Sebring roster report for Trans Am TA class
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Trans Am | February 20, 2021 5:52 AM
This weekend, the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli will build on a proud tradition of racing at Sebring International Raceway, headlining the Sebring SpeedTour Feb. 19-21 for its 16th showing on the historic venue since the series hosted its inaugural race there in 1966.
With gates open to fans, nearly 50 fire-breathing machines across four classes of competition will bring the thunder during two 100-mile races around the notoriously bumpy circuit on Sunday.
(click here for ticket info) The full SpeedTour event, including Trans Am qualifying sessions, will be live streamed starting Saturday exclusively on the
Trans Am by Pirelli Racing App.
More Trans Am!
“Even with the obstacles that COVID-19 presented last season, Trans Am took a pause on our schedule and then developed a plan to safely return to competition- and our paddock came back to compete in force,” said President of the Trans Am Race Company John Clagett. “So that allowed us to finish the year with momentum, and that momentum continued through a fairly short off-season as we have a number of new series partners, a robust entry list, and a schedule that is competitor friendly starting with our traditional opener at Sebring.”
As the new season is ready to launch, there are a number of key storylines that are set to develop in 2021.
Dodge makes a comeback in the TA class
Powered by a monstrous 850 horsepower V8 emitting that iconic roar found only in Trans Am, the TA class remains a truly unique American category that puts the power in the driver hands, with no electronic driver aids allowed. This season, four different manufacturers will battle for the TA title as the Dodge Challenger makes its full-season return on the class roster with drivers Ken Thwaits, Jeff Hinkle and Adam Andretti.
Andretti will open the 2021 Trans Am season in the same No. 43 ECC /AnchorBolt&Screw Dodge Challenger he debuted last season at Sebring to honor his late brother John Andretti.
The ECC Motorsports prepared Challenger sports the same number and ‘Petty blue’ color scheme that John Andretti carried while driving for Richard Petty in NASCAR and again at the Indianapolis 500, styled with a STP-style red roundel on the hood.
“This year we are again planning to do as many races as possible utilizing the same tribute livery as Sebring last year,” said Andretti. “It’s a wonderful tribute to my brother and great exposure for our #Checkit4Andretti initiative that has since gone live as a charitable organization to urge people to schedule their colonoscopies. John has already saved so many lives with his story and I know how proud his wife Nancy and their kids are to continue this in his memory.”
Following the 2020 Sebring race, Andretti put his race plans on hold last season due to the COVID-19 outbreak, but plans on to make several appearances in the TA category of the next year.
“I am always over the moon to get to race anything and feel very blessed anytime we get to compete in Trans Am,” said Andretti. “Such a fantastic group of people and the Speed Tour weekends are second to none in Motorsports in my humble opinion. Only place you can watch the historic part of our sport and witness the future of the sport all in one action packed event. Huge thank you to Engineered Components Company and the Henriksen family for making it happen again.”
Francis Jr. targets 8th championship dDrive
After claiming his seventh Trans Am national championship last season, Ernie Francis Jr. returns to the Trans Am lineup, chasing his fifth TA class title behind the wheel of the No. 98 Future Star Ford Mustang.
(Watch Francis Jr. unveil the new car)
But, unlike his past seven years in Trans Am, this season will bring more challenges for Francis Jr. who will be pulling double duty, campaigning for three titles. The 23-year-old Florida native was confirmed as the youngest driver to enter the new Superstar Racing Experience (SRX) started by recent Trans Am racer Ray Evernham and NASCAR team owner Tony Stewart.
After being selected as the PMH Powering Diversity Scholarship, Francis Jr. will also compete in single seaters for the first time in the Formula Americas Championship Powered by Honda.
“Starting the new season we feel more ready than ever to hit the track and be fast out of the gate,” Francis Jr. said. “But 2021 will be a busy year with the Trans Am title chase as well as the SRX series I will be competing in, and I welcome the challenge.”
Putting pressure on Francis Jr.’s title bout will be 2020 TA championship runner up Tomy Drissi in the No. 8 Lucas Oil Chevrolet Camaro. Francis Jr. and Drissi fought all the way to the last event for the 2020 title, and Drissi has more close racing in store for Francis Jr. and the rest of the deeply talented TA field.
“I can’t wait to get to Sebring to for the 2021 season and start a new year of racing,” said Drissi. “We had a great 2020 season with the live streaming and we finished strong in the points with second place. With the help of Lucas SlickMist and Burtin Racing, we’ve never been more ready for another championship.”
While Francis Jr. and Drissi are looking to continue their championship duel, there are several contenders looking to join that fight. The high-horsepower field will see 2015 Sebring TA winner and 2016 Trans Am champion Amy Ruman (No. 23 McNichols Co. Chevrolet Corvette), 2012 Trans Am Champion Simon Gregg (No. 59 The Peter Gregg Foundation Chevrolet Camaro) and 2019 TA Vice Champion Chris Dyson (No. 20 Plaid Ford Mustang) all looking for new Crystal Sensations hardware this weekend to launch their 2021 campaigns.
NASCAR Xfinity winner Justin Marks will be running a partial season with Trans Am under the Ave Motorsports banner. Marks finished on the pole in 2017 at Sebring, and has his eyes set at a podium finish this weekend wheeling the red and white No. 99 Coca-Cola Ave Motorsports Chevrolet Corvette.