Lee Saunders First in SGT | Chris Coffey Tops GT
WAMPUM, Pa. (June 8, 2024) – Practice and qualifying have concluded for the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli at Pittsburgh International Race Complex. Paul Menard qualified his No. 3 Menards/Master Force Tools Ford Mustang on the pole for the second time in 2024 with a best time of 1:36.262. Menard’s last pole came at NOLA Motorsports Park in April. Menard currently leads the TA point standings and is the winningest driver in the class this season with two victories (Sebring International Raceway, Lime Rock Park).
“It’s been a good weekend; great weather, awesome facility,” said Menard. “I didn’t even know this place existed a year ago, and then I saw it on the schedule and started researching it and watching videos. Actually being here now, it’s a beautiful facility. They do a really nice job with track maintenance. It’s a little bit on the twisty side for these big horsepower cars, but we do have a couple of really good passing zones that I think we can utilize. The 3GT Racing Ford Mustang has been fast since we unloaded and we’re just learning the track, learning what the tires are going to do as the fuel load burns off, as the tires wear. We’ve been seeing some tire wear here, which is more so than some other tracks we’ve been to, so what does that translate to at the end of 100 miles? What we’re thinking about now is how to make it live for 100 miles, because we have the speed, we’ve just got to have the longevity.”
The TA/XGT/SGT/GT race will be contested tomorrow at 1:40 p.m. ET. The race will be broadcast LIVE on MAVTV and streamed live here. The highlights show of the race will air on MAVTV on Thursday, June 13 at 9:00 p.m. ET.
TA Qualifying Top Five:
1. Paul Menard, No. 3 Menards/Master Force Tools Ford Mustang (1:36.262)
2. Chris Dyson, No. 16 GYM WEED Ford Mustang (1:36.952)
3. Adam Andretti, No. 17 Top Liner/Go Share Chevrolet Camaro (1:37.676)
4. Tomy Drissi, No. 8 Franklin Road Apparel Chevrolet Camaro (138.855)
5. Richard Grant, No. 30 Grant Racing Chevrolet Camaro (1:49.096)
SGT Qualifying:
1. Lee Saunders, No. 84 LandSearch LLC Dodge Viper (1:46.746)
2. Joshua Carlson, No. 36 Enseva/TC Fab/Diercks Ltd. Ford Mustang (146.870)
3. Richard Forsythe, No. 58 GSpeed/Sambuca Restaurant Chevrolet Corvette (1:47.814)
4. Milton Grant, No. 55 Sentry Self Storage/Springhill Suites Porsche 991.1 (1:48.966)
5. Kaylee Bryson, No. 02 Logical Systems Inc./Sam Pierce Chevrolet Corvette (1:50.326)
GT Qualifying:
1. Chris Coffey, No. 97 Norwood Auto Italia/Traffic Grafix Maserati MC GT4 (1:47.705)
2. Colin Cohen, No. 38 Norwood Auto Italia/Traffic Grafix Maserati MC GT4 (No Time)
Trans Am Series
