In a surprising turn of events, Matthew Brabham emerged victorious at the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli Mission Foods Road Atlanta SpeedTour. The race, notorious for its high attrition rate, was no different this time around with multiple drivers contending with mechanical issues and other setbacks. Brabham, who was called in by Chris Dyson to handle the No. 16 GYM WEED Ford Mustang, displayed an exceptional performance, dodging the issues that took down his competitors such as Brent Crews and Paul Menard. This marked Brabham’s first win in the TA class since 2023.
Brent Crews, who had set a new track record in the qualifying session, initially took the lead in his No. 70 Nitro Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro. Adam Andretti, who started in third place, managed to slide past Brabham and secure the second position, even as Brabham steadily gained on him. However, a transmission issue forced Crews out of the race, allowing Brabham to claim the lead.
Brabham’s lead seemed unassailable as Menard struggled with handling issues and Andretti worked to resolve mechanical problems. A double yellow flag on lap 29, due to an on-track spin by Humaid Masaood and Keith Grant, however, saw the gap closing rapidly. Despite a last-minute lockup by Menard that led to the race ending under yellow conditions, Brabham was able to cross the finish line in first place. He was followed by Andretti in second place and David Pintaric in third.
Speaking from the winner’s circle, Brabham expressed his gratitude to the team, the series, and everyone who made the victory possible. He also acknowledged the history and prestige associated with the Trans Am series and the Road Atlanta track.
The XGT class race followed a more predictable trajectory with Paul Tracy leading the pack from the beginning to the end in his No. 10 Race Cars For You/Innovation IRC GT. Danny Lowry and Billy Griffin, both driving Mercedes AMG models, followed closely in second and third place, respectively. Tracy hailed the race as a successful endeavor and thanked the IRC and Race Cars For You teams for their support.
Joshua Carlson continued to dominate the SGT class, leading from the start to the finish in his No. 36 Enseva/Diercks Ltd./TC Fab Ford Mustang. Patrick Utt maintained the second position for the majority of the race, while 2022 SGT champion Milton Grant claimed third place.
Chris Coffey emerged victorious in the GT class, leading the race from start to finish in his No. 97 Traffic Grafix/Chill Out Motorsports Maserati MC GT4. This marked Coffey’s second victory of the season and the 15th of his career.
In the GT1 Challenge, Rob Dickey was the sole competitor and hence, the winner in his No. 64 Forty48 Competition Chevrolet Camaro. Dickey, making his Trans Am debut, expressed his gratitude for the support and assistance he received from the series and his team.
The Trans Am Series is set for its next race at Sonoma Raceway, from April 24 to 27, for the Sonoma SpeedTour in combination with the Western Championship. Fans can catch an encore presentation of Saturday’s race on SPEED SPORT 1 at 7:00 p.m. ET.
