Brabham leads Menard in Trans Am practice at VIR

Matthew Brabham, driver of the No. 16 GYMWEED Ford Mustang for Chris Dyson Racing, was the fastest driver in Saturday afternoon’s Trans Am Series by Pirelli practice session from VIRginia International Raceway.

It’s been the story of the entire campaign in the TA Class – Matthew Brabham vs. Paul Menard – and Saturday’s practice session was no different, with Brabham leading Canadian Tire Motorsport Park winner Paul Menard by just under a tenth of a second on the time sheets.

Brabham’s fastest lap time of the session, a 1:45.220, narrowly edged ahead of that of Paul Menard, driving the No. 3 Pittsburgh Paints / Menards Ford Mustang. Tomy Drissi was third-quickest in the session, 2.1 seconds behind Brabham, with David Pintaric in fourth and Amy Ruman rounding out the top five.

Neither Martin Ragginger (No. 7 TopLiner Chevrolet Camaro), nor Chris Dyson (No. 20 RACER / Gym Soda Ford Mustang) turned a lap in Saturday’s practice session.

TA Class Practice Results:

1. #16 Matthew Brabham (1:45.220)

2. #3 Paul Menard (1:45.318)

3. #8 Tomy Drissi (1:47.318)

4. #57 David Pintaric (1:48.219)

5. #23 Amy Ruman (1:48.920)

6. #7 Martin Ragginger (No Time)

7. #20 Chris Dyson (No Time)

Brent Goforth (No. 99 Big Dog Foundation Piers Chevrolet Corvette) driving the car that his father, Bill Goforth, typically runs – and was on the entry list to run this weekend – paced the practice session for the GT1 Challenge from VIR.

With a lap time of 1:54.263, Goforth had an advantage of more than 1.4s over Ryan McManus (No. 07 The McManus Agency Chevrolet Corvette), who is making his first start in the Trans Am Series by Pirelli since 2022.

Bill Goforth (scheduled to drive the No. 99 this weekend) did not post a lap in the session, neither did the No. 98 Big Dog Foundation Piers Chevrolet Corvette, which was originally entered with Brent Goforth.

GT1 Class Practice Results:

1. #99 Brent Goforth (1:54.263)

2. #07 Ryan McManus (1:55.677)

3. #98 Bill Goforth (NO TIME)

Austen Dinger (No. 88 Diver Excavation Chevrolet Corvette) paced the field in what is a stacked SGT Class this weekend at VIRginia International Speedway, and did so with conviction, leading the field by nearly eight tenths of a second.

Lee Saunders, a three-time winner in the SGT Class at VIR (2020, 2021, and 2023) was second-fastest in the session with championship leader Chris Coffey in third. Zach Arnold and Jesse Schmidt rounded out the top-five.

SGT Class Practice Results

1. #88 Austen Dinger (1:54.742)

2. #84 Lee Saunders (1:55.502)

3. #97 Chris Coffey (1:55.695)

4. #72 Zach Arnold (1:56.173)

5. #91 Jesse Schmidt (1:57.779)

6. #82 Ray Mason (1:58.860)

7. #30 Dana Blackhurst (2:02.473)

8. #60 Tim Gray (2:15.017)

9. #15 Milton Grant (NO TIME)

Gavin Gleitsman, in his debut in the GT Class, has gone to the top of the speed charts in practice on Saturday at VIRginia International Raceway. Gleitsman is running double-duty this weekend, also competing in the CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series event in his No. 51 Chevrolet. Brion Gluck, returning to the GT Class this weekend, was second quickest of the two entries.

GT Class Practice Results:

1. #51 Gavin Gleitsman (2:01.659)

2. #47 Brion Gluck (2:15.947)