2023 Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course

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 23-26 - Sebring International Raceway
March 9-12 – NOLA Motorsports Park
March 23-26 – Road Atlanta
May 26-29 – Lime Rock Park
June 2-4 - Detroit Grand Prix (TA2 doubleheader)
June 15-18 - Indianapolis Motor Speedway (TA/XGT/SGT/GT only)
June 23-26 - Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
July 6-9 – Road America
August 3-5 – Big Machine Music City Grand Prix (TA2 only)
September 6-10 – Watkins Glen International
September 22-24 – World Wide Technology Raceway
October 5-8 – VIRginia International Raceway
November 2-5 – Circuit of the Americas

Trans Am West Coast Championship

March 3-5 – Thunderhill Raceway
April 27-May 30 – Sonoma Raceway
May 5-7 – WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca
June 9-11 – The Ridge Motorsports Park
July 21-23 – Portland International Raceway
October 20-22 – Spring Mountain Motorsports Ranch
November 2-5 – Circuit of the Americas

In 2023, 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 six of the 2023 Trans Am Championship for TA2 competitors was held at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Drivers would compete in a forty-five-lap contest around the thirteen-turn 2.258-mile road course.

Thirty-two Trans Am 2 competitors head into the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course's 'Esses' for round six of the 2023 Trans Am Championship. The pole-sitter, Rafa Matos, is at the front of the field in the No. 88 3-Dimensional Services Ford Mustang. Immediately behind Matos is the fourth fastest qualifier, Dillon Machavern driving the No. 17 SLR-M1 Race Cars Ford Mustang. Next to Machavern is the No. 8 Camaro of Carson Kvapil.

For 2023 the two-time (2018 and 2021) Trans Am 2 champion, Rafa Matos, returned to the 3-Dimensional Services team driving the No. 88 Ford Mustang. Matos won the opening round of the season at Sebring. However, he finished outside the top-ten at Lime Rock. Mid-Ohio would be a perfect weekend for Matos. He qualified on the pole and led the race flag-to-flag. The victory ties him with Cameron Lawrence for the most TA2 wins.

The runner-up at Mid-Ohio was Brent Crews. After five rounds, Crews had two podium finishes, of which both were victories. Combined with his other results, he leads the championship standings. Crews drove the No. 70 Franklin Road / Mobil 1 sponsored Ford Mustang and was sixth fastest in qualifying. By lap-12 of the race, Crews overtook Dillon Machavern and sixteen circuits later, he passed Carson Kvapil for his second-place result.

Dillon Machavern was a regular in the Trans Am series, but for the last three seasons, he has been focused on the Grand Sport division of IMSA's Michelin Pilot Challenge. This year he competed with the SLR-M1 Race Cars team and drove the No. 17 Ford Mustang at Mid-Ohio. Machavern qualified fourth. In the race, he earned the final step on the rostrum. His last TA2 podium result was in 2021 at Lime Rock Park.

The No. 26 HP Tuners / Mike Cope Race Cars Ford Mustang is driven by Thomas Merrill. Merrill has ten Trans Am 2 victories and won the class title in 2022. His best results this season were a runner-up result at Road Atlanta and a third-place finish at Detroit, which puts him second in the title chase. After qualifying, Merrill was gridded fifth and finished fourth in the race, allowing him to maintain his position in the standings.

Carson Kvapil made an impressive Tran Am 2 debut at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Kvapil is the son of 2003 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion, Travis Kvapil. He is a regular in the Cars Tour for Pro Late Model stock cars and is second in the standing with one win. Kvapil qualified third in the No. 8 SLR-M1 Race Cars Chevrolet Camaro. He ran as high as second during the race before finishing in the fifth spot.

Driving the No. 23 CUBE 3 / Berryman Ford Mustang was young Australian Nathan Herne. Herne enters this season's Trans Am 2 category with an impressive racing resume. He is the 2021 and 2022 Australian Trans Am Series champion. Since arriving in North America, Herne's best result is a runner-up result at NOLA Motorsports Park. He qualified tenth for round six and moved up the order to finish in sixth place.

The podium for round six of the 2023 Trans Am 2 Championship at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Standing in the center is the winner, Rafa Matos. The victory moved the two-time series champion to third in the title hunt. Standing on the left is the current points leader and the runner-up, Brent Crews. The final position on the podium is occupied by Dillon Machavern. This was his first podium since 2021 at Lime Rock Park.

FINISH	START	CLASS	DRIVER	TEAM / CAR	LAPS
1	1	TA2	Rafa Matos	3-Dimensional Services / Ford Mustang	45
2	6	TA2	Brent Crews	Gearwrench / Ford Mustang	45
3	4	TA2	Dillon Machavern	SLR-M1 Race Cars / Ford Mustang	45
4	5	TA2	Thomas Merrill	Mike Cope RaceCars / Ford Mustang	45
5	3	TA2	Carson Kvapil	SLR-M1 Race Cars / Chevrolet Camaro	45
6	10	TA2	Nathan Herne	Berryman / Ford Mustang	45
7	17	TA2	Adam Andretti	Ultimate Headers / Chevrolet Camaro	45
8	11	TA2	Austin Green	3-Dimensional Services / Chevrolet Camaro	45
9	12	TA2	Jade Buford	Big Machine Spiked Vodka Coolers / Ford Mustang	45
10	14	TA2	Darin Mock	Nitro Motorsports / Ford Mustang	45
11	15	TA2	Caleb Bacon	Bacon Development / Ford Mustang	45
12	23	TA2	Boris Said Jr	Nitro Motorsports / Ford Mustang	45
13	22	TA2	Barry Boes	Accio Data / Chevrolet Camaro	44
14	9	TA2	Josh Sarchet	CUBE 3 / Ford Mustang	44
15	29	TA2	Jeff Birdwell	Hartman Davidson / Ford Mustang	44
16	24	TA2	Cale Phillips	Nitro Motorsports / Ford Mustang	44
17	8	TA2	Will Rodgers	Nitro Motorsports / Ford Mustang	44
18	31	TA2	Michele Abbate	Lucas Oil / Chevrolet Camaro	44
19	20	TA2	Chris Durbin	Amsoil / Chevrolet Camaro	44
20	7	TA2	Adrian Wlostowski	AMT Motorsport / Ford Mustang	43
21	26	TA2	Ty Young	Ty J Young Wealth Management / Ford Mustang	43
22	30	TA2	William Moore	Swift Filters / Chevrolet Camaro	42
23	18	TA2	Ben Maier	Silver Hare Racing / Chevrolet Camaro	41
24	19	TA2	Tom Sheehan	LTK Insulation / Ford Mustang	40
25	32	TA2	Doug Peterson	3-Dimensional Services Group / Ford Mustang	34
26	21	TA2	Jim Gallaugher	Mike Cope Race Cars / Ford Mustang	32
27	27	TA2	Eric Cayton	Ray Skillman Auto Group / Chevrolet Camaro	30
28	16	TA2	Keith Prociuk	Mike Cope Race Cars / Ford Mustang	27
29	13	TA2	Thad Moffit	SLR-M1 Race Cars / Chevrolet Camaro	22
30	25	TA2	Parker Delong	Mike Cope Race Cars / Ford Mustang	11
31	28	TA2	Luke Rumburg	Rumcastle Racing / Ford Mustang	7
32	2	TA2	Connor Zilisch	Silver Hare Racing / Chevrolet Camaro	0

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