The Trans Am Collection offered by Pirelli Western Championship heads to Spring Mountain Motorsports Ranch in Pahrump, Nev., simply an hour away from the Las Vegas Strip, for the Spring Mountain SpeedTour. This can be Trans Am’s second go to to the “Motor Resort and Nation Membership,” which opened in 1998, following its debut on the monitor final yr. This weekend’s doubleheader is the Western Championship’s ultimate standalone spherical earlier than the season finale mixture occasion with the Nationwide Championship at Circuit of The Americas in two weeks.
Sole Spring Mountain winner
The Trans Am Collection has solely competed at Spring Mountain Motorsports Ranch as soon as earlier than, and solely considered one of final yr’s winners is entered on this weekend’s doubleheader. JC Meynet gained the race final yr within the GT class on his technique to turning into the 2023 GT champion. This yr, he’s competing within the CUBE 3 Structure TA2 Collection within the No. 28 B-Bar Ranch/Killer Shrimp Chevrolet Camaro.
TA2 title vast open
The Western Championship’s CUBE 3 Structure TA2 Collection has probably the most wide-open championship throughout the Trans Am Collection, with a number of drivers nonetheless in mathematical rivalry for the title. Main the standings is Michael LaPaglia (No. 31 Papini’s Storage/F.A.S.T. Auto/Howe Ford Mustang), who holds a 23-point benefit over second-place Tim Barber (No. 33 DIG Motorsports Ford Mustang). LaPaglia has one victory and 5 podiums in seven races thus far this season, whereas Barber has two victories and three podiums.
Third within the factors is Ken Sutherland, who sits 36 factors behind LaPaglia, however isn’t presently on the entry listing for this weekend. Tim Lynn (No. 17 Roof Choices Ford Mustang) is fourth within the factors, 74 markers behind LaPaglia. Kyle Kelley (No. 80 PK+ok Properties/UPRacing.com Ford Mustang) rounds out the highest 5, simply six factors behind Lynn. Kelley has visited GYM WEED Winners Circle one time this season. Different drivers nonetheless within the hunt embody Tim Carroll (No. 46 CRDMFG.com Chevrolet Camaro), who earned his first-career Trans Am win in Portland Worldwide Raceway’s Race 2, and Jim Guthrie, (No. 27 Guthrie’s Storage Ford Mustang).
Boes already a champion
With three races remaining and 110 factors obtainable in every, Barry Boes (No. 32 Accio Knowledge/TRB Autosport Ford Mustang) can also be nonetheless in rivalry for the CUBE 3 Structure TA2 Collection title within the Western Championship, sitting 144 factors behind LaPaglia. Nonetheless, Boes, who earned his first Western Championship victory in Race 1 at Portland, is already a champion, clinching the Nationwide Championship’s CUBE 3 Structure TA2 Collection Professional/Am Problem title two weeks in the past at VIRginia Worldwide Raceway. Boes has gained seven races within the class thus far this yr, driving from the again of the sphere and overcoming early adversity in a number of occasions. Boes has been competing full time in each the Nationwide and Western Championships this yr.
M1 Racecars on a roll
M1 Racecars comes into Spring Mountain with momentum, because the chassis builder swept the doubleheader occasion within the Western Championship’s final outing at Portland. Barry Boes and Tim Carroll each earned their first-career Western wins, with Boes successful Race 1 and Carroll victorious in Race 2.
Jared Odrick strikes from gridiron to grid
Former NFL participant Jared Odrick has been busy these days, operating full time within the Nationwide Championship’s CUBE 3 Structure TA2 Collection Professional/Am Problem and most not too long ago operating double responsibility, competing within the Trans Am race at VIRginia Worldwide Raceway and SCCA Nationwide Championship Runoffs at Street America on the identical weekend, ending second in GT2 on the Runoffs. Odrick can be making his first-career begin within the Western Championship this weekend, piloting the No. 77 BLACK Underwear Ford Mustang.
Hampton clinches GT
With 5 victories in 2024, GT’s David Hampton (No. 14 AR Motorsports Porsche Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport) has already clinched his title this yr, holding a 160-point benefit over Kevin Michaels (No. 98 Killer Shrimp Restaurant Chevrolet Corvette), who isn’t competing this weekend. Hampton has been a renaissance man this yr, successful in SGT in Portland’s Race 2 in his debut weekend within the class. Hampton additionally earned his first Nationwide Championship victory earlier this season, successful within the GT class in a wet race at Mid-Ohio Sports activities Automobile Course again in June.
