Lawrence wins inaugural Trans Am Muscle Car Challenge, Ellis and Streimer take TA3
TA and TA3 Race
The TA race began with Miami local RJ Lopez on pole in the No. 16 Optica Lopez Chevrolet Corvette with Simon Gregg, in the No. 59 Derhaag Motorsports Chevrolet Corvette, alongside. Amy Ruman began in third with defending TA Champion Doug Peterson, in the No. 87 3Dimensional.com Chevrolet Corvette, alongside starting fourth while John Baucom, in the No. 86 Roadraceparts.com/Baumcom Motorsports Ford Mustang, started fifth.
In TA3 International, Miami local Michael Camus, in the No. 08 Epic Motorsports BMW M3, began the race on pole with Russ Snow, in the No. 20 Guardian Services/AiM Sports Chevrolet Corvette, alongside and Stemier in third. Likewise, American Muscle began with defending Champion Ernie Francis, Jr., in the No. 98 Breathless Racing Chevrolet Camaro, in first, Deslavo in second and Ellis in third.
As the race began Lopez shot out to a consistent, but commanding lead, with Gregg following close behind with Peterson and Ruman not far behind with second through sixth running nose-to-tail.
On the sixth lap of the race Ruman and Peterson both overtook Gregg, as the No. 59 began to suffer overheating issues and the Derhaag Motorsports team elected to slow the car to finish the race. Peterson’s run in the top three was short lived however as the No. 87 of Peterson was spun in traffic. John Baucom immediately moved up to third position and began to pursue Ruman, while Mario Barcenas, in the No. 35 Rem Racing Chevrolet Corvette, moved up to fourth and Cliff Ebben, in the No. 36 Stumpf Ford/ McMahoun Group Ford Mustang, assumed fifth position.
In the American Muscle Group, Ernie Francis’ run at the top of the charts was short lived as the No. 98 was forced into the pits during the early laps. DeSalvo took the mantel of top spot within the group but only for a short period as Thomas Ellis overtook him on lap four of the race. Shortly thereafter Napieralksi overtook DeSalvo on lap eight for second as well.
On the end of the 20th lap of the race disaster struck for the No. 16 as Lopez’s right rear tire blew, sending the Corvette into the wall on the outside of the front straight, Lopez was unharmed but his race was over. Ruman immediately moved into first while Baucom and Mario Barcenas assumed second and third position.
The track immediately went under full course yellow to retrieve Lopez, and remained that way for several laps.
On the restart, Cliff Ebben took advantage of Barcenas’ misfortune and moved up into third while ahead Baucom immediately began to hound Ruman for the lead. Ruman was forced to fend Baucom off at every turn and led by only half a car length going into the final lap. Just as Baucom began to take up position to make a final push going onto the main straight headed towards the checkered flag, Baucom’s No. 86 lost oil pressure, leaving Ruman to cross the finish line unhampered. Ebben and Fix also capitalized on Baucom’s mechanical issues, powering past him for second and third place on the podium.
In TA3’s International Group the No. 08 of Camus immediately slowed on the restart, entered pit lane and was forced to retire. Steve Stremier and the No. 42 assumed the top spot in the group, with fellow Viper driver Lee Saunders assuming second and Jerry Greene taking third—an order they would maintain until the end of the race.
Likewise in American Muscle, the group maintained the order of Ellis, Napieralski and DeSalvo from restart to finish.
