The Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli’s Western Championship is roaring into Spring Mountain Motorsports Ranch in Pahrump, Nevada, for the Spring Mountain SpeedTour. Situated just an hour from the bustling Las Vegas Strip, this round marks the final standalone event before the thrilling finale at Circuit of The Americas in two weeks, where the Western and National Championships will collide. With the championship stakes high and the title race wide open, fans are in for an exhilarating weekend.
JC Meynet: The Sole Returning Winner
Spring Mountain has only hosted one Trans Am event, and just one previous victor returns this weekend. JC Meynet, who clinched the GT class win last year en route to securing the 2023 GT Championship, is back—but in a new role. Meynet will be competing in the CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series behind the wheel of his No. 28 B-Bar Ranch/Killer Shrimp Chevrolet Camaro. Can he replicate his winning ways in a different class?
TA2 Championship Battle Intensifies
The CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series is shaping up to be the most unpredictable championship fight of the Trans Am season. With multiple drivers still mathematically in the title hunt, every point counts as the season edges closer to its conclusion.
Leading the standings is Michael LaPaglia (No. 31 Papini’s Garage/F.A.S.T. Auto/Howe Ford Mustang), with a 23-point advantage over Tim Barber (No. 33 DIG Motorsports Ford Mustang). LaPaglia has been a model of consistency with one victory and five podiums across seven races. Barber, with two wins to his name, is determined to close the gap.
Meanwhile, Ken Sutherland, third in points, is not on the entry list, leaving the door open for Tim Lynn (No. 17 Roof Options Ford Mustang) and Kyle Kelley (No. 80 PK+k Properties/UPRacing.com Ford Mustang) to make a push. Kelley, who’s tasted victory once this season, is just six points behind Lynn and eager to disrupt the leaderboard.
Boes Eyes Another Victory
Though Barry Boes (No. 32 Accio Data/TRB Autosport Ford Mustang) sits 144 points behind LaPaglia, the newly crowned CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series Pro/Am Challenge champion is still a force to be reckoned with. Boes scored his first Western Championship win at Portland and has been dominant in the Pro/Am Challenge, with seven victories to his name this season. He’ll be looking to carry that momentum into Spring Mountain and finish the season strong.
M1 Racecars in the Spotlight
M1 Racecars are riding high after a stellar performance at Portland, where they swept the doubleheader. Both Boes and Tim Carroll earned their first-ever Western Championship wins. Expect the M1 camp to come out swinging this weekend as they aim to build on their success.
From NFL to NASCAR: Jared Odrick Makes His Western Championship Debut
Former NFL defensive tackle Jared Odrick is set to make his Western Championship debut at Spring Mountain, piloting the No. 77 BLACK Underwear Ford Mustang. Odrick, who’s been making waves in the National Championship, most recently finished second in the SCCA National Championship Runoffs. Now, he’s ready to prove himself in the Western Championship, making him a driver to watch this weekend.
Hampton Clinches GT Title, Eyes More Wins
David Hampton (No. 14 AR Motorsports Porsche Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport) has already secured the GT Championship this season with five victories. However, he’s not done yet. Hampton has had an outstanding year, winning in SGT at Portland and scoring his first National Championship victory in a dramatic rain-soaked race at Mid-Ohio. With nothing to lose, expect Hampton to push for even more wins in his dominant season.
The Road Ahead
As the Western Championship drivers gear up for this weekend’s doubleheader at Spring Mountain, all eyes are on the final push to Circuit of The Americas. With titles still up for grabs and plenty of on-track drama guaranteed, this weekend promises to set the stage for an unforgettable season finale.
