Tony Ave’s 12th consecutive pole sets Trans Am record Bob Stretch takes TA2 pole with new LS3 engine

MILLVILLE, NJ - RIS - Tony Ave captured his fourth pole position for the season, and even more remarkably his twelfth consecutive pole—a streak that dates back to 2011. This year he’s overtaken Tom Kendall for the Trans Am Series fast qualifier streak record. Kendall’s previous record was ten consecutive poles.
 
Ave’s Lamers/PME Engines Chevrolet Corvette set a time of 1:16.131, which broke the Trans Am track record at New Jersey Motorsports Park which Ave had set earlier today in practice, while toping out at 106.4 miles per hour.
 
While Ave has led qualifying all season, he hasn’t experienced that same success on race day this year. Mechanical trouble has put a damper on Ave’s season, as he is yet to finish a race. He’ll be looking to put that streak to an end tomorrow. “We’re still a little loose, but we’re doing pretty well, we’ve sorta gone back to basics, so we’ll see. We’ve had some issues but I hope to have those sorted out tomorrow.”
 
Ave’s teammate Doug Peterson, who had the second fastest lap, and Amy Ruman rounded out the top three for the Trans Am division.
 
In the TA2 category it was defending champion and points leader Bob Stretch who took pole—however the biggest change for Stretch was not his position, it was his engine. His crew had just finished installing a new LS3 engine in his Fix Rim Mobile Wheel Repair Chevrolet Camaro prior to this weekend. Before the installation Stretch had been running an LS1 and has a favorable look on the switch. “We feel pretty good, we put an LS3 in for this event, and we definitely think it’s the stronger engine and it performed today.”
 
The top three for TA2 also included Trans Am veteran Pete Halsmer and Michael Wilson. Halsmer is returning to TA2 after missing out on the previous race at Mid-Ohio due to back pain and was quick to return to his winning ways and has been consistent throughout practice and qualifying.
 
Wilson is also returning to TA2 prominence. While second in points, Wilson was spun out early at the Mid-Ohio event and was unable to fully recover. Wilson remains confident going into tomorrow. “I’m still planning on winning. I’ve got the oldest piece of equipment here but me and the old gal (his Wilson’s Carpet Chevrolet Monte Carlo) are looking to do well. We’re fighting against some nice equipment and some pro drivers but tomorrow we’ll see.”
 
The Trans Am race will kick off Sunday at 10:05 a.m. EST, for updates on the race follow @gotransam on twitter, check in at www.gotransam.com, and keep up on Facebook at www.facebook.com/gotransam.
 
GoRacingTV.com will provide coverage of the event through vignettes throughout the duration of the race and MAVTV will air the half-hour Trans Am Series weekend recap shows produced and directed by GoRacingTV.com the week following each Trans Am event. The first of three airings will be Sundays at 5:00 pm EDT (2:00 pm PDT). The first encore airing follows on Thursdays at 9:00 pm EDT (6:00 pm PDT), followed by a second encore airing on Fridays at 12:00 am EDT (Thursday, 9:00 pm PDT).
 
About Trans Am:
The Trans Am Series dates back to 1966. Throughout the years, some of the greatest names in motorsports have participated in the Trans Am Series. Backdating the Driver’s Championship to the inaugural season, 30 different drivers took titles, with multiple Championships being won by Pual Gentilozzi, Tommy Kendall, Mark Donohue, Scott Pruett, Wally Dallenback Jr, George Follmer, Peter Gregg, Horst Kwech, Scott Sharp and Bob Tullius.  

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Volume 2012, Issue 6, Posted 12:18 PM, 07.01.2012