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Toni Breidinger Pursuing MAVTV Pro Late Model Championship

Toni Breidinger Pursuing MAVTV Pro Late Model Championship

02 Apr 2019 Written by

Toni Breidinger’s quickly growing stock car schedule will include a full-time campaign in Madera Speedway’s MAVTV-televised Pro Late Models, the 19 year-old announced today.  Breidinger will drive the #21 Chevrolet for Naake-Klauer Motorsports as USAC’s all-time winningest female continues to move up the stock car ranks.
 
Her 2019 season will see a combination of nine races on the West Coast for Naake-Klauer Motorsports and nearly a dozen races on the East Coast for GMS Racing.  She is slated to be a 2020 member of Driver’s Edge Development as well.  She will also compete in her family owned Midget for the POWRI/BCRA Series at Madera, also televised.
 
Breidinger holds her place in the USAC history books with 19 pavement victories.  She was the runner-up in the 2014 and 2015 USAC Western US Midget Series pavement standings before winning the championship in 2016.
 
In 2018, she made three starts in the ARCA Menards Series with one top-ten finish.  Breidinger added a mix of Midget, USAC Silver Crown, and Pro Late Model appearances on top of that.  Her best Pro Late Model finish to date was a fourth place effort at Roseville’s All American Speedway in November.  She was also a finalist for competition in the W Series as well.
 
Naake-Klauer Motorsports is one of the most successful programs in the Western United States, led by owner Mike Naake.  Their resume includes two Jr. Late Model championships at Madera with nearly 10 Jr. Late Model wins.  They also earned the Rookie of the Year in the Pro Late Model division in 2018.
 
“Competing with a championship-caliber team like Naake-Klauer Motorsports is a great opportunity for me,” Breidinger said.  “Their preparation level is second to none and their success with working with young drivers is well documented. I feel like I have all the tools I need to improve and succeed this season.”
 
Major events at Madera include the $5,000 to win Summer Speed Fest in July and the $10,000 to Short Track Shootout in October.  The series averages more than 30 entries per event with all nine races aired on a tape-delay basis on MAVTV.
 
Race fans can follow Toni Breidinger online on their favorite social media platforms:
Instagram: @tonibreidinger (www.instagram.com/tonibreidinger)
Twitter: @tonibreidinger (www.twitter.com/tonibreidinger)
Facebook: @tonibreidingerracing (www.facebook.com/ToniBreidingerRacing)
 
2019 Tentative Schedule:
4/6 Pro Late Model at Madera Speedway (Madera, CA)
4/13 PRA Tour at Orange County Speedway (Rougemont, NC)
4/27 Pro Late Model at Madera Speedway (Madera, CA)
5/4 Midget at Madera Speedway (Madera, CA)
5/11 PRA Tour Caraway Speedway (Sophia, NC)
5/18 CARS Tour at Motor Mile Speedway (Dublin, VA)
5/25 Pro Late Model at Madera Speedway (Madera, CA)
6/1 CARS Tour at Bristol Speedway (Bristol, TN)
6/29 Pro Late Model at Madera Speedway (Madera, CA)
7/13 Midget at Madera Speedway (Madera, CA)
7/27 Pro Late Model at Madera Speedway (Madera, CA)
8/3 CARS Tour at Hickory Speedway (Hickory, NC)
8/10 Midget at Madera Speedway (Madera, CA)
8/24 Pro Late Model at Madera Speedway (Madera, CA)
9/7 Speed 51 / USAC Silver Crown at Lucas Oil Raceway (Brownsburg, IN)
9/14 Midget at Madera Speedway (Madera, CA)
9/21 Pro Late Model at Madera Speedway (Madera, CA)
10/5 Pro Late Model at Madera Speedway (Madera, CA)
10/22 PRA Tour at Hickory Speedway (Hickory, NC)
11/2 CARS Tour at South Boston Speedway (Halifax County, VA)
11/9 North/South Shootout at Hickory Speedway (Hickory, NC)

Toni Breidinger Racing PR

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ROC Solid and ECR Engines To Build Hope for Winston-Salem Girl Fighting Cancer

ROC Solid and ECR Engines To Build Hope for Winston-Salem Girl Fighting Cancer

02 Apr 2019 Written by
On Tuesday, April 9, volunteers from Roc Solid Foundation and ECR Engines will build hope for 4-year-old Gracie Belanger from Winston-Salem, NC by surprising her with a brand new playset in her backyard. Gracie has been fighting a type of brain cancer (Neurofibromatosis) at Brenner Children's Hospital.
 
Early that morning, the volunteers will gather at the Belanger's home (4241 Compton Drive, Winston-Salem, NC 27107) and construct the playset while Gracie and her family are taken by limo to breakfast and an activity of her choice. They will return home promptly at 12:30 p.m., at which time Gracie will see her new playset for the first time. A backyard picnic with the family and volunteers will follow the "reveal."
 
"When the opportunity was presented to ECR to be a part of building a brand new playset for Gracie, we gratefully accepted," said Richie Gilmore, President of ECR Engines. "We look forward to this team building experience. After going through the building process last year and seeing the look on a child's face as proof that you can change a life for the better, even if it's only for one day and give them hope, it is the greatest feeling for us as a team."
 
Roc Solid Foundation builds hope for kids fighting cancer through the power of play. The organization is best known for its two major initiatives: surprising kids with brand new playsets in their backyards and providing Roc Solid Ready Bags to families when they first hear the devastating news that their child has cancer.
 
"The treatments these kids undergo are intense, leaving them with little time and energy to enjoy playing like most kids do on a daily basis," says Eric Newman, Roc Solid Foundation founder. "It's our goal to give hope to these children by allowing them to be carefree for the day - to not think about cancer for a day - and the smiles we see make it all worthwhile."
ECR Engines PR
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Central California’s Eberle Winery named Official Vintner of West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame

Central California’s Eberle Winery named Official Vintner of West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame

02 Apr 2019 Written by

The award-winning Eberle Winery has been named the West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame’s official vintner.
 
The Paso Robles, Calif. winery, which received the prestigious Robert Mondavi Hospitality Award in early March, will provide a selection of its finest vintages to dinner guests at the West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame’s June 20 induction ceremonies, presented by Gateway Motorsports Park, at the Meritage Resort and Spa in Napa, Calif.
 
“The Hall is extremely pleased to welcome aboard Eberle, not only a fine vintner based in a beautiful part of California but wonderful people to partner with us as they become the Official Wine of the West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame,” said Ken Clapp, West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame chairman and CEO. “We look forward to a long and tasteful relationship with Eberle.”
 
“On our end,” says winery owner Gary Eberle, “this was a fantastic opportunity to get our wines in front of an audience that represents some of the best names in stock car racing.  We strive to be the best in our industry and we know members of the West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame have that same passion as well.”
 
Eberle, established in 1979, is a family-owned business headed by Gary Eberle, a Pittsburgh-area native and onetime defensive football star at Penn State University. He holds degrees from Penn State and Louisiana State University, awards as a National Science Fellow and an enology doctorate from University of California Davis.
 
The Estrella River winery and tasting room was the first from San Luis Obispo County to distribute nationally. Eberle also was the first to produce a 100 percent Syrah in the United States. Wine Spectator magazine proclaimed him as the “Johnny Appleseed of Syrah” in the 1990s as virtually all of the Syrah grown in the U.S. come from Eberle’s cuttings.
 
Eberle offers an array of limited production wines including: Chardonnay, Viognier, Cotes-du-Robles Blanc, Muscat Canelli, Zinfandel, Syrah, Cotes-du-Robles Rouge and its flagship, Cabernet Sauvignon. Its tasting room located on Highway 46 east of Paso Robles, continues to offer no charge sampling to its guests.
 
The winery can be found on the Internet and at Instagram at eberlewinery.com. Follow on Twitter @EberleBoar. Eberle’s telephone number is 805-238-9607.
 
June’s West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame inductions are the 16th to be held since the organization’s creation in 2001. Its six announced enshrinees are NASCAR team owners Gary Bechtel and Bob Bruncati; Joe Gibbs Racing President J.D. Gibbs; four-time NASCAR premier series champion Jeff Gordon; NASCAR weekly series national champion Doug McCoun and NASCAR K&N Pro Series champion Eric Norris.
 
An additional five Heritage inductees – industry figures from the pre-1971 era – will be announced in early April. The induction ceremonies kick off the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR K&N Pro Series West weekend at nearby Sonoma Raceway.
 
For additional information about the West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame, please visit WestCoastStockCarHallofFame.com.

West Coast Stock Car HOF PR

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Crampton hopes to parlay Gainesville success into victory at the NHRA Four Wide Nationals

Crampton hopes to parlay Gainesville success into victory at the NHRA Four Wide Nationals

02 Apr 2019 Written by
The high moment for Richie Crampton a year ago was winning the early-season NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event in Gainesville. The Australian Top Fuel standout won there for a second straight year last month, but now Crampton hopes it simply turns into a building block for the rest of the 2019 season.
 
The Kalitta Motorsports driver will get the chance to build upon his most recent win at this weekend’s 20th annual DENSO Spark Plugs NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, as Crampton aims to keep his hot streak going in his 10,000-horsepower DHL dragster. It didn’t happen a year ago, as Crampton slumped to an 11th-place finish, but he is confident this season will be much different.
 
“There’s no question we have a more consistent car this year, and that builds more confidence in me as a driver to work on my reaction times and try to win those close races on the starting line,” Crampton said. “The way Kurt (Elliot) and Connie (Kalitta) have the car running right now, we haven’t set the world on fire in qualifying, but we’ve gone down the track a lot and I know they’re going to build off that. We’ve put those first-round losses from last year behind us and continue to move onward and upward.”
 
Steve Torrence (Top Fuel), J.R. Todd (Funny Car) and Vincent Nobile (Pro Stock) were last year’s winners of the event that will be televised on FOX Sports 1, including finals coverage starting at 5:30 p.m. (ET) on Sunday, April 7. It is the fourth of 24 races during the 2019 NHRA season and marks the second ever four-wide race in Las Vegas, giving West Coast fans the chance to witness the incredible thrills of four-wide racing.
 
It also presents one of the biggest challenges in the sport, but Crampton is one of drag racing’s marquee drivers and he’ll look to thrive in the unique set-up after winning the 50th anniversary race in Gainesville in March. A year ago, Crampton only won nine more rounds over the final 21 races, something he is determined to change in 2019. With legendary tuner Kalitta calling the shots and Elliot on board this year, Crampton, who is currently fourth in points, can see a significant difference already.
 
“We did have a rough end to last season but for me, I knew if I just continued to do my job and have faith in my team and crew chief and my car, the wins would come back and obviously they have,” Crampton said. “I’m just focusing on becoming a dependable driver and I want to earn the right to be driving the car I’m driving. It’s hard to keep your chin up when you have a rough weekend, but you’ve got to.”
 
Going against elite Top Fuel competition means there is always a possibility for a rough weekend, and Crampton knows he’ll have to be focused to knock off the likes of defending world champ Steve Torrence, Clay Millican, Antron Brown, Terry McMillen, teammate Doug Kalitta, Brittany Force and Leah Pritchett in Vegas. But Crampton has nine wins in 11 Top Fuel final rounds, proving he knows how to rise to the occasion. With a historic Gainesville win under his belt, he’ll now try for his first four-wide victory.
 
“There’s not too many easy rounds,” Crampton said. “It just goes to show you how Top Fuel is this year. Every driver competing in Top Fuel is the cream of the crop and every round win is getting harder and harder to come by. But I have such a great team behind me and they put me in a great position to win.”
 
In Funny Car, J.R. Todd won a year ago to start his championship run, and he’s seeking his first win of 2019 against points leader Robert Hight and Phoenix winner Matt Hagan.
               
Pro Stock’s Greg Anderson has dominated in Las Vegas over the years, but he is after his first win of 2019 facing off with points leader Bo Butner and Jeg Coughlin Jr.
 
The riders in Pro Stock Motorcycle will compete in Vegas after starting their season in Gainesville. Andrew Hines won there against the likes of Matt Smith and Eddie Krawiec.
 
The event also features competition in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, showcasing the future stars of the sport. 
 
As always, fans can interact with their favorite drivers as they’re granted an exclusive pit pass to the most powerful and sensory-filled motorsports attraction on the planet. This unique opportunity gives fans direct access to the teams, allowing them to see firsthand the highly-skilled mechanics service their hot rods between rounds, and get autographs from their favorite NHRA drivers. 
 
Fans also will want to visit NHRA’s popular Nitro Alley and Manufacturers Midway, where sponsors and race vendors create a carnival atmosphere, with interactive displays, simulated competitions, merchandise, food and fun for the entire family.
 
Mello Yello Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds at 12:30 and 3:00 p.m. on Friday, April 5 and the final two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, April 6, at 12:30 and 3:00 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 12 p.m. on Sunday, April 7.
 
To purchase general-admission or reserved seats, call (800) 644-4444 or visit www.LVMS.com. Kids 12 and under are free in general admission areas with a paid adult. To honor the Salute to First Responders, military and first responders can save 20 percent on general admission tickets online at NHRA.com/GOVX or at the gate with presentation of valid military or professional ID. For more information about the NHRA visit www.NHRA.com.
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SGT cars lead the field for first half of Road Atlanta Trans Am 100

SGT cars lead the field for first half of Road Atlanta Trans Am 100

02 Apr 2019 Written by

Tire selection, turns of fortune, traffic and treacherous weather all shaped the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli Round 2 into a plot-twisting tale of two races in the TA and SuperGT (SGT) class event at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta on Sunday.

The 40-lap race ran under green flag conditions from start to finish, with the race featuring variable track conditions, three TA class lead changes, and four different SGT class leaders, including one who established a 30-second margin on the field early in the going as Road Atlanta played host to another dramatic chapter of Trans Am competition. 

But after a dynamic race, it was a penultimate lap overtake that saw Lawrence Loshak capture the TA class win, driving his No. 3 Pennzoil/Elavon/GoShare Chevrolet Camaro to nearly a five second victory over his Burtin Racing teammate Tomy Drissi.  Drissi, who led the race for 13 laps, recovered from a late off-track excursion to take second. 

Three-time Road Atlanta winner Amy Ruman displayed her experience on the 2.54, 12-turn road course and crafted an advantage as she waited to make her move for a podium finish. Chris Dyson and Simon Gregg rounded out the TA top-five. 

Due to the inclement weather and variable track conditions the opening TA/SGT races started with a rolling single-file start. Loshak started from pole and was immediately locked in battle with 2018 Trans Am champion Ernie Francis Jr. The duel was called off after Francis was forced to pit lane to sort out a malfunctioning taillight before returning to action two laps down. 

With Francis pushed to the back of the field, the focus shifted to Loshak, Drissi and Dyson. Using lapped traffic to his advantage, Drissi stole position from Loshak, pulling away with a 1.21 second advantage. Meanwhile, Dyson in third, continued to set fast laps of the race, chopping away at Drissi and Loshak’s lead. 

“This was the hardest race I’ve done in a long time,” said Loshak. “All I kept thinking was 100 miles, Lawrence, 100 miles. I used to do the rain dance and loved racing in the rain in other series, but I am a bit inexperienced in wet conditions with these Trans Am cars. We started on Pirelli slicks, looking for a rain line but with the Esses, the streams and the cold temperatures, we were having trouble getting grip. It was treacherous. But, as the track started drying, I had an incredible battle with my teammate. Traffic played a huge factor in us exchanging the lead back and forth. In the end though it was a one-two finish for Burtin Racing, and that’s all that matters.”

Loshak paid back Drissi, using the lapped traffic and a rear bump to his advantage to make an inside pass, seizing the lead back from the No. 8 XMEN: Dark Phoenix Chevrolet Camaro. 

“Lawrence Loshak and I are so evenly matched, and we were just on each other the whole race,” Drissi said. “Going down the hill to the Esses, there was a Viper and we were coming so fast that I had to check up. I came back after him, and with two laps to go, I had another run on him but I was pushing so hard I went off. It’s tough coming down that hill in Turn 12, and it was still a little slippery, so he had to check up. If it weren’t for that, I know I would have gotten into him. I would have put both of us out, so I avoided him, went off, came back on and finished second. I didn’t have a good Sebring race, so I needed a good points today.”

With a broken axel, Dyson tried to hold onto third place, but just as the white flag dropped, he retired to the pits. 

“I was taking it easy early in the race,” said Dyson. “Once I actually saw it start to dry up, I felt like I could start pushing, but I didn’t want to over pressure the Pirelli tires. I kept accelerating and braking gently so that I didn’t put a lot of side load into it. I started working the car harder and we started making big gains. But on two occasions when we were charging, we got held up in traffic. Then the axel broke, so we lost drive, and inevitably couldn’t finish the race.”

Hanging behind Dyson, Ruman saw her chance to claim the last step on the podium. 

“I’m pretty pleased with our result today,” said Ruman. “We were a little far back, but at least we captured a third. Our game plan was not to make any mistakes at the beginning, because we knew it was going to dry out at the end, and hopefully, we would be there. I wish it could have been sunny so fans could see what everybody had, but we’ll take a solid third today for good points. I love Road Atlanta. I’ve had success here, three wins and lots of podiums. This track is busy but it’s challenging, and if you have a good car, it can be really fast. But if you have a bad car, it can be treacherous.”

The SGT class, which features a wide range of entries including several Porsche 911 Cup cars, a Dodge Viper, and Ford Mustangs, found itself at a significant advantage early in the race as the field made the most of the grip on offer from the rain-specification Pirelli tires. 

But it was a choice of dry tires for fifth place starting Brian Kleeman that saw him secure his first win in the SGT class.  Fall Line Racing’s Mark Boden finished the SGT round in second and Lee Saunders wrapped up the SGT podium as a pair of Porsche 991 GT3 drivers Milton Grant and Tom Herb completed the top-five.

Boden got an outstanding start to the race, moving the overall lead and creating a significant gap to the field with his Pirelli rain tire selection.  On Lap 19, Aaron Pierce passed Boden for not only first place in the SGT race but for the overall lead. Boden continued to charge the way but as the track dried his tires began to fall off, losing the momentum he built up in the rain. Boden eventually pitted to change to Pirelli slicks.

“We don’t have the fastest car out there - and we know that - so we had to do it all on strategy today,” said Kleeman. “We threw the dice and I think we were the only ones out there on slicks. It was as absolutely a handful at the beginning and we fell way back. It was pretty treacherous, but once it started to dry out, we knew we had to click off the laps and close the gap, hoping those guys came in for tires - which they did. At that point, it was just a matter of staying in front and just holding on. By the end, it was pretty much a dry race. ”

“Everybody out there was pretty good, and at the end of the day, the TA guys had to brake so early,” said Boden. “More than the moisture, it was the track temperature. You mix that with cold weather, and that tire is not going to come up (to temp). Our error was we should have come in three laps earlier. We were hoping for the yellow so we could do a quick tire change and get out. Pitting under green really hurts you. It was fun, the Pirelli tires were just excellent and if we had a little more rain, we could have gotten the overall victory!”

The inside overtake on Drissi for the TA lead, yielded Loshak the CoolShirt ‘Cool Move of the Race.’ Kerry Hitt won the Masters award in the TA class following a ninth-place finish in the No. 19 Advanced Composite Products Inc. Cadillac CTSV. Milton Grant won the award in SGT, placing fourth in the No. 55 SentrySelfStorage/Fairfield Inn Porsche 991 GT3 Cup. 

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Hoosier Super Tour from Hallett Caps Weekend with Exciting Race Battles

Hoosier Super Tour from Hallett Caps Weekend with Exciting Race Battles

02 Apr 2019 Written by
The Hoosier Racing Tire SCCA® Super Tour wrapped an intense two-day event this weekend hosted by Ark Valley Race Group at Hallett Motor Racing Circuit, capping the fourth of 11 events in the 2019 season. Running races on Sunday at 35 minutes or 27 laps in length, there were battles throughout the day.
 
Sunday's racing was close. How close? Try 0.017-second in one case. That was the final margin of victory in Spec Miata, where Jim Drago edged in front of Matt Reynolds in a side-by-side drag race out of the final corner. Drago's No. 2 East Street Racing Mazda Miata led the first 13 laps from the pole, before Reynolds moved to the point. Reynolds was the official leader through lap 22, when the duo swapped positions once again as they worked through lapped traffic.
 
Drago was the official leader at the white flag, but Reynolds swooped to the lead on the final stanza. On the gas, Drago moved to the inside in the final left-hander, and the two crossed under the wire in a photo finish.
 
"I really think Matt had it with about three to go," Drago said. "I made a little mistake and had a little gap, and he caught a lapped car at the worst time and allowed me to close up the gap. We just put some pressure on at the end. I tried to get a couple of moves in and he shut them down pretty good. Going into 10, I take a little different line than Matt does, I'm a little tighter. He left me about a car and an inch and I stuffed it in there pretty good."
 
That inch is all it took for Drago to sweep the weekend.
 
Reynolds nabbed his win just a couple of hours later. In what could be an early-season preview of this year's SCCA National Championship Runoffs® at VIRginia International Raceway, Reynolds and Jesse Prather started the race having qualified just 0.037-second apart on Sunday morning. Reynolds took the lead from Prather on lap 13, then set a new track record with a lap of 1:20.896 (80.103 mph) on the 16th lap. One small mistake by Prather in his BMW Z3 gave Reynolds' No. 71 Reynolds Bros. Racing/Hoosier/JPM/Vintage Connection/G-LOC Brakes Mazda Miata some breathing room, and that was the gap the three-time National Champion needed to take the win.
 
"I'm kind of beat up this weekend," Reynolds said. "I had some close races. I was just trying to hang on Jesse's bumper in the first half of the race and see what happened in the later half. Jesse ended up making a mistake going into turn two, and when you're running that close that's all it takes."
 
Mark Kirby and Don McMillon got the jump at the green flag in the big bore group, putting their GT-2 cars in the overall lead early on. Though eventual GT-1 winner David Fershtand, in the No. 05 Fershtand Race Prepared Chevrolet Corvette, was able to sneak by for the overall win, the GT-2 battle raged early. McMillon took the lead early in his Corvette, but Kirby stayed on his tail until taking the lead on lap three. McMillon stayed on his tail until a spin with five laps to go, ending his day early and allowing Kirby's No. 21 Dodge Viper to collect the checkered flag.
 
"Don had me, no doubt," Kirby said. "I started with higher pressures than he did, so I was quicker the first half. Then it flip-flopped, and he had me the second half and I was hanging on. It's too bad for him that he spun, because he would have had it."
 
Liam Snyder lowered his Formula Enterprises 2 track record with a lap of 1:12.775, and took an overall win when Formula Atlantic (FA) leader Charles Peter spun with two laps to go. Peter's misfortune also handed Paul Ravaris the FA win in his No. 5 Madhatter Golf/CR3 Capital Formula Mazda, while Snyder drove his No. 128 Snyder Brothers Racing Formula Enterprises/Mazda to the checkered flag.
 
"I didn't have a great start," Snyder said. "(Robert) Vanman got past me and I was like 'heck yeah, this is going to be a great race.' It was awesome competition. I got around him and set some track records. I kept pushing, and I saw some spun out cars. So, I just kept my foot in it."
 
The Hoosier Super Tour continues in just a couple of weeks, April 12-14 at VIRginia International Raceway for what many consider to be a preview of this year's National Championship Runoffs in October. More information can be found at SCCA.com.
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Marc Miller and Dillon Machavern challenge Rafa Matos for win after late restart

Marc Miller and Dillon Machavern challenge Rafa Matos for win after late restart

02 Apr 2019 Written by

In what turned out to be a three-lap shootout to the checkered flag, defending TA2 powered by AEM champion Rafa Matos wheeled the No. 88 3Dimensional Services Group Chevrolet Camaro to his second consecutive victory at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta in the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli TA2 class on Sunday. The win marks the second for the Brazilian driver this season as the 2018 champion targets a second title. 

Driving the No. 40 Prefix Stevens-Miller Racing Dodge Challenger, Marc Miller claimed his second runner up result of the season, with Dillon Machavern in the No. 77 Liqui-Moly Prefix Ford Mustang completing the podium in third. 

All three (Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford) manufacturers were represented on the TA2 podium. 

Matos took the lead early in the 100-mile, 40 lap TA2 race, edging out pole-sitter Misha Goikhberg by the fifth lap.  Battling for a podium position, Goikhberg was shuffled off track in Turn 1, moving the Canadian driver back to mid-field.  Matos produced faster times each lap as his Pirelli tires got up to temperature, building a sizeable 3.116-second gap over second. However, a yellow flag caused by a car off in Turn 4 grouped the field back together behind the safety car. 

“It was crazy near the end with the restarts,” said Matos. “Every restart was a struggle and Marc (Miller) has a very fast car in a straight line. I held him off and I was able to build a gap. I could keep in front of him, but it was very difficult because of his straight-line speed. He had a really good jump going down the hill, and it was not easy to hold him off for the win. My 3Dimensional Services team did an amazing job again this weekend, this is for them!”

Miller challenged Matos on the restart, but his run ended prematurely when another yellow flag slowed the field. Fresh off the second restart, Machavern packed in behind Miller and Matos before a third full-course yellow was called to retrieve a stranded car. 

“We were struggling a little bit with pace at the start of the race, but the car seemed to come to me after it cooled down during the first caution,” Machavern said. “Then I was in really good shape behind Marc (Miller) and Rafa (Matos), who did an awesome job. I’m really happy to be on the podium for the first time this year for our sponsors and team. The Stevens Miller guys really grinded this weekend, getting the Liqui-Moly Mustang up to speed. They put so much work into this program and deserve this podium.”

With three laps remaining, Matos and Miller battled for position. Ultimately, Matos bested Miller in the corners to take the checkered by about five tenths of a second over Miller. 

“I thought I had a good start on the first two restarts, then Rafa got a great jump on me on the last one,” said Miller. “Those last two laps were the hardest I’ve ever driven. I was doing everything I could just to get back to Rafa’s bumper. I was able to track him down at the end, which was the first time the car was really closing on him. The guys standing beside me on the podium bring out the best in me on the track.The Prefix Hemi power on the straightaway was just incredible- that was the great equalizer for us.”

Doug Petersen won the Masters award following a seventh-place finish in the No. 87 3Dimensional Services Ford Mustang. Sixteen-year-old rookie Ty Gibbs won the CoolShirt ‘Cool Move of the Race’ after charging from a 14th place start to a sixth place finish. 

“I am a circle track driver typically,” said Gibbs. “This is my first time on a road course and in a TA2 car. I logged more than a 1000 laps on the simulator to prepare for this race because I was so nervous!  But this was a ton of fun in these cars with the power and downforce that they have. I had a blast out here. It’s a totally different world, but the seat time was great.”

The TA2 powered by AEM class action continues May 3-5 at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in Salinas, California. For more information on the classes and race results, visit GoTransAm.com or follow on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter @gotransam. 

About the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli:

The Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli began igniting the passion of motorsports fans across the world in 1966 and has been home to some of the greatest names in road racing. Today, Trans Am continues to honor its legacy, while challenging the status quo in racing, through meaningful racing platforms and a driver-oriented focus. The Trans Am Series is operated by The Trans Am Race Company, LLC (TARC), and oversees the management and marketing of the Trans Am Series, presented by Pirelli. SCCA Pro Racing sanctions Trans Am events and provides operations services to the Series.

2018 Champions include: Ernie Francis, Jr. (TA), Rafa Matos (TA2), Alline Cipriani (SGT) and Warren Dexter (GT).

For more on the Series visit www.gotransam.com, “like” Trans Am on Facebook at www.facebook.com/gotransam, or follow Trans Am on Twitter @gotransam 

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Wiseco Riders Hampshire And Seely Earn Best Supercross Finishes Of 2019

Wiseco Riders Hampshire And Seely Earn Best Supercross Finishes Of 2019

02 Apr 2019 Written by

 Monster Energy AMA Supercross returned to NRG Stadium Saturday night where the series featured Triple Crown action for the third and final time of the 2019 season. Triple Crown races feature a unique structure where riders compete in three main events and tally their combined effort into an overall score to determine the winner at night’s end.


 GEICO Honda rider RJ Hampshire led the charge for the Wiseco-sponsored contingent and turned in an impressive 3-2-4 showing. Hampshire’s effort proved good enough for a second-place overall finish – his first podium of 2019 – and second since his 2015 rookie campaign. The solid effort also powered the rider of the No. 31 Honda CRF250R from fifth to fourth in the Western Regional 250SX Class points with two races remaining to determine a champion. 


 “My rookie year, I made pretty big strides forward and then I had an injury that set me back,” explained Hampshire. “Honestly, I just kind of felt like an outdoor guy, really. People just kind of wrote me off in Supercross. I felt like I was in a really good spot coming into this year. First couple of races were decent. I had good speed and then I fell in a slump. I don’t think I’ve had a top five in the last four weekends, so it was rough. We made some changes this week with the bike and, man, we made some huge improvements. I had good starts all night and that led to good finishes. I didn’t do anything special. I just kind of rode, so I’m stoked with the podium and to finish second.” 


 Hampshire’s GEICO Honda teammate and fellow Wiseco rider Cameron Mcadoo turned in a sturdy effort aboard his No. 44 Honda and jockeyed a 9-6-5 night into a his third sixth-place finish of the year. Mcadoo is currently tied for seventh in the standings, just one point behind sixth and 12 outside the top five. 


 “Houston had lots of positives again for me,” said McAdoo. “My starts were awesome but then something happened each time in the first two races. Unfortunately, the first main, I had the holeshot but then I hit a tuff block and went down, then in the second one I got pushed off the track into the wall. I had to come from last in the first two mains, but our speed was there and then the last race was solid. I ended up going 9-6-5 for sixth overall. Definitely seeing improvements every weekend!”


 The Western Regional 250SX Class will take a short break before returning for the division’s penultimate race of the year in Denver in two weeks at Broncos Stadium at Mile High. 
 In 450SX action, Team Honda HRC’s Cole Seely showed the way in the premier class for the Wiseco brand and picked up his best finish of the year. Seely, who spent much of 2018 on the sidelines with an injury, turned in a  4-4-11 effort to earn his best effort of the season and first top five of 2019. 


 “We had a good night,” said Seely.  “I finally finished in the top five, which is where I feel like I should’ve been all year. The way things have been going so far have been frustrating, and it’s hard to explain; the toll the injury took on me last year was a lot more intense and in-depth than I thought it was. It’s been a long road to get back … but I feel like I’ve had speed all year, I just haven’t been able to put it all together.


It feels good to finally break into that top five and run up front with those guys in the first two mains, relatively easy, too. I know it’s not a traditional 20-minute main, but it felt like it was coming to me pretty easy, so that’s definitely a confidence booster heading into the final rounds. It’s a bummer it has taken this long to come around, but I’m happy it did and we’re going to keep working forward.”


 Seely’s Team Honda HRC teammate Ken Roczen looked like he was in a class by himself in the first main event. Roczen grabbed the hole shot and rode away from the competition, eventually leading every lap and winning the first 450SX Class main event by nearly nine seconds. 


 Unfortunately, in the second main event, Roczen’s front wheel clipped another rider’s machine sending the 24-year-old German to the ground before he rounded the first corner, forcing him back to the pits before he was able to complete a lap. Despite being scored 21st after the second main event, the fan favorite returned to the starting gate for the third and finished eighth to record a 1-21-8 combined effort to notch his 13th top 10 of the year. 


 “The first main event was seriously so good,” commented Roczen. “We grabbed a great start and got out front right away. It was amazing to see the checkered flag before anyone else.

Unfortunately, it was only in one main. In the second one, I got tangled up with Dean’s (Wilson) rear wheel and went down pretty hard. I got checked out and it actually started to feel better, instead of worse, after 15 to 20 minutes. Luckily, I was able to just jump back on the bike and do what I could in the third main, salvaging an eighth-place and getting 10th overall. It’s not really how we wanted to end tonight, especially with how well the day and first race went, but again we’re healthy and moving on to the next one. At one point, it will come.”


 Monster Energy AMA Supercross heads for Music City this weekend where the series takes its highenergy, high-flying action to Nissan Stadium in downtown Nashville. The 14th race on the 2019 Supercross schedule will be televised on NBCSN Sat., April 6 beginning at 8 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, 5 p.m. Pacific.
 

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Dodgers owner Bobby Patton leads Trophy Truck Spec team into action for SCORE opener

Dodgers owner Bobby Patton leads Trophy Truck Spec team into action for SCORE opener

02 Apr 2019 Written by
Last fall, the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrated their 60th year in the City of Angels by bringing home their 23rd National League pennant, earning their second consecutive trip to the World Series. But while Clayton Kershaw, Cody Bellinger, Corey Seager, Kiké Hernandez, and the rest of the Dodgers are starting the 2019 season, their owner is headed south of the border for a different kind of Opening Day.
 
Dodgers owner Bobby Patton and the No. 240 Jimco-built Fastball truck will make their 2019 off-road season debut in the 33rd SCORE International San Felipe 250, coming to San Felipe, Mexico on April 3-7. Now extended to a record 349.91 miles, this year’s event in San Felipe will feature one of the most challenging courses in event history. Patton will partner with friends Tim Vail and Barry Karakas to run the event.
 
“I can’t wait to bring Fastball down to San Felipe to kick off the 2019 SCORE International season,” said Patton. “April is an important month in both baseball and off-road racing, as each sport’s top teams work hard to establish themselves early in the year. We know we’ve got the players to do that with the Dodgers, and we’re hoping to match that intensity and those results with Fastball.”
 
Patton’s off-road journey began at the 50th Anniversary SCORE Baja 1000, where he and a group of friends entered a 1973 Toyota Land Cruiser in the Vintage class. In the middle of the night, Patton’s team, believing itself to be hopelessly out of contention to finish the grueling event, decided to call it a race, pulling the car off course, booking a hotel, eating dinner, showering, and catching some well-deserved rest.
 
In the morning, the team called the GPS tracking company to make arrangements to return their tracker, when they were notified that not only were they not out of the race—they were leading! Refreshed by both the good news and a good night’s sleep, the team returned to the race course, crossed the finish line, and won off-road racing’s answer to the World Series in their first try.
 
“Our adventure in Baja was just the start of an incredible adventure,” said Patton. “When we found out we won the 50th Anniversary of the sport’s most prestigious race, we were hooked! But more importantly, we were ready to step out of the minors and work our way up the system, and that’s why we worked with Jimco to bring a brand-new Trophy Truck Spec build to the desert.”
 
But this weekend’s ride is no Land Cruiser. The Jimco-built Trophy Truck Spec ride that Patton and company will take down to San Felipe boasts significantly more power under the hood thanks to an LS3 motor by Danzio Performance, 26” of front suspension and 32” of rear suspension travel via Fox Shocks, and all the all-star performance parts that a Jimco build entails. Add an eye-catching coat of Dodger blue paint, and this is one truck ready for the big leagues.
 
To prepare for the season, Patton held a personal Spring Training of his own to get acclimated to the new ride. Legendary off-road racer Ricky Johnson was drafted in as Patton’s pitching coach of sorts, dialing in Fastball’s top speed, its sliders and curveballs around the corners, and giving the team all the tools to pitch a perfect game in their season opener.
 
Patton and the Fastball team are excited to head down to Mexico, where the Dodgers boast an incredible amount of fan support thanks to both Los Angeles’ proximity to the Baja California peninsula and top players like Mexican-born starter Julio Urias. Like the perfect battery of an ace pitcher and savvy catcher, the combination of Dodger blue and off-road racing is sure to be a winning combination in San Felipe this weekend.
 
“We can’t wait to see all the off-road fans wearing Dodger blue this weekend in San Felipe,” said Patton. “Our two fanbases have plenty of crossover, as we’ve seen plenty of fans of SCORE at Dodger Stadium over the years. Hopefully we can give them a new team to root for, and pay off their support with wins both on the field and in the desert this year!”
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Yamaha XTReme Terrain Challenge Returns to Loretta Lynn Ranch October 4-6

Yamaha XTReme Terrain Challenge Returns to Loretta Lynn Ranch October 4-6

02 Apr 2019 Written by

Yamaha Motor Corp., USA, announces the second-annual XTReme Terrain Challenge (XTR Challenge) for Yamaha owners and families will be held this October 4 through 6 at the famous Loretta Lynn Ranch in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee.

Designed for fun with formidable off-roading trails and obstacles, the XTR Challenge brings extreme drivers, riders, and weekend warriors together for great behind-the-wheel action and excitement. Drivers and spectators will experience a weekend of camping and entertainment with friends, family, and fellow Yamaha adventure-seekers.

“Last year’s XTR Challenge proved Yamaha Side-by-Sides are up to the task of attacking some serious trail challenges, and that Yamaha customers are some of the best folks to spend a weekend with,” said Steve Nessl, Yamaha’s motorsports group marketing manager. “We’re looking forward to building on the excitement and momentum from last year by adding a new ATV class, some new features to the course, as well as even more fun and activities for everyone attending.”

The debut event in 2018 featured an off-road course with varying natural terrains and man-made obstacles specifically designed to put Yamaha’s Proven Off-Road YXZ1000R and Wolverine Side-by-Side (SxS) vehicles and owners to the test. This year Yamaha plans to enhance the already exhilarating event, continuing the excitement for Yamaha SxS customers and even adding a brand-new Grizzly class to the lineup.

Entries for XTR Challenge participants is limited, with returning alumni from the inaugural event receiving guaranteed entry. More announcements, details and registration information will be released soon. In the meantime, stay up to date on the latest news at YamahaOutdoors.com, as well as by following Yamaha Outdoors on social media at Facebook.com/YamahaOutdoors, Twitter.com/YamahaOutdoors, and Instagram.com/YamahaOutdoors. Find Yamaha Outdoors on YouTube, or search the following hashtags on all platforms:  #Yamaha #XTRChallenge #ProvenOffRoad #REALizeYourAdventure #WolverineX2 #WolverineX4 #YXZ1000R #YamahaGrizzly #AssembledInUSA

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Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America Preview: Barber Motorsports Park

Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America Preview: Barber Motorsports Park

02 Apr 2019 Written by
The thrill and excitement that surrounds the Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America championships returns as the 2019 season starts at Barber Motorsports Park on April 6-7 in the hills of Alabama.
 
The 2.38-mile, 15-turn circuit outside of Birmingham promises to provide the field of 18 Huracán Super Trofeo EVOs a test of skill for every driver and team.
 
The first two rounds of the 2019 Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America series can be streamed live on IMSA.TV and squadracorse.lamborghini.com/live-streaming starting with Race 1 on Saturday at 2:50 pm EDT and Race 2 on Sunday at 1:55 pm EDT.
 
The races can be seen on NBCSN on Friday, April 19 at 1 p.m. EDT.
 
As in the past, there are four championships up for grabs in the series, and that is broken down into the PRO, PRO-AM, AM and LB Cup divisions. Defending champion teams and drivers return to the grid, but there will be new champions crowned in 2019.
 
Two North America class champions also finished as 2018 World Champions and have moved on to the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship – JC Perez and Loris Spinelli won eight races last year en route to winning the Pro-Am Class, while Ryan Hardwick won five in the AM Class to claim the title.
 
PRO
 
Change Racing, Lamborghini Charlotte and its drivers made a sweep of the Team, Dealer and Driver standings in 2018 as they got off to a hot start by winning the first two races of the year and also Round 11 at the World Finals.
 
Corey Lewis was one of the co-drivers of the No. 29 last year and he returns with a new teammate in Richy Antinucci after his co-driver of last year, Madison Snow, announced his retirement from the sport.
 
Besides his championship last year, Lewis also won the 2015 Lamborghini Super Trofeo PRO-AM World Championship. Antinucci is no stranger to the series, as he was the 2015 Super Trofeo North America Pro Driver Champion and won three times in the class in 2017.
 
The Precision Performance Motorsports (PPM), Lamborghini Palm Beach entry returns with Brandon Gdovic who finished fourth in the Pro Class last year in the same No. 46 car. This year, he is joined by Conor Daly who makes his way to the series after the previous four seasons in IndyCar.
 
“I couldn’t be more excited to take on another new challenge in my career with Precision Performance Motorsports,” Daly told Sportscar365.com. “The Lamborghini Super Trofeo series is incredibly competitive, and I’m extremely thankful for the opportunity to jump in with Brandon and go after the championship. Lamborghini has developed one of the best looking race cars out there right now, and I can’t wait to get behind the wheel for the first time!”
 
“Conor and Brandon will be a powerful lineup, and the plan is to win the championship and at the same time, contribute to the performance of all our drivers in team cars with the experience they bring to the table,” said team manager Sunny Voelker.
 
Other entries include the No. 1 Prestige Performance/Wayne Taylor Racing, Lamborghini Paramus with Andrea Amici and Sandy Mitchell as the co-drivers.
 
Amici is a former two-time series champion winning the 2013 European Pro title and the Asia Pro championship last year. In 2012 and 2014, he finished third in the Pro Class in Europe. Mitchell comes to the team after finishing third in the Silver Cup Endurance Series last year.
 
“We know how Barber is though,” Amici said. “The track layout doesn’t give a lot of chances to overtake. It’s really winding, and it will be important to start in front. Our goal is points, so we’ll give our best, showing our speed without making mistakes.”
 
“I am extremely excited about the race weekend at Barber,” Mitchell added. “It will be my first race with Wayne Taylor Racing and in America. I really enjoyed driving the circuit when we were testing so I am feeling confident our No. 1 Prestige Performance Huracan will be challenging at the front of the field.”
 
The No. 34 US RaceTronics, Lamborghini Beverly Hills car will be driven by Patrick Liddy and D. Bryce Miller. Liddy made his Super Trofeo debut last year and won Round 1 at Mid-Ohio before finishing second in the next three races before not competing the remainder of the year. Miller has past experience in Super Trofeo North America, as he finished third in the Pro-Am Class in 2017, winning once and finishing on the podium eight times in 10 races. In 2011 and 2012, he ran in the IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge Series.
 
PRO-AM
 
There are three entries in the class, with the most notable coming in the No. 69, Prestige Performance/Wayne Taylor Racing, Lamborghini Paramus team of William Hubbell and Eric Curran. Hubbell finished in a tie for third last year in Pro-Am, while Curran comes to the team as a Prototype champion in the WeatherTech Championship in 2016 and 2018 and the owner of 31 professional victories.
 
“Going into 2019, it is pretty exciting,” Curran said. “I have worked with William for many years coaching him in several different series. To come in this year and to run with Wayne Taylor Racing and the Super Trofeo Series is an exciting thing. I have watched the series for years, love Lamborghini, love the Huracan. It is a really fun series, and it is great to be a part of it.”
 
The No. 94 P1 Motorsports, Lamborghini Broward entry will be co-driven by Dennis Lind and Brett Meredith.
 
Lind will be an official Lamborghini driver in 2019. This is an important recognition for the Denmark native, as he is the first driver to have participated in the Lamborghini Squadra Corse young driver program to be promoted to Factory Driver. Lind made his debut in 2016, winning European and world titles in the Lamborghini Super Trofeo and last year competed in Blancpain GT Series Asia, where he earned a victory in the championship, sharing the FFF Racing Huracán GT3 with Martin Codric.
 
Meredith finished a strong second in the LB Cup last year as he appeared in eight races, winning six times and finishing second in the other two. Even though he missed the other four races, he finished only 13 points out of the championship.
 
The No. 09 US RaceTronics, Lamborghini Calgary will have Jake Eidson and Damon Ockey behind the wheel. Eidson will be making his Super Trofeo debut and won the 2017 Porsche GT3 Cup USA Platinum Class. Ockey dueled with the eventual World Champion Hardwick in the Am Class all season, finishing second in the standings by a mere four points. He won four races last year and had 10 podiums in the 12 rounds.
 
AM
 
This class has six, all single-driver, entries which is the most of any class.
 
The lone returnee to the class from 2018 is Cameron Cassels in the No. 33 from Prestige Performance/Wayne Taylor Racing, Lamborghini Paramus. He finished fifth in the class last year but saved his best for last, as he was second in Round 12 at the World Final at Vallelunga.
 
In 2018, he won the 2018 IMSA Prototype Challenge championship in the LMP3 class with Performance Tech Motorsports. Already in 2019, he and the No. 38 Performance Tech Motorsports LMP2 team won at the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Presented by Advance Auto Parts and was second at the Rolex 24 At Daytona.
 
Sheena Monk (No. 7, Dream Racing Motorsport, Lamborghini Palmyra) and Steve Dunn (No. 11, PPM, Lamborghini Palm Beach) are making a move to the class from LB Cup.
 
Monk finished fourth in that class last year, which included a class win at VIRginia International Raceway and five second-place finishes before having her season cut short after an incident at WeatherTech Laguna Seca in September caused her to miss the World Finals. Meanwhile, Dunn raced in the two rounds at Road America in 2018 and ended up winning the pole for each race.
 
“I am preparing and working hard physically and mentally to achieve this goal, and Precision Performance Motorsports is working hard to prepare the car to achieve this goal as well,” Dunn told Sports365.com. “The team has a wealth of top-notch people with experience with the Huracán platform to give me the best shot possible at the goal.”
 
Andy Cantu (No. 13, Dream Racing Motorsport, Lamborghini Houston) is new to the class, as is Matt Dicken (No. 36, Change Racing, Lamborghini Charlotte) who has experience in many other series, including the IMSA Prototype Challenge where he drove with Corey Lewis and finished sixth in 2018 and fourth the year before. He has also raced in the IMSA MICHELIN Pilot Challenge.
 
The No. 63 from Change Racing, Lamborghini Charlotte will be piloted by McKay Snow, who is the brother of Madison Snow. He will be making his Super Trofeo debut and has experience in the IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge series.
 
LB CUP
 
Five entries are on the grid in the LB Cup class.
 
Randy Sellari in the No. 3 Dream Racing Motorsport entry returns to the field. He finished fifth in the class in 2018 after spending most of the year running in PRO-AM, where he finished second, won Round 5 at Road America and registered five podiums in eight races.
 
Prestige Performance/WTR’s No. 43 entry in the LB Cup features the female pairing of Stephanie Cemo and Ashton Harrison who are both making their Super Trofeo debuts. Cemo has won five series championships in other disciplines since 2013, while Harrison was the only female driver in Mazda MX-5 Cup the last two years.
 
“We are so excited to jump into the Super Trofeo series at Barber Motorsports Park,” said Cemo. “The facilities are uniquely beautiful, and I'm sure the energy there will be infectious. 2019 is going to be a big year for women in motorsports. I am super, super excited to be running with Ashton and representing that female initiative of getting more women out there and behind the wheel.”
 
Harrison echoed those same sentiments as the season is about to get started.
 
“I am extremely excited for the opening rounds at BMP,” she said. “Harrison Contracting is based right outside of Atlanta and will have over 60 employees and customers out for the big event! For myself, I’m excited to be back at my home track. Barber is such a beautiful facility, and I cannot wait to execute what is sure to be a successful weekend for Stephanie and me.”
 
Jeffery Cheng returns to the GMG Racing, Lamborghini Newport Beach entry as he made his debut with them in 2015, in which he had a third-place finish at VIR. The entry will be one of two in the LB Cup for GMG as the No. 08 will be piloted by Mel Johnson.
 
US RaceTronics will also field the No. 24 in this class from Lamborghini La Jolla. Ron Atapattu will be the driver.
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