Trans Am releases preliminary 81-car entry list for Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course

The Trans Am Series has released an all-time series record entry for the Next Dimension 100, presented by First Energy, Round 7 of the 2015 Trans Am Championship at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course with 81 cars expected to participate over the course of the weekend this coming month. The entry overtakes the previous record, set at Road Atlanta earlier this year, by 11 cars.

The entry, consisting of 21 TA, 37 TA2 and 23 TA3 class cars represents the largest event entry ever for a Trans Am weekend— one that will see two races take place alongside the NASCAR Xfinity Series, a TA2 exclusive race at 4:45 pm ET on Friday August 14 and the TA and TA3 class race at 12:50 pm Saturday, August 15.

"We're obviously very pleased with the entries," said John Clagett, President of The Trans Am Race Company. "This is one of our marquee weekends on the circuit, and we’re excited to put on a display of the modern Trans Am Series in full force for the fans watching at both the racetrack and at home on CBS Sports Network."

The 23 TA3 cars constitute the largest entry ever for their class, while the 20-car TA and 37-car TA2 class entries are the second largest entries of the year. Likewise, the total number of participants represents another in a long line of record setting fields over the course of the 2015 Trans Am Season that has seen over 90 unique competitors take part in a Trans Am race, all that prior to the upcoming Mid-Ohio race which will see eleven additional drivers take the green flag for the first time this year–amounting to over 100 competitors taking to the track in Trans Am so far in 2015.

“I’m confident in saying this will be one of the best Trans Am shows we’ll see all year," said Clagett. “The growth we’ve seen, both in sheer car count and in the quality of drivers participating, makes for a great spectacle and an even better show. This success and unprecedented growth is all due to our competitors, teams and partners—they’ve come together to make Trans Am one of the most attractive road racing properties out there."

Both races will receive their own independent broadcast on CBS Sports Network, with the TA2 Class race, the First Energy Muscle Car Challenge presented by 3Dimensional Services Group, airing on Saturday, August 29 at 12:00 PM ET and the TA and TA3 class race, the Next Dimension 100 presented by First Energy, airing Saturday, September 5 at 10:00 AM.