Trans Am Series heads to Sebring opener with 52 car field
The last time a Trans Am race had 50 cars on grid was in 1982 at Road America, some 32 years go. In addition, this will be the fifth time in Trans Am’s history the field has reached 50 cars. Surprising, given the history and legacy of the Series.
“We’re very proud of the turnout for Sebring," said John Clagett, President of The Trans Am Race Company. “It is a testament to how far Trans Am has come over the past few years. We owe a lot to all the hard work put in by the owners, drivers, teams and staff members who have helped us get this far. With 52 entries now confirmed for Sebring and 50 following up next weekend at Homestead, we have the potential to set an all time record for Trans Am entries at back-to-back weekends."
The current slate includes 18 cars from the TA class, 22 in TA2 and 12 in TA3 for 52 in total, however that number has the potential to grow in the last few days as final entries are processed. The 22 TA2 and 12 TA3 entries set an all-time record for each of the recently introduced classes.
The increased numbers also mean new challenges for last year’s Champions. Doug Peterson, Cameron Lawrence and Chuck Cassaro will all be on track, beginning their respective title defenses.
The best news for both Peterson and Lawrence is they’ll be at home, in Florida, on their home track, Sebring, to begin their pursuit of yet another Trans Am Championship. After all, they both used Sebring as a springboard last year, winning their respective races en route to incredible seasons. As Champions, they will be drivers to watch and favorites throughout the year, but on their home track, they’re an outright force.
Joining Peterson’s #87 3Dimensional.com Chevrolet Corvette and Lawrence’s #1 Miller Racing Chevrolet Camaro on grid come race day will be challengers aplenty—some familiar faces and some brand new.
Next to veterans like Ruman, Gregg, Pintaric, West, Fane, McGahern, Kent and Napieralski will be fresh faces. In total 16 drivers will be making their first ever Trans Am starts: Henry Gilbert, Jeff Van Lierop, Nathan Stokey, Tom Ellis, Dean Martin, Frank Lussier, Chris DeSalvo, David Mazyck, Michael Defontes, Kevin Poitras, Bobby Kennedy, Greg Socha, Jason Berkeley, Russ Snow, Lee Saunders and Joe Fitos.
All three classes prepare to open the year at Sebring, together and in unprecedented numbers. As they have for nearly three decades, the 850-plus horsepower grand touring beasts will be leading the way in the TA class, setting the pace for not just Trans Am but all of North American grand touring. The ever-growing TA2 class will highlight the prowess of American engineering and the ongoing rivalry between the Chevrolet Camaro and Ford Mustang. At the same time, the TA3 class will highlight the power of production with the American Muscle and International Groups.
Trans Am will first take to the track at Sebring on Friday, February 28, at 11:10 am EST for an official practice, followed by another session at 4:35 pm. Saturday will feature a split qualifying session from 11:50 am to 12:30 pm, with TA on track first, followed by TA2 and TA3. Finally, Trans Am will open the 2014 Season with Round One of the 2014 Trans Am Championship on Sunday, March 2, with the 100.98 mile race with cars on grid at 2:10 pm and the race commencing at 2:35 pm.
Complete Entry List for The Earwood Classic- Round 1: 2014 Trans Am Championship
| No. | Class | Driver, Hometown | Sponsor, Car |
| 1 | TA2 | Cameron Lawrence, Windermere, Fla. | Miller Racing Chevrolet Camaro |
| 2 | TA | Henry Gilbert, Miramar, Fla. | Performance Driving Group / SCDE Chevrolet Corvette |
| 3 | TA | Kenny Bupp, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. | American Speed Factory Chevrolet Camaro |
| 6 | TA | Mary Wright, Clearwater, Fla. | Wright Track LLC Chevrolet Corvette |
| 9 | TA3A | Ernie Francis, Jr, Davie, Fla. | Breathless Performance Chevrolet Camaro |
| 10 | TA2 | Mel Shaw, Voorhees, N.J. | Miller Racing Chevrolet Camaro |
| 12 | TA2 | Geoff Fane, Acacia Ridge, Queensland Aus | Miller Racing Chevrolet Camaro |
| 15 | TA | Allan Lewis, New Dundee, Ontario Can | BC Race Cars Chevrolet Corvette |
| 16 | TA3A | Rob Bodle, New Bern, N.C. | Caribbean Food Delights Ford Mustang |
| 17 | TA3A | Steve Kent Jr, Frederick, Md. | XLR8 Diesel Trucks/SKS Equipment Ford Mustang |
| 18 | TA | Jon Leavy, Tamarac, Fla. | Sponsor Needed/MurrayAuto.com Chevrolet Camaro |
| 19 | TA | Kerry Hitt, Harrisburg, Pa. | Advanced Composite Products Chevrolet Corvette |
| 20 | TA3I | Russ Snow, Eden, N.C. | Carbotech Chevrolet Corvette |
| 23 | TA | Amy Ruman, Kent, Ohio | McNichols Company Chevrolet Corvette |
| 25 | TA2 | Ron Keith, Shawnee, Kan. | Mike Cope Racing Ford Mustang |
| 27 | TA2 | Jeff Van Lierop, Olympia, Wash. | CountryGreenTurfFarms/Kryderacing Chevrolet Camaro |
| 28 | TA3A | Fernando Seferlis, Panama | COMPULAB – Panama Chevrolet Camaro |
| 29 | TA | Andrew Romocki, Toronto, Ontario Can | Rocanada Ford Mustang |
| 36 | TA | Cliff Ebben, Appleton, Wis. | Stumpf Ford, McMahon Group Ford Mustang |
| 39 | TA3A | Todd Napieralski, Chelsea, Mich. | Tremec/SKF/BackstPerf/ChevPerf Chevrolet Camaro |
| 42 | TA2 | Kenneth Quartuccio, Wallingford, Conn. | East Side Service / Rossini Racing Chevrolet Camaro |
| 43 | TA3I | Mickey Mills, Houston, Tex. | Mills Racing BMW M3 |
| 44 | TA2 | Adam Andretti, Brownsburg, Ind. | Engineered Components Chevrolet Camaro |
| 48 | TA2 | Michael McGahern, Ottawa, Ontario Can | Ottawa Solar Power / BC Race Cars Chevrolet Camaro |
| 49 | TA2 | Nathan Stokey, Dover, Ohio | Archer Racing Chevrolet Camaro |
| 51 | TA | Tom Ellis, Pompano Beach, Fla. | Palm Express / Averitt Ford Mustang |
| 52 | TA3A | Dean Martin , Westland, Mich. | Rehagen Racing Ford Mustang |
| 53 | TA2 | Frank Lussier, Cary, N.C. | Archer Racing/Race-keeper/TeamTech Chevrolet Camaro |
| 56 | TA2 | Tom West, Stanidsh, Maine | Limerick Mach/Treelaine Consult Chevrolet Camaro |
| 57 | TA | David Pintaric, Canfield, Ohio | Kryderacing/CarboTech Brakes/WRPI Chevrolet Corvette |
| 59 | TA | Simon Gregg, Ponte Vedra, Fla. | Gregg Motorsports Chevrolet Corvette |
| 60 | TA3I | Tim Gray, Eden Prairie, Minn. | Ryan Companies US Inc Porsche GT3 Cup |
| 61 | TA3A | Chris DeSalvo, Charlotte, N.C. | LCR Racing Ford Mustang |
| 65 | TA2 | Allen Milarcik, New Philadelphia, Ohio | T&A Trucking/Earthworks Logistics Chevrolet Camaro |
| 66 | TA | Denny Lamers, Appleton, Wis. | Stumpf Ford, McMahon Group Ford Mustang |
| 67 | TA3I | Jason Berkeley, New York, N.Y. | BMG Management Chevrolet Corvette |
| 71 | TA2 | David Mazyck, Gainesville, Fla. | Archer Racing/Race-keeper/TeamTech Chevrolet Camaro |
| 72 | TA2 | Michael Defontes, Jupiter, Fla. | Performance Driving Group/S.C.D.E Ford Mustang |
| 73 | TA2 | Kevin Poitras, Toronto, Ontario Can | Post Plastics Inc Chevrolet Camaro |
| 75 | TA | Charles Wicht, Big Pine Key, Fla. | Crystal Clear Pools/All-Safe Pool Chevrolet Corvette |
| 76 | TA3A | Chuck Cassaro, Caledonia, Ill. | CassaroEnt/StackData/Metallica Ford Mustang |
| 84 | TA3A | Lee Saunders, Lakeland, Fla. | Landsearch LLC Dodge Viper |
| 86 | TA | John Baucom, Charlotte, N.C. | Roadracepart.com/Baucom Motorsports Ford Mustang |
| 87 | TA | Doug Peterson, Bonita Springs, Fla. | 3Dimensional.com Chevrolet Corvette |
| 88 | TA2 | Bobby Kennedy, Daytona Beach, Fla. | Gary Yeomans Ford / Bemco Fab Ford Mustang |
| 95 | TA2 | Greg Socha, Richland, Mich. | highgateautosport.com Chevrolet Camaro |
| 97 | TA2 | Tom Sheehan, Bow, N.H. | FixRim Mobile Wheel Repair Chevrolet Camaro |
| 98 | TA2 | Bob Stretch, Arrlington, Texas | FixRim Mobile Wheel Repair Chevrolet Camaro |
| 99 | TA2 | Joe Fitos, Laxahatchee, Fla. | FixRim Mobile Wheel Repair Chevrolet Camaro |
| 02 | TA2 | John Atwell, Azle, Texas | A&J Lab Portal Chevrolet Camaro |
| 03 | TA | Jim McAleese, Leesburg, Va. | McAleeseMtrsports/JetcoEngineering Chevrolet Corvette |
| 04 | TA | Kurt Roehrig, Greensboro, N.C. | Roehrig Enders Suspension Chevrolet Corvette |