024 Formula Regional Americas Championship Provisional Schedule: 

April 11-14, 2024:  NOLA Motorsports Park

May 16-19, 2024:  Road America

June 13-16, 2024:  Indianapolis Motor Speedway

June 20-23, 2024:  Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course

July 25-28, 2024:  New Jersey Motorsports Park

Aug. 29-Sep. 1, 2024:  Canadian Tire Motorsports Park

Oct. 31-Nov. 3, 2024:  Circuit of The Americas

2024 Formula 4 United States Championship Provisional Schedule: 

April 11-14, 2024:  NOLA Motorsports Park

May 16-19, 2024:  Road America

June 20-23, 2024:  Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course

July 25-28, 2024:  New Jersey Motorsports Park

Aug. 29-Sep. 1, 2024:  Canadian Tire Motorsports Park

Oct. 31-Nov. 3, 2024:  Circuit of The Americas

2024 Ligier JS F4 Series Provisional Schedule: 

April 11-14, 2024:  NOLA Motorsports Park

May 16-19, 2024:  Road America

June 20-23, 2024:  Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course

July 25-28, 2024:  New Jersey Motorsports Park

Oct. 3-6 2024:  VIRginia International Raceway

2024 SPORTSCAR VINTAGE RACING ASSOCIATION PROVISIONAL SCHEDULE

2024 SpeedTour Schedule: 

Feb. 22-25:  Sebring International Raceway

Mar. 1-3:  Thunderhill Raceway Park

Mar. 8-10:  Eagles Canyon Raceway

Mar. 21-24:  Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta

Apr. 11-14:  NOLA Motorsports Park

Apr. 18-21:  Sonoma Raceway

Apr. 26-28:  Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course

May 2-5:  WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca

May 10-11:  World Wide Technology Raceway

May 16-19:  Road America

May 24-27:  Lime Rock Park

June 7-9:  Pittsburgh International Race Complex

June 13-16:  Indianapolis Motor Speedway

June 20-23:  Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course

June 28-30: Road America

July 19-20:  Lime Rock Park

July 25-28:  New Jersey Motorsports Park

July 26-28:  Portland International Raceway

Aug. 16-18:  Summit Point Motorsports Park

Aug. 21-25:  Watkins Glen International

Aug. 29-Sep. 1:  Canadian Tire Motorsport Park

Oct. 3-6:  VIRginia International Raceway

Oct. 18-20:  Spring Mountain Motorsports Ranch

Oct. 31-Nov. 3:  Circuit of The Americas

 

2024 Trans Am Series Western Championship Schedule

2024 Prototype Sprint Series Association Schedule:

 

2024 International GT Schedule: 

Feb. 22-25:  Sebring International Raceway

Mar. 21-24:  Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta

Apr. 18-21:  Sonoma Raceway

May 2-5:  WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca

May 24-27:  Lime Rock Park

June 13-16:  Indianapolis Motor Speedway

June 27-30:  Road America

Aug. 21-25:  Watkins Glen International

Oct. 3-6:  VIRginia International Raceway

Oct. 25-27:  Daytona International Speedway (tentative)

Oct. 31-Nov. 3:  Circuit of The Americas

 

Time Trials National Tour 2022 Schedule

March 26-27: Carolina Motorsports Park; Kershaw, SC
- April 23-24: Eagles Canyon Raceway; Decatur, TX
- May 12-15: Time Trials Nationals @ NCM Motorsports Park; Bowling Green, KY
- July 1-2: Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park; Thompson, CT
- July 16-17: GingerMan Raceway; South Haven, MI
- August 6-7: New Jersey Motorsports Park; Millville, NJ
- August 27-28: Pittsburgh International Race Complex; Wampum, PA
- October 29-30: Buttonwillow Raceway Park; Buttonwillow, CA
- November 5-6: Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta; Braselton, GA

 

 
 

 

     

 

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larry criss....................A true race fan LIKE AN UNCLE TO ME

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charlie patterson ............my old friend that supported me when mo one else did

 Carroll Horton .......................................life long friend and indy car owner

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