Ave Quickest In Muscle Milk SCCA Trans-Am Practice At Watkins Glen

WATKINS GLEN, July 11, 2009: After an 10-year absence, the Muscle Milk SCCA Trans-Am Series made its return to Watkins Glen International and driver Tony Ave, of Maiden, N.C., did not waste any time posting the fastest practice time with a 1:48.422 (112.892 mph). Current point leader Tomy Drissi, of Los Angeles, and Jim Goughary Jr., of Jupiter, Fla., were second and third, respectively.

This weekend, Ave will make his second start behind the wheel of the No. 10 McMahon Group/Pro-Motor Chevrolet Corvette. Prior to the Round Five race in Portland, Ave switched from a Ford Mustang to the Corvette and is happier with the car’s performance.

“It [the car] ran good,” Ave said. “We did not run a lot of laps, but we ran enough to know what we had. We’ll do a little fine tuning for qualifying. We’re back running where we are supposed to run. I wasn’t happy at Portland, so we made a bunch of changes. Now, we are better prepared so hopefully it works out.”

Drissi turned the second quickest time with a 1:49.366 (111.917 mph) in the No. 5 James Cameron’s Avatar Jaguar XKR. Drissi is coming off his second-career Trans-Am win and hopes to score enough points this weekend to clinch the Championship heading into the season finale at Road America.

Driving the No. 72 Luna Sueno Tequila Chevrolet Corvette, Goughary was the third fastest with a 1:49.998 (111.274 mph). A Trans-Am Series rookie, Goughary will make his third-career start and already has one top-five and two top-10 finishes.

Rookie Amy Ruman, of Kent, Ohio, returns to Trans-Am Series competition after a one-race layoff and was fourth on the time sheet with a 1:50.366 (110.903 mph). Simon Gregg, of Ponte Verda Beach, Fla., was fifth with a 1:51.190 (110.081 mph).

Muscle Milk SCCA Trans-Am series qualifying gets underway at 9 a.m. (EDT) Sunday, July 12, with the Round Six race set for 4 p.m. later in the day.