In an exhilarating start to the Trans Am Series sponsored by Pirelli CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series, Thomas Annunziata seized an unexpected victory at the Sebring International Raceway. Initially, Tyler Gonzalez, taking part in the Nitro Motorsports Ford Mustang, was set to take the crown, but a mechanical mishap at the white flag stage pushed him out of the race, paving the way for his teammate, Annunziata, to take the lead.
The qualifying session set the stage for an exciting race, with Mike Skeen, driving the CUBE 3/Franklin Road/SLR-M1 Chevrolet Camaro, setting a new track record, winning the pole position. However, Gonzalez swiftly took the lead at the green flag, overtaking Skeen at the very first turn. Their rivalry was cut short by an unfortunate six-car incident in Turn 10, which forced the yellow flag out before the first lap could conclude.
Upon the resumption of the race on the fourth lap, Gonzalez managed to maintain his lead, demonstrating impressive driving skills. Rafa Matos, driving the Concord American Flagpole/SHR Chevrolet Camaro, managed to overtake Skeen for second place, but after a few turns, they collided, resulting in Matos spinning off the track and out of the top 15. This allowed Gonzalez’s teammate, Annunziata, to take the third position.
The race was paused once again due to a prolonged caution period on lap six, only to be resumed on lap 13. Gonzalez demonstrated his dominance once more, pulling ahead while Annunziata made strategic moves, successfully overtaking Skeen. The race faced further interruptions on laps 14 and 17, with stalled cars on the racetrack causing delays.
Gonzalez, displaying his superior driving skills, maintained his lead position, with Annunziata holding a strong second. The battle for the final podium spot was fought fiercely between Skeen and Tristan McKee, with Skeen emerging victorious. A surprising turn of events saw Austin Green overtaking McKee for the fourth position. Just when Gonzalez was about to claim his victory, his car experienced an unexpected mechanical failure – a broken throttle pedal – causing him to lose his pace. This twist of fate handed Annunziata the lead, who crossed the finish line victorious, followed by Skeen and Green.
Annunziata, in his post-race interview, acknowledged his teammate’s superior performance. He mentioned, “In my eyes, I finished second today. My teammate and a great friend of mine, Tyler Gonzalez, drove an amazing race. He was the class of the field all day, and I hate to see that happen to him.”
The Pro/Am Challenge saw Barry Boes maintain his lead until the penultimate lap, only to lose it to Keith Prociuk due to an unfortunate turn of events during the final lap. Prociuk, grateful for his win, thanked his team, CUBE 3, and Trans Am staff for ensuring safety during the race.
The Trans Am Series is set to continue its excitement at Road Atlanta from March 20-23, for the Mission Foods Road Atlanta SpeedTour. Fans can purchase tickets for the event and watch a replay of the Sebring race on SPEED SPORT 1.
