2022 Watkins Glen International

The Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) introduced the Trans Am series in 1966. The championship was created during the introduction of Detroit's 'American Pony Car' period. The Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro proved to be very popular with consumers and the best way for manufacturers to demonstrate their potential was 'To race on Sunday and sell on Monday.'

In 1966, vehicle classification and rules were based on the SCCA's A and B Sedan amateur classes. A Sedan was called the Over 2.0-Liter category. The cars competing in the group were limited to a 5.0-liter engine and provided a platform to showcase the new 'Pony Cars.' The Under 2.0-Liter category included BMW, Alfa Romero, British Leyland and Porsche vehicles.

The Trans Am series and its regulations have evolved over time. The championship has changed the race formats, vehicle eligibility and rules governing the cars.

Currently, the races are 100-miles in length with no opportunity for a pit stop to change drivers or tires and refuel the car. Teams can also compete in two championships – Trans Am Championship and Trans Am West Coast Championship.

Trans Am Championship

February 24-27 - Sebring International Raceway
March 17-20 – Charlotte Motor Speedway
March 24-27 – Road Atlanta
April 22- 24 – WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca
April 30-May 1 – Sonoma Raceway
May 27-30 – Lime Rock Park
June 23-26 - Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
July 1-3 – Road America
August 5-6 – Big Machine Music City Grand Prix (TA2 only)
September 7-11 – Watkins Glen International
October 6-9 – VIRginia International Raceway
November 4-6 – Circuit of the Americas

Trans Am West Coast Championship

April 9-10 – Thunderhill Raceway
April 22- 24 – WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca
April 30-May 1 – Sonoma Raceway
June 10-12 – The Ridge Motorsports Park
July 15-17 – Portland International Raceway
October 14-16 – Utah Motorsports Campus
November 4-6 – Circuit of the Americas

In 2022, there are five classes – Trans Am, Trans Am 2, Xtreme Grand Touring, Super Grand Touring and Grand Touring. Trans Am, Xtreme Grand Touring, Super Grand Touring and Grand Touring compete in the same event. Tran Am 2 drivers have their own race.

Trans Am (TA) – This is the series' quickest class. These tube-frame race cars are powered by a naturally aspirated 366-cu.in. pushrod V8 engine, which produces over 850-horsepower. From a technological standpoint, the vehicles are kept relatively simple – no superchargers, turbochargers, anti-lock braking systems or traction control. The body styles used are the Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Camaro, Cadillac CTS-V, Chevrolet Corvette and Dodge Challenger.
Trans Am 2 (TA2) – These are also tube-frame chassis cars. Unlike the TA category, these vehicles use electronic fuel injection and intake restrictor plates to limit the horsepower to approximately 490. To keep expenses down, the series officials set the maximum price for shock absorbers, wheels, brake pads, and calipers. For example, shock absorbers are limited to $850 each. This category is also restricted to using a four-speed manual transmission with no overdrive. Teams are also prohibited from using superchargers, turbochargers, anti-lock braking systems or traction control. The most common body style is the Chevrolet Camaro, but the Ford Mustang and Dodge Challenger are also eligible.
Xtreme Grand Touring (XGT) – This class was created to give former FIA GT3 cars a place to race. The category is open to a wide range of GT3 vehicles - Audi R8 LMS, Porsche 991.2 GT3 Cup, Mercedes AMG GT3 and Chevrolet Corvette.
Super Grand Touring (SGT) – In 2019, TA3 was renamed SGT and included many production-based vehicles. Unlike TA and TA2, which are restricted to North American models, European manufacturers may compete in this division. As a result, the list of vehicles eligible for SGT is long and ranges from the BMW M3 to the Dodge Viper. Some cars are fitted with restrictor plates or carry additional weight to maintain parity.
Grand Touring (GT) – The Grand Touring was previously called TA4. A wide range of European and American vehicles are also eligible to compete in this group – the list is not as lengthy as the Super Grand Touring category. This is viewed as an entry-level category that only allows limited preparation. To equalize performance, some cars may carry additional weight or the engine may be fitted with a restrictor place.

Round nine for the TA, XGT, SGT, and GT categories of the Trans Am Championship was held at Watkins Glen International. Drivers would compete in a twenty-four-lap contest around the eleven-turn 3.337-mile road course in an event called the Franklin Road Apparel Classic.

The start of the Franklin Road Apparel Classic at Watkins Glen International and twenty competitors prepare to enter corner two for the twenty-four lap contest. The pole-sitter, Justin Marks, leads the way in the No. 5 Franklin Road Apparel Chevrolet Camaro. Behind Marks is the other front-row starter and the points leader, Chris Dyson, driving the No. 20 Altwell sponsored Ford Mustang.

Despite pressure from the series point leader, Chris Dyson, Justin Marks would collect his first Trans Am victory in nine starts. Marks drove the No. 5 Franklin Road Apparel sponsored Chevrolet Camaro prepared by Showtime Motorsports. He was the fastest in qualifying and captured the pole by 1.087-seconds. He grabbed first place going into corner one and would lead the event flag-to-flag.

Since round one at Sebring International Raceway, the points leader in the TA category was Chris Dyson. In his eight 2022 previous starts, Dyson had five victories and only one result out of the top ten. He was the second fastest in the qualifying session at Watkins Glen International. During the race, Dyson chased the pole-sitter, Justin Marks, but the conditions made it impossible to pass. With his runner-up result, he clinched the title.

There were seven entries in the SGT category, with six taking the Starter’s green flag. In the No. 44 Landsearch LLC Dodge Viper, Lee Saunders qualified fifth in class and started twentieth overall. However, the wet conditions during the race agreed with Saunders and he maneuvered his way to the front. On the final lap, he was able to pass the class leader, Aaron Pierce, to win by a margin of 2.363-seconds.

Jody Miller was entered in the No. 3 TLM Racing Porsche GT3 Cup 991.2. This was the first series start for the Florida native, who competed in the XGT category. Miller was gridded tenth overall for the contest at Watkins Glen International and qualified second in class. When the class leader, Stephen Hamman, spun into a gravel trap on lap-6, Miller inherited the lead and, ultimately, the victory.

Unfortunately, there were only two entries in the GT class and the weekend belonged to the driver of the No. 13 Rapid Performance Management / Rapid Wraps Porsche GT3 Cup 997.1, Michael Saia. Watkins Glen International was his second event of the season. Saia finished in the runner-up position at Lime Rock Park. He qualified on the GT pole for round nine and, despite a couple spins, collected the victory.

The No. 8 Lucas Oil Ford Mustang was driven by the 2009 Trans Am champion, Tomy Drissi. Drissi entered round nine third in the point standing, with four podium results. Qualifying did not go well and he started eighth in the ten-car class. However, Drissi would fare much better in the race. The early retirement of Ken Thwaits and passes on four other competitors allowed Drissi to capture the final spot on the podium.

At Watkins Glen International, the TA podium for round nine, the Franklin Road Apparel Classic. In the center is the winner, Justin Marks. This was Marks’ first Trans Am victory in nine previous starts. On the left is the runner-up, Chris Dyson. The result gave Dyson his second consecutive title with two races remaining in this year’s championship. Completing the rostrum is the third-place finisher, Tomy Drissi.

FINISH	START	CLASS	DRIVER	SPONSOR / CAR	LAPS
1	1	TA	Justin Marks	Franklin Road Apparel / Chevrolet Camaro	24
2	2	TA	Chris Dyson	Altwell / Ford Mustang	24
3	8	TA	Tomy Drissi	Lucas Oil / Ford Mustang	24
4	4	TA	Boris Said	Weaver / Dodge Challenger	24
5	7	TA	Paul Fix	allgram / Ford Mustang	24
6	14	TA	Kerry Hitt	ACP Motorsports / Chevrolet Camaro	24
7	20	SGT	Lee Saunders	Landsearch LLC / Dodge Viper	24
8	11	SGT	Aaron Pierce	Sam Pierce Chev / Chevrolet Corvette	24
9	10	XGT	Jody Miller	TLM Racing / Porsche GT3 Cup	24
10	13	SGT	Dirk Leuenberger	Lux Performance / Dodge Viper	24
11	16	GT	Michael Saia	KMC / Porsche GT3 Cup	24
12	19	GT	Scott James	Vasular Care Group / Porsche GT3 Cup	24
13	18	XGT	Danny Lowry	Pitboxes / Audi R8 LMS	24
14	22	SGT	Carey Grant	Grant Racing2 / Porsche GT3 Cup	24
15	5	TA	David Pintaric	Kryderacing / Ford Mustang	21
16	12	SGT	Cindi Lux	Lux Performance / Dodge Viper	16
17	6	TA	Amy Ruman	McNichols Co. / Chevrolet Corvette	9
18	3	TA	Ken Thwaits	Franklin Road Apparel / Chevrolet Camaro	6
19	9	XGT	Stephen Hamman	TLM Racing / Porsche GT3 Cup	6
20	17	SGT	Milton Grant	Fairfield Inn / Porsche GT3 Cup	3
DNS	15	TA	Richard Grant	Grant Racing / Chevrolet Corvette	-
DNS	21	SGT	Larry Bailey	Sam Pierce Chevy / Chevrolet Corvette	-

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