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Trans Am Brainerd

  • Birchdale Road Brainerd MN 56401 (map)

Cameron Lawrence takes TA win in Derhaag # 6 Corvette at Brainerd

2-time TA2 champ Cameron Lawrence replaced Mary (Mickey) Wright in Jim Derhaag’s # 6 Corvette and caught a break to win.  He missed qualifying and had to start the TA race back in 8th.  By lap 5 he was 4th and later moved into 2nd behind the # 98 Mustang of Ernie Francis Jr.

3 laps shy and with a comfortable lead, Francis spun, the result of a stuck throttle.  Francis, who has dominated every race so far, recovered to finish 3 rd.  What can possibly stop him from winning the 2017 TA championship?

The Brainerd TA was Incredibly the third race of the weekend for Lawrence.  On Saturday he raced in the Continental Tire 120 at Watkins Glen.  Earlier on Sunday he finished 5 th in the TA2 race at Brainerd. 

Vinnie Allegretta, coming on strong in his second year, qualified the # 41 Corvette on the pole but gave way to Francis Jr at the start.   Lawrence joins Allegretta and Amy Ruman as the quickest TA Corvettes at mid-season.

Track owner Jed Copham, in the # 44 Blaise Csida Race Cars/Tesar Engines Corvette, would finish 4th, his career best in his fourth Trans Am start, all at BIR. 

Amy Ruman, the two-time defending TA class champion, would finish fifth and is third in points.

Long-time Derhaag driver Simon Gregg finished 6 th

When the season began in March, C7 TA Corvettes were in such short supply that Racer/Constructor Tony Ave bought the # 75 from Charles Wicht in order to furnish Tomy Drissi with a ride.  Contender Paul Fix was out in the cold.  With Drissi banned for the year that seat is now open.  In the interim, Tony Ave drove the # 8 to 8th at Brainerd.

Thanks to Chris Clark for photos

Results compiled by Wayne Ellwood

TA takes a mid-season breather until August 12 at Mid-Ohio

Earlier Event: June 18
Trans Am Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Later Event: July 2
IMSA Watkins Glen 6 Hrs