Fireworks are Sure to Fly as the Trans-Am
Series Hits the Tarmac in Cleveland
CONTACT: Justin Anderson
(704) 348-9400
Cell: (517) 927-3614
Fax: (704) 348-9444
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 30, 2003
FIREWORKS ARE SURE TO FLY AS THE TRANS-AM SERIES HITS THE TARMAC IN
CLEVELAND
CLEVELAND ‹ This Fourth of July the rumble won¹t just be coming from the
fireworks, as the Burke Lakefront Airport will be alive with the roar of the
V-8 racing engines of the Trans-Am Series for the BFGoodrich® Tires Cup. The
Trans-Am on the Tarmac, Round 6 of this year¹s championship, is scheduled
for Friday, July 4.
The Trans-Am Series has a long history at Cleveland¹s 2.106-mile, 10-turn
course, set up on the runways and taxiways of Cleveland¹s lakefront
commercial airport. The Series has competed here 12 times since 1988. This
year, America¹s oldest continuously running road racing tour will continue
the Cleveland legend, as part of the U.S. Bank Presents Cleveland Grand
Prix. The list of Cleveland winners comprises an elite group of drivers, who
have made history in the Trans-Am Series and elsewhere. Three-time champion
Paul Gentilozzi has won here twice. Two-time titlist Scott Pruett won here
in 1994, en route to one of his two championships. Other drivers who have
celebrated in Cleveland¹s victory lane include Hans Stuck, Irv Hoerr, Darin
Brassfield, Ron Fellows, Bill Saunders and Boris Said. The winningest
competitor here is Tommy Kendall, who has won here three times, including
two straight in 1996 and 1997.
Johnny Miller looks to continue his breakout 2003 season at Cleveland. The
driver of the No. 64 Eaton Cutler-Hammer Jaguar XKR has made six starts
here, and he celebrated his best Cleveland finish of second in 2000. Miller,
who finished in the top three in the first three races of the season,
finally climbed up to the top step of the podium after winning rainy Round 4
at Lime Rock Park, taking the lead in the Drivers¹ Championship in the
process. Although Miller lost the points lead after finishing 12th during
Round 5 at Infineon Raceway, the points race is far from over.
Miller said Cleveland poses some unique challenges for drivers and crews,
alike.
³The combination of 10 lanes to one lane wide makes for a challenging race
track,² said Miller of the changing width of the racing surface. ³You have
to deal with that and being able to know where to pass people and where not
pass people.
³The surface is also somewhat of an issue,² Miller continued. ³The track is
flat in some places and slightly crowned in others, so not only are there no
reference points, you can¹t even see across the track in some spots. You
have to run up and over the crown on the runways. The track is challenging
because the landmarks and the references are not very well defined. Last
year, they patched a lot of the corners‹they put concrete in all of the
apexes‹which made it even more challenging.²
Miller will be racing in front of his sponsor Eaton Cutler-Hammer¹s home
crowd. ³Eaton¹s corporate headquarters overlooks the track,² said Miller.
³They¹re going to be there in both a hospitality and a charity capacity, so
we really want to do well there.²
Miller looks forward to racing on Cleveland¹s unique circuit.
³I think it¹s a great event because it is one of the few races we go to
during the year where the crowd can see the whole track,² said Miller.
³Traditionally, I run really well here. I¹ve been on the podium quite a bit.
I like the track and I like the town. I lived in nearby Sandusky, Ohio when
I was in college. It¹s a neat race track with lots of good fans.²
Considering his success this year, especially after he earned his second
career victory, Miller is now setting his sights on the Trans-Am Series
Drivers¹ Championship.
³We had to win at Lime Rock; we just had to win² said Miller. ³I think this
is my year. I also have one of the most formidable competitors in Scott
Pruett, but I think we proved it can swing either way. We have a legitimate
shot at the championship and we¹re going to try really hard to get there.²
Although Pruett has only made two starts at Cleveland, in 1988 and 1994, he
won in his second try. Pruett, who won the drivers¹ title in 1987 and 1994,
has won this year at St. Petersburg, Mosport, and Infineon, and finished
second at Long Beach. Pruett made his return to the Trans-Am Series this
year, after an eight-year hiatus, during which he raced in Champ Car World
Series and NASCAR Winston Cup competition. Pruett would like to continue his
streak of success this season.
³When I look back on my racing career, it¹s come full circle,² said Pruett,
who has won 16 Trans-Am Series races, scored 34 top-five finishes, and
earned 23 pole positions. ³Road racing is where it all started. It¹s an
exciting time to rejoin Rocketsports, as well as the Trans-Am Series. I want
to win races and the championship. Winning is everything.²
Meanwhile, the only active driver with more than one Cleveland victory,
Gentilozzi, seeks to give everyone a run for their money. Gentilozzi won
two-straight races at Cleveland in 2000 and 2001, and has competed in all 12
races held here. The three-time Trans-Am Series champion‹who ranks first in
top-three, top-five and top-ten finishes; ³Fast-Five² starts, laps led,
fastest race laps, lead-lap finishes and total winnings‹needs to win just
six more races to sit atop the all-time victory column with 30 first-place
finishes.
Gentilozzi ended a Series record 183-consecutive-race-start streak earlier
this year at Lime Rock Park by surrendering his ride to 2000 Trans-Am Series
champion Brian Simo. Gentilozzi is tentatively scheduled to return to
competition at Cleveland, still hungry for his first victory this year.
Another key player this season is Stu Hayner, who returns to the No. 2
Trenton Forging/GMAC Finance Corvette and will put the skills he¹s honed
during his 10-year Trans-Am Series career to good use. Hayner best finish in
three starts here is second in 2001. He finished third in last year¹s race.
³I always look forward to Cleveland,² said Hayner. ³We have a strong Midwest
fan base there so it¹s a lot of fun. We¹ll be entertaining guests from
(sponsors) Trenton Forging and GMAC Commercial Finance at the event and
we¹re excited about that.
³Our success streak of two podium finishes in 2001 and 2002 suddenly gets
everyone enthused about being here,² added Hayner. ³We like the track for
the amount of room and passing ability you have, and getting through turn
one is always fun. Once the race is under way, it¹s a good track with a lot
of position changes and room for slower traffic to move out of the way.
³I also like the surface changes,² continued Hayner. ³Going over the tarmac
tends to suit my driving style, because it is a track where you have to take
care of the car and the tires.²
Another driver with a local connection is Randy Ruhlman. The driver of the
No. 49 Preformed Line Products/COYOTE Closures Chevrolet Corvette grew up in
Cleveland, and attended the University School for college. Ruhlman¹s brother
and parents still call Cleveland home. Ruhlman¹s primary sponsor, Preformed
Line Products, has a local connection, as its headquarters is located just
outside Cleveland in Mayfield Heights.
Finally, this year¹s rookie crop, which includes Hayner¹s Revolution
Motorsports teammate Bobby Sak, Jorge Diaz, Jr. and Joey Scarallo, are
seeking to etch their names into the Trans-Am Series legacy. All have made
starts here in the past, and Sak ran second for several laps in last year¹s
race before finishing seventh. Winning this season would be a fitting boost
to each of these young drivers¹ Trans-Am Series careers.
In addition, Series veterans Michael Lewis, Tomy Drissi, Simon Gregg, John
Baucom, and Max Lagod will return this year. Also look for Buckeye State
natives Bob Ruman and defending SCCA National Champion Tim Cowen to make a
good showing at their home race.
Cleveland is a special place for the Trans-Am Series and those who have won
here are all seeking to repeat, while those who haven¹t are continuing to
seek their own taste of victory. With returning champions, a host of
seasoned veterans, and a talented rookie crop, all racing on Cleveland¹s
challenging airport circuit, this year¹s race will definitely be one to
watch.
The Trans-Am on the Tarmac, part of the U.S. Bank Presents Cleveland Grand
Prix, is scheduled to start at 5:40 p.m., prior to Champ Car World Series
practice on Friday, July 4. The race will air on a tape-delayed basis on
SPEED Channel, on Sunday, July 6 at 3:30 p.m. The Trans-Am Series is
America¹s oldest continuously running road racing series and is celebrating
its 38th anniversary this year.
Fast Facts:
What: The Trans-Am on the Tarmac, Round 6 of the Trans-Am Series for the
2003 BFGoodrich®
Tires Cup Championship
When: Thursday and Friday July 3 and 4, 2003
Race Day: Friday, July 4, at approximately 5:40 p.m.
Distance: 48 laps/101.088 miles or 75 minutes time certain, whichever
comes first.
Where: The race will be run on the 2.106-mile, 10-turn temporary airport
course
Series
PR Contact: Justin Anderson, 517-927-3614, cell at the track,
janderson@trans-amseries.com
Burke Lakefront Airport Track Records:
Qualifying Record (showing year, driver, car, time and average speed):
1997, Dorsey Schroeder, Ford Mustang, 1:12.071, 105.196 mph
Winning Average Speed Record (showing year, driver, car and average speed):
1996, Tommy Kendall, Ford Mustang, 100.783 mph
Fastest Race Lap Record (showing year, driver, car, time and average speed):
1997, Dorsey Schroeder, Ford Mustang, 1:12.956, 103.902 mph
Tire Talk:
Gary Blalock, tire engineer for spec tire supplier BFGoodrich® Tires, is
bringing 560 g-Force T/A® tires to Cleveland in two dry compounds‹200
(medium) and 75 (hard)‹and a one full wet compound. This total is 100 less
tires than Blalock brought to the last race, at Infineon Raceway.
³Tire compound choice will depend chiefly on how hot it is,² said Blalock.
³In prior years, a mixed bag of compounds were used. If it¹s 95 degrees
ambient temperature, we¹re going to have high tire temperatures and we may
have to go with the harder compound.
³The guys that are set up well to run the medium-compound tire, and the ones
that are punishing the tires, need to react accordingly,² added Blalock.
Because the race is run on the runways and taxiways of an airfield, Blalock
said the surface looks like it will pose an interesting challenge. Blalock,
addressing the transverse rain grooves on the runway, said, however, that
looks can be deceiving.
³Although the rain grooves make the runways look like a cheese grater,
really, tire wear is not that much of an issue,² said Blalock. ³Contrary to
popular belief, those grooves have no adverse affect on tire wear. In fact,
the grooves can help in some circumstances, especially if we have a wet
race. The grooves help combat pooling of water, and make Cleveland a great
place to have a wet race.²
Interestingly, the Cleveland race marks a homecoming of sorts for
BFGoodrich® Tires, as its primary U.S. manufacturing facility is located
outside of Akron, Ohio, approximately 39 miles from Cleveland.
Cleveland Commentary:
* Trans-Am Series points leader Scott Pruett (No. 7 Jaguar R Performance
XKR) seeks his second Cleveland Trans-Am Series victory. Pruett won in 1994
from pole in a McCall Chevrolet Camaro. Pruett is also after a record third
Cleveland pole. Pruett won pole in 1988 in a Roush Mercury Merkur XR4ti and
in 1994 in a McCall Camaro.
* Interestingly, Pruett has also made seven starts at Cleveland during his
10-year Champ Car World Series career. His best Champ Car finish here of
fourth came in 1998.
* The Trans-Am Series first held its first Cleveland event in 1988. The
Series returned to Cleveland from 1989 through 1991. After a two-season
hiatus, the Trans-Am Series returned to Cleveland in 1994 and competed at
the venue through 1998. After a one-year hiatus, the Series returned to
Cleveland in 2000 and for subsequently in 2001 and 2002.
* The 12 Cleveland races have produced nine race winners, with only Tommy
Kendall, a three-time victor (1990, 1996, 1997), and Paul Gentilozzi (2000
and 2001) winning more than once.
* Rocketsports Racing is the only team to win four Trans-Am Series races
here (1991, Darin Brasfield; 1998, Bill Saunders; 2000 and 2001, Paul
Gentilozzi), and seeks its fifth Cleveland victory. A fast time in
qualifying will make Rocketsports Racing the first team to achieve four
Cleveland poles. Seven entrants have scored Cleveland victories, with McCall
Racing earning two (1994 and 1995), and Roush Racing two (1996 and 1997).
Group 44 won in 1988, Irv Hoerr in 1989, C & C Racing in 1990, and Davis
Racing in 2002.
* Three drivers have scored their career-first Trans-Am victories at
Cleveland: Hans Stuck in 1988, Kendall in 1990, and Saunders in 1998.
* Six marques have won the 12 Cleveland Trans-Am Series races, led by
Chevrolet¹s four victories (1990, 1994, 1995, 1998). Ford (1996 and 1997),
Jaguar (2000 and 2001) and Oldsmobile (1989 and 1991) each have two
victories. Audi (1988) and Panoz (2002) each have one victory.
* Eight nameplates have been victorious in the 12 Cleveland races, with
Chevrolet¹s Camaro (1994 and 1995), Ford¹s Mustang (1996 and 1997), Jaguar¹s
XKR (2000 and 2001) and Oldsmobile¹s Cutlass (1989 and 1991) each scoring
two triumphs. Single victories have been posted by Audi¹s Quattro (1988),
Chevrolet¹s Beretta (1990), Chevrolet¹s Corvette (1998) and the Panoz
Esperante (2002).
* Ten drivers have won poles here, with only Kendall (1990 and 1996) and
Gentilozzi (2000 and 2001) doing so twice. Among active competitors, Michael
Lewis (1998) and Gentilozzi (2000 and 2001) have taken Cleveland poles.
Butch Leitzinger took the 2002 pole.
* Ford¹s Mustang leads in Cleveland Trans-Am Series pole honors with three
(1996 through 1998). Chevrolet¹s Camaro (1994 and 1995), Jaguar¹s XKR (2000
and 2001) and Oldsmobile¹s Cutlass (1989 and 1991) took two apiece with
single honors to Mercury¹s Merkur (1988), Chevrolet¹s Beretta (1990), and
Chevrolet¹s Corvette (2002).
* Eleven drivers have posted the 12 Cleveland Trans-Am fast race laps, with
only Gentilozzi (1998 and 2002) taking two.
* Six (50.0%) of the 12 Cleveland Trans-Am Series races have been won from
pole (1989, Hoerr; 1990, Kendall; 1991, Brassfield; 1994, Pruett; 2000 and
2001, Gentilozzi). Three have been won from third starting position (Stuck,
1988; Kendall, 1997; Boris Said, 2002), two from fifth (1995, Fellows and
1996, Kendall), and one from sixth (Saunders in 1988) for an average race
winner¹s starting position of 2.58.
* Lead-lap finishers have ranged from 14 in 1997 to four in 2001 for an
average of 10.0 per race. Eight of the 12 races have produced 10 or more
lead-lap finishers with 2002 producing 13, one short of the event record.
* Eleven of the 12 Cleveland Trans-Am Series races have produced victory
margins of less than 10 seconds, with the largest margin only 11.33 seconds
in 1996. The record closest Cleveland Trans-Am Series victory margin of
0.193 of a second was posted in 1998 by Saunders. Said¹s margin of 0.266 of
a second in 2002 ranks second with the 1997 margin of 0.719 of a second
achieved by Kendall, ranking third. The 2000 margin of 1.593 seconds by
Gentilozzi ranks fourth. Gentilozzi won by 4.405 seconds in 2001.
* The total victory margin for all 12 Cleveland Trans-Am Series races
amounts to only 45.290 seconds, or an average of 3.774 seconds per race.
* Finishing percentages in the 12 Cleveland Trans-Am Series races have
averaged 77.10%. The highest finishing percentage, 87.50%, was achieved in
1995 while the lowest, 64.29%, came in the 1988 inaugural.
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