This past weekend marked the first race of the season for the SCCA Trans Am series at Sebring International Raceway.* Trans Am recently added the “TA3 American Muscle” class to the series.* This is a production car-based class that features primarily Mustangs and Camaros.
This race weekend found Rehagen Racing’s Dean Martin starting on pole (2:15.906) and ending up on the top step of the podium with his Mustang Boss 302.* He managed to barely out-leg the Camaro of Ernie Francis Jr. by a mere fender en route to the victory in his first appearance in the Trans Am series.* Martin also set a new track record along the way with a fastest race lap of 2:16.180.
“It was a great race!* Ernie and I battled back and forth for the lead a few times,” said Martin.* “The faster Trans Am cars were a huge factor in the outcome of this race.* I got punted off track really bad by one of the TA1 cars and Ernie grabbed the lead away from me.* A few corners later, that same TA car got in Ernie’s way with a cut tire and slowed him up.* This gave me an opportunity to get back by on the back straight and I managed to get the lead back.* There were more incidents with TA cars that caused us to drag race each other down the straights and run side-by-side through many corners.* It was just a flat out grudge match and I was fortunate to come out on top with my Boss 302.”
Trans Am will be back on track this weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway.* Trans Am will open Sunday celebrations with the TA2 race at 1:30 p.m. EDT, followed by the TA and TA3 race at 2:50 p.m. EDT.
[Source: Ford Racing/Rehagen Racing]