Series Staff

Ave, Stretch Take Canadian Tire Motorsport Park Trans-Am Poles

May 20, 2012 - CANADA - Under spectacular blue skies, the Trans Am Series, America's Road Racing Series, ran the first official practice and qualifying sessions for the 2012 season today at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (Mosport).

Tony Ave en route to the TA pole (Thawley Image)

Defending Trans Am Champion, Tony Ave, set the top time [1:17.722] in the morning practice session driving the No. 4 Corvette. Likewise, Bob Stretch, defending Trans Am 2 Champion, turned a 1:26.904 to post the top time in TA2 driving his No. 98 Wheels America Racing Camaro.

Bob Stretch
In the afternoon qualifying session Ave and Stretch continued to set the pace in their respective classes. Ave took the TA pole with a 1:16.912 while Stretch grabbed the TA2 pole with a 1:25.460.

The top three qualifiers in Trans Am are Ave (4) 1:16.912; Csida (07) 1:17.777; Peterson (87) 1:17.932.

The top three qualifiers in Trans Am 2 are Stretch (98) 1:25.460, Halsmer (12) 1:26.966, Miller (11) 1.27.014

Officials threw a black flag at the 26:50 mark of qualifying due to an incident deriving from a mechanical failure on the No. 26 Trans Am car.

Officials released the following statement:

Cliff Ebben driver of the Trans Am car No. 26 suffered a mechanical failure during qualifying today at the Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in Bowmanville, Ontario. The failure caused the driver to suffer an arm injury. He was treated at the track by Dr. Chris Raynor and then transported to Oshawa General Hospital in Oshawa, Ontario. The extend of his injury is not known at this time.