Storylines to watch as Trans Am Series by Pirelli heads to VIR

TRANS AM SERIES BY PIRELLI STORYLINES

Keelan Harvick Making CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series Debut at VIR

Keelan Harvick, the 14-year-old son of NASCAR Cup Series champion Kevin Harvick, will make his first appearance in the CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series this weekend at VIRginia International Raceway, driving the No. 62 Toyota Camry XSE for Kevin Harvick Incorporated (KHI). The debut marks the second time KHI has competed in the division, following on from the Memorial Day Classic at Lime Rock Park with driver Landen Lewis. During his rise through the ranks of short track racing, Harvick has found success in several different disciplines and divisions.

Championship battles tighten after exciting race at CTMP

The Trans Am Series by Pirelli’s annual trip north of the border to Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in Clarington, Ontario, proved to be an exciting one, as both the TA Class and CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series had exciting battles that lasted right until the checkered flag dropped, and also tightened the championship battles up a great deal.

Paul Menard prevailed in the TA Class at CTMP, and managed to close four points on Matthew Brabham, taking the gap down to 46 points. Meanwhile, in the CUBE 3 TA2 Series, a photo finish between Helio Meza and Alon Day allowed Meza to close six points on Day, bringing the gap down to 35 points heading to the penultimate event of the year.

Martin Ragginger, Burtin Racing return to Trans Am at VIR

Martin Ragginger and Burtin Racing are back on the grid at VIRginia International Raceway this weekend and are looking for vengeance after a near-miss at Indianapolis Motor Speedway earlier this season. The last time the No. 7 Top Liner Chevrolet Camaro was on track, Ragginger had a bullet underneath him, and took the fight to Matthew Brabham and Chris Dyson Racing, but came up one spot short. Ragginger last competed at VIR in 2023, when he finished second to Connor Zilisch.

Matthew Brabham back in CUBE 3 TA2 Series trying for a weekend sweep

Matthew Brabham is returning to the CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series at VIRginia International Raceway as he looks to join rarified air in Trans Am competition. Brabham will look to join NASCAR Cup Series rookie Connor Zilisch as drivers to sweep the weekend between the TA Class and CUBE 3 TA2 Series in a single weekend – a feat Zilisch accomplished at this racetrack in 2023. Brabham will pilot the No. 48 Chevrolet Camaro for Team SLR, as he looks to avenge his near-miss from Road America – where he tried, and fell one spot short, of completing the sweep.

Gavin Gleitsman is also running double-duty, introducing a brand-new GT Class entry in the Trans Am Series by Pirelli this weekend at VIRginia International Raceway (No. 51 Exron Capital / ImageFX Howe HR6.

Several part-timers showing out for must-race Trans Am events at VIR

The Trans Am Series by Pirelli’s event at VIRginia International Raceway this weekend is a must-attend for several part-timers, as the Alton, Virginia-based racetrack has 50 cars entered between the TA and CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series classes, including part-timers:

TA: No.4 Jon DeGaynor - Speed Dream’n Racing Ford Mustang
SGT: No.15 Milton Grant – Sentry Self Storage Porsche 992
SGT: No.30 Dana Blackhurst – The Chandler School Ford Mustang
GT: No.47 Brion Gluck – Freedom Coffee / Gallant Few / 6XD Factory5 Daytona 65R
SGT: No.84 Lee Saunders – Landsearch LLC Dodge Viper
SGT: No.88 Austen Dinger – Dinger Excavation Chevrolet Corvette
SGT: No.91 Jesse Schmidt – Windhund Racing Porsche 991.1 GT3 Cup
TA2 PRO-AM: No.24 Aiden Dorvee – Dorvee Builders Chevrolet Camaro
TA2 PRO-AM: No.29 Maciej Tuniewicz – New Granite and Marble Ford Mustang
TA2 PRO-AM: No.44 Patrick Paul – Nexgen Chevrolet Camaro
TA2 PRO-AM: No.53 Bryan Scheible – MBS Racing Chevrolet Camaro
TA2: No.57 Max Reaves – Coca-Cola / Taco Roos Chevrolet Camaro

That also includes multiple drivers either making debuts in the Trans Am Series by Pirelli, like Stephen Sauers (No. 47 Carter Racing Enterprises Ford Mustang), or guys returning from a longer hiatus like Ryan McManus (No. 07 The McManus Agency Chevrolet Corvette), who, after being absent from Trans Am since 2022, returns to run the GT1 Class at VIR.

POINT STANDINGS:

TA Class:
1.Matthew Brabham
2.Paul Menard (-46)
3.Tomy Drissi (-159)
4.David Pintaric (-180)
5.Chris Dyson (-570)

CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series:
1.Alon Day
2.Helio Meza (-35)
3.Ethan Tovo (-101)
4.Adrian Wlostowski (-118)
5.Noah Harmon (-148)
6.Lanie Buice (-331)
7.Jackson Tovo (-333)
8.Jace Denmark (-347)
9.Gian Buffomante (-350)
10.Eric Cayton (-355)

CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series PRO-AM:
1.Cale Phillips
2.Jared Odrick (-54)
3.Doug Winston (-92)
4.Christina Lam (-130)
5.Matt Gray (-205)

TA Sprint:
1.John Atwell
2.Bruce Raymond (-31)
3.Rob Kacprowicz (-55)
4.Jim Gallaugher (-134)
5.Jim Guthrie (-134)

TA Cup (FINAL):
1.Cole Moore
2.Jim Guthrie (-29)
3.Ken Thwaits (-64)
4.Phil Fogg Jr. (-216)
5.Ken Sutherland (-415)

GT1 Challenge:
1.Brent Goforth
2.Jordan Bupp (-102)
3.Bill Goforth (-112)
4.Colin Comer (-201)
5.Axel Rivera (-206)

XGT Class:
1.Billy Griffin
2.Erich Joiner (-103)

SGT Class:
1.Chris Coffey
2.Patrick Utt (-48)
3.Zach Arnold (-289)
4.Milton Grant (-349)
5.Tim Gray (-554)

GT Class:
1.Derric Carter
2.Michael Saia (-289)
3.Brion Gluck (-402)
4.Adrian Wlostowski (-490)
5.Matthew Butson (-500)

WEEKEND SCHEDULE:

CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series
-Optional Test: Saturday, September 19 – 11:40 AM to 12:15 PM
-Practice: Saturday, September 19 – 3:55 PM to 4:20 PM
-Qualifying: Sunday, September 20 – 9:20 AM to 9:55 AM
-Race: Sunday, September 20 – 1:10 PM (31 laps or 75 minutes)

Trans Am Series by Pirelli – TA / GT Classes
-Optional Test: Saturday, September 19 – 12:20 PM to 12:55 PM
-Practice: Saturday, September 19 – 5:05 PM to 5:30 PM
-Qualifying: Sunday, September 20 – 10:50 AM to 11:25 AM
-Race: Sunday, September 20 – 3:20 PM (31 laps or 75 minutes)