Utah doubles the thrill and the elevation
The Trans Am Collection offered by Pirelli Western Championship returns to motion with a doubleheader within the penultimate occasion weekend of the 2022 season at Utah Motorsports Campus, which sits at an elevation of 4,409 toes. The Western Championship shifts focus from the shortest monitor on its schedule (Portland Worldwide Raceway, 1.967 miles) to the longest, as opponents put together to tackle UMC’s 3.048-mile, 15-turn Outer Course. This weekend will mark solely the second go to to the Tooele, Utah facility for the Western Championship, which held its first occasion on the monitor final yr.
With two races only a day aside, staying out of hassle in Race 1 can be crucial, and could be the distinction between successful or shedding the championship if a contender is unable to start out Race 2. Not solely will groups have to fret about avoiding crashes, however at UMC’s excessive elevation, vehicles will see much less cooling impact to the powertrain, which might result in vital mechanical points.
New winner assured
When the checkered flag waves for the primary occasion of this weekend’s doubleheader, we’re assured to see a brand new winner on the monitor, as none of final yr’s winners (Carl Rydquist in TA2, Erich Joiner in XGT and Cindi Lux in SGT) seem on the entry record. The highest-finishing driver from final yr’s occasion who can be current this weekend is Ken Sutherland within the No. 68 Cascade Sotheby’s/Wyatt Hearth Safety Camaro, who completed third general and second within the TA2 class. John Schweitzer within the No. 00 Superior Builders Inc. Ford Mustang is the top-finishing SGT competitor from final yr’s occasion, ending second in school and 14th general. There aren’t any XGT entries getting back from 2021.
New faces at UMC
Three drivers can be making their Trans Am Collection debuts this weekend at Utah Motorsports Campus: Parker DeLong within the No. 4 Parker DeLong Racing Ford Mustang, Broc Nelson within the No. 42 Chris Evans Inc. Chevrolet Camaro, and Tim Carroll within the No. 46 CRD Manufacturing Inc. Dodge Challenger. Moreover, Cody Powell within the No. 76 Titan Building Providers Dodge Challenger is making his first begin of the 2022 season.
Utah “dwelling monitor”
Whereas there aren’t any drivers within the subject this weekend who’re native to Utah, Mitch Marvosh within the No. 29 Wolf Leisure Ford Mustang considers Utah Motorsports Campus to be his dwelling monitor as a result of his household’s origins within the state. This can be Marvosh’s second begin at UMC, and he hopes to high his end of tenth within the TA2 class, which he achieved in final yr’s occasion. Marvosh at the moment sits fourth within the TA2 standings.
Final time on monitor: Portland
The Western Championship had an thrilling outing at Portland Worldwide Raceway, with three courses represented within the top-three ending positions when the checkered flag waved. Chris Evans within the SGT class dominated a lot of the occasion to take the general win, adopted by Motul Pole Award winner Erich Joiner’s XGT automotive in second and Ken Sutherland third, taking the win within the TA2 class.
Utah doubleheader might determine championship
With solely three races remaining within the Trans Am Western Championship season, together with this weekend’s doubleheader, each level will depend in figuring out the 2022 title winners.
In TA2, Jeff Holden within the No. 11 RELAXandCBD.com/Dakota Lithium/Mid Valley Transmission Camaro holds a slim eight-point lead over Ken Sutherland within the No. 68 Cascade Sotheby’s/Wyatt Hearth Safety Camaro. Dave Kunicki within the No. 67 Blue Max Camaro sits 27 factors behind Sutherland.
In XGT, Erich Joiner within the No. 10 goodboybob Espresso Roasters Porsche GT3R leads Mike Sheehan within the No. 72 Ferraris On-line LLC Lamborghini Gallardo GT3 by simply 4 factors, with Bob Mueller within the No. 28 Octavio Tequila Porsche GT3R scored third, 13 factors behind Sheehan.
In SGT, Chris Evans within the No. 99 Chris Evans Inc. Ford Mustang leads over Howard Johnston within the No. 32 IWS Acquisition Group Ford Mustang by 16 factors. Xuanqian Wang is third within the No. 22 AURALIC North America McLaren 570S GT4.
In TA, Greg Pickett within the No. 6 ALTWELL CBD/Gymnasium Weed Ford Mustang at the moment leads the TA class standings.
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