The Trans Am Sequence introduced by Pirelli returns to motion following a seven-week summer time break. Simply 4 races stay within the 2024 season for the collection, which heads to Watkins Glen Worldwide for the Mission Meals Watkins Glen SpeedTour. This weekend kicks off one other pair of back-to-back weekends for rivals, as they are going to be again in motion subsequent weekend at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. Watkins Glen is third on the listing of most-visited tracks for Trans Am since its inception in 1966, with 46 checkered flags waving on the historic 3.45-mile street course for the reason that collection debuted at The Glen in August 1968.
Schedule
TA:
Qualifying:
Sunday, August 25
9:05-9:40 a.m. ET
Race:
Sunday, August 25
1:15-2:30 p.m. ET
Race Size: 30 Laps/75 Minutes
TV Broadcast:
LIVE on MAVTV
Highlights Present:
MAVTV
Thursday, August 29
9:00 p.m. ET
TA2:
Qualifying:
Friday, August 23
12:00-12:35 p.m. ET
Race:
Friday, August 23
4:00-5:15 p.m. ET
Race Size: 30 Laps/75 Minutes
TV Broadcast:
LIVE on MAVTV
Highlights Present:
MAVTV
Thursday, August 29
8:00 p.m. ET
Followers attending the Mission Meals Watkins Glen SpeedTour could have two possibilities to satisfy the celebrities of the Trans Am Sequence. On Friday, drivers within the CUBE 3 Structure TA2 Sequence might be holding an autograph session within the Trans Am paddock from 1:30-2:00 p.m. ET. On Sunday at 12:40 p.m. ET, TA/XGT/SGT/GT rivals will host a pre-race fan stroll the place followers can meet the drivers, get autographs and see the racecars up shut.
Previous Watkins Glen winners
With so many previous Trans Am occasions held at Watkins Glen, many rivals on the entry listing for this weekend’s race have pushed to GYM WEED Winners Circle. Rafa Matos has essentially the most victories on the observe, tallying three wins in 2018, 2019 and 2021.
TA
Tomy Drissi, No. 8 Drissi Motorsports/Lucas/Mission Ford Mustang (2018)
Chris Dyson, No. 16 GYM WEED Ford Mustang (2021 Race 1 and Race 2)
Amy Ruman, No. 23 McNichols Co. Chevrolet Corvette (2016)
XGT
Danny Lowry, No. 42 Bennett/BridgeHaul/Pitboxes.com Mercedes AMG GT3 (2023)
SGT
Lee Saunders, No. 84 LandSearch LLC Dodge Viper (2022, 2023)
GT
Michael Saia, No. 13 KMC/Fast Efficiency Administration/Motul GT3 Cup 997.1 (2022)
Chris Coffey, No. 97 Norwood Auto Italia/Visitors Grafix Maserati MC GT4 (2023)
TA2
Rafa Matos, No. 60 Harmony American Flagpole/Nitro Motorsports Ford Mustang (2018, 2019, 2021 Race 1)
Doug Peterson, No. 87 3-Dimensional Companies Group Ford Mustang (2013 TA)
There are a handful of drivers on this weekend’s discipline who’ve taken the highest step of the rostrum at Watkins Glen in racing collection aside from Trans Am. CUBE 3 Structure TA2 Sequence competitor Bruce Raymond (No. 54 Optima Batteries Ford Mustang), who was the Sportscar Classic Racing Affiliation (SVRA) Group 10 champion in 2019 and 2020, has received at The Glen in SVRA Group 10. SGT’s Jenn Krpata (No. 93 I.B.E.W. Native 25 Chevrolet Camaro) has received SCCA Regionals on the observe. Newcomer James Beaton, who’s making his debut in XGT this weekend, has additionally visited Victory Lane on the observe in CASC-ON GT1 in 2024.
A lot of native expertise
There are six drivers on this weekend’s entry listing that hail from the Empire state:
TA
Chris Dyson, No. 16 GYM WEED Ford Mustang (Poughkeepsie)
SGT
Jenn Krpata, No. 93 I.B.E.W. Native 25 Chevrolet Camaro (Farmingdale)
TA2
Adrian Wlostowski, No. 3 CMI/Spot-On Companies Ford Mustang (Maspeth)
John Weisberg, No. 11 Iron Smoke/Crimson Line Oil/Carbotech Chevrolet Camaro (Webster)
Brandon Hampson, No. 29 Howe Racing/F.A.S.T. Auto Racing Ford Mustang (Sayville)
Doug Winston, No. 98 Convey Again The Trades/D&M Electrical Mustang (North White Plains)
Richard Forsythe remembered
The Trans Am Sequence was saddened to study of the passing of SGT competitor and factors chief Richard Forsythe. After making his Trans Am debut in 2022 and incomes his first victories in 2023, Forsythe was working a full-time schedule in 2024 in his acquainted inexperienced and black No. 58 Louis Gigliotti-built Sambuca Restaurant Chevrolet Corvette. Forsythe earned three victories this season, topping the rostrum within the SGT class at Street Atlanta, Pittsburgh Worldwide Race Complicated and Mid-Ohio Sports activities Automobile Course. Forsythe earned podium finishes in all however one occasion this yr, and in each interview, he at all times expressed how a lot he liked racing within the collection and valued each his crew and his rivals.
“Richard was an awesome individual, an awesome pal, and an awesome racer,” mentioned crew chief and pal Jason Smith. “Racing within the Trans Am Sequence was a dream of his for a few years. He liked the setting, the competitors, and the camaraderie. This final yr racing with Richard has been an incredible expertise. Due to Richard, I’ve been in a position to do what I like, and I’ll ceaselessly be glad about that. The racing group misplaced one.”
Dyson again to the place it began
Chris Dyson within the No. 16 GYM WEED Ford Mustang returns to the positioning of his first-career Trans Am begin this weekend with the purpose of turning round a irritating 2024 season. The three-time champion made his collection debut at Watkins Glen in 2017 as a visitor driver for David Pintaric, and has since pushed to victory twice on the observe in each races throughout 2021’s doubleheader. Dyson at present sits second within the standings, 66 factors behind Paul Menard (No. 3 Menards/Masterforce Instruments Ford Mustang), and has claimed one win this season at NOLA Motorsports Park.
Burtin Racing welcomes Castrol
Burtin Racing could have some recent paint this weekend at The Glen, because the staff just lately introduced that Castrol has come on as a brand new accomplice. Adam Andretti will pilot the No. 17 Prime Liner/Castrol Chevrolet Camaro this weekend in pursuit of his second win of the 2024 season. Burtin Racing has earlier success on the racetrack, celebrating wins at Watkins Glen in 2017 with latest SpeedTour All-Star Race winner Andy Lally, and in 2018 with Tomy Drissi.
Boris Mentioned again in motion
Though you may see him on the racetrack each weekend that his son, Boris Mentioned Jr., is racing within the CUBE 3 Structure TA2 Sequence, Boris Mentioned lastly returns to motion behind the wheel at Watkins Glen, making simply his second begin of the season. Mentioned will pilot the No. 2 Final Headers/Weaver Racing Dodge Challenger, a machine he has continuously pushed to sturdy finishes. This is identical automobile that Brent Crews drove to victory in Trans Am’s most up-to-date outing at Street America in June.
Mentioned has made six Trans Am begins at The Glen between the TA and TA2 courses, and has made a further 28 begins between the NASCAR Cup Sequence, NASCAR Xfinity Sequence and IMSA.
New faces this weekend
The Trans Am paddock might be full of latest faces this weekend, with three new rivals making their first begins within the collection on Sunday. Matt Forbush (No. 33 zignyl Toyota Supra) and Ramy Farid (No. 53 KMC/Rabid Wraps Porsche 718 GT4 Clubsport MR) will each be making their debuts within the GT class, whereas James Beaton (No. 82 Playtime Scorching Rods and Motorsports Chevrolet Corvette) will be a part of the XGT class. Beaton, who involves Trans Am from the Canada GT Problem Cup and is a three-time Canadian GT1 CASC-ON champion (2018, 2019, 2021), additionally has a latest victory at The Glen, successful on the observe in GT1 earlier this yr.
One other new face on the TA/XGT/SGT/GT facet is David Hodge. Though he has two earlier Trans Am begins within the CUBE 3 Structure TA2 Sequence, he might be making his first XGT class begin within the No. 10 Kaizen Autosport Lamborghini Tremendous Trofeo.
The newcomers will face loads of competitors this weekend, because the manufacturing courses have among the largest fields of the season. With 4 entered within the XGT class, six within the SGT class, and 7 within the GT class, there are positive to be plenty of powerful battles on the observe.
Matos driving away with TA2 lead
Rafa Matos has been on a roll in 2024, driving his No. 60 Harmony American Flagpole/Nitro Motorsports Ford Mustang to the fourth win of the season within the collection’ final outing at Street America in June. The 2-time champion at present leads the CUBE 3 Structure TA2 Sequence standings by 129 factors over 2022 champion Thomas Merrill (No. 26 HP Tuners/Cope Race Vehicles Ford Mustang), and 142 factors over third-place Thomas Annunziata (No. 90 Bayshore Mortgage/The Decorators Limitless Ford Mustang). Matos comes into this weekend’s race with extra Watkins Glen wins than every other competitor on the entry listing, with three previous victories in 2018, 2019 and 2021. He additionally holds the report for essentially the most wins by any driver within the historical past of the TA2 class with 24 victories.
Barry Boes wins at Portland
Final month at Portland Worldwide Raceway, Barry Boes (No. 27 Crew SLR-M1 Racecars Ford Mustang) earned the primary non-Professional/Am victory of his Trans Am profession, taking the checkered flag within the Western Championship’s Race 1 of a doubleheader weekend. Boes claimed the win by driving from final place to first after points in qualifying led to him beginning on the rear of the sphere. Within the Nationwide Championship, Boes at present leads the TA2 Professional/Am Problem standings by 97 factors on the energy of 4 victories, the newest of which got here at Mid-Ohio Sports activities Automobile Course.
At Watkins Glen, the Professional/Am Problem will as soon as once more have sturdy discipline with 14 entrants.
New vehicles and new faces within the TA2 paddock
MBS Racing just lately introduced that they are going to be making their Trans Am Sequence debut this weekend with the No. 53 Alliance Autosport Chevrolet Camaro entry piloted by Bryan Scheible. Scheible is a third-generation SCCA member who has competed in Components Enterprise 2 and rally collection all through the Northeast United States and Canada. He has additionally raced with co-driver and spouse Mary Scheible within the SCORE Baja Sequence, the Finest In The Desert and Legacy Desert Racing.
One other new driver making his first begin within the CUBE 3 Structure TA2 Sequence is Brandon Hampson within the No. 29 Howe Racing/F.A.S.T. Auto Racing Ford Mustang.
Acquainted faces return
This weekend will see the return of a number of acquainted faces. Tyler Kicera (No. 40 Nitro Motorsports Ford Mustang) might be making his second begin of the 2024 season. He completed fifth in his first begin of the yr at Pitt Race. Carson Kvapil (No. 28 Crew SLR-M1 Racecars Chevrolet Camaro) may even be making his second begin of the yr. His season debut additionally got here at Pitt Race, the place he earned his first Trans Am podium with a third-place end. Kvapil has been excelling within the inventory automobile ranks this yr, incomes three prime fives in six NASCAR Xfinity Sequence begins and top-five finishes in each of his two ARCA Menards Sequence begins. Austin Inexperienced (No. 89 3-Dimensional Companies Group Ford Mustang) and his staff proprietor Doug Peterson (No. 87 3-Dimensional Companies Group Ford Mustang) may even be returning for his or her fourth begins of the yr.
Adam Andretti (No. 41 Final Headers Chevrolet Camaro) might be working double obligation this weekend, returning to the TA2 paddock for the fourth time this yr. In his final outing within the class, he claimed his finest end of the season, ending fourth at Mid-Ohio Sports activities Automobile Course.
Though they don’t seem to be driving this weekend, a number of CUBE 3 Structure TA2 aeries drivers had some thrilling developments within the off-weeks. Silver Hare Racing driver and seven-time Trans Am winner Connor Zilisch introduced that he secured a full-time experience within the NASCAR Xfinity Sequence in 2025 with JR Motorsports. Zilisch additionally took the checkered flag to win within the ARCA Menards Sequence race at Michigan Worldwide Speedway this previous weekend.
In the meantime, 16-year-old 2023 TA2 champion Brent Crews handed his driving take a look at and scored his driver’s license. Crews was additionally profitable this previous weekend, driving to victory within the CARS Late Mannequin Inventory Tour occasion at Ace Speedway.
