BOWMANVILLE, Ontario — The Trans Am Sequence offered by Pirelli returned to Canadian Tire Motorsport Park and was as soon as once more met with thrilling battles and outcomes affecting championship hunts.
Within the TA class, defending champion Paul Menard scored his second-consecutive win, whereas rookie Tristan McKee tallied his third CUBE 3 Structure TA2 Sequence victory in 4 races. Toronto-born Roberto Sabato discovered vindication at his residence observe, successful within the CUBE 3 Structure TA2 Sequence Professional/Am Problem after an early crash took him out of rivalry final season.
Lastly, Ontario native James Beaton earned the win within the XGT class along with his second-consecutive victory within the class.
Polesitter Chris Dyson managed the beginning of the race in his No. 16 GYM WEED Ford Mustang and confirmed unimaginable pace as he led the primary six laps. Sadly, a tire situation required a pit cease the next lap, and he relinquished the lead and dropped to the again of the TA class.
From there, final yr’s winner Paul Menard (No. 31 Pittsburgh Paints/Menards Ford Mustang) took over the purpose place. Behind him, Adam Andretti (No. 17 TOP LINER Chevrolet Camaro) remained tight on his bumper, closing in to try the cross a number of occasions, however he was unable to shut the deal.
A late-race restart brought on commotion for the TA rivals within the entrance of the sector, as a miscue resulted in each Dyson and Tomy Drissi (No. 8 Trench Shoring Co./Motul Chevrolet Camaro) getting penalized for leaping the beginning.
Because the race reached its conclusion, the operating order sorted out, and when the checkered flag waved, Menard led Andretti and Drissi over the end line. Amy Ruman within the No. 23 McNichols Co./Valley Automotive Group Chevrolet Corvette was scored fourth and Dyson completed fifth.
“It was an eventful race,” mentioned Menard. “It’s at all times nice to return again up right here to Canada. There’s nice race followers, and seeing the group all the way in which across the observe and the assist that we get with the sequence is superb. I had an incredible automotive all weekend. We didn’t have to regulate on the automotive a lot, simply little tweaks right here and there. You realize, [Chris] Dyson obtained us in qualifying, and he sort of set sail at first. I believed I had a tire rub, however I used to be smelling the smoke coming from his automotive. As soon as he had his situation, it cleared up for us. We had just a little energy steering situation and the restart was loopy. We’re chipping away. Adam [Andretti]’s preserving us trustworthy week in and week out. 3GT simply does a tremendous job each week. On to Virginia.”
After securing the pole in yesterday’s qualifying session, Tyler Gonzalez led the sector to inexperienced in his No. 10 Nitro Motorsports Toyota Camry. Gonzalez managed the race for the primary 5 laps, however a tire situation required the chief to drop to pit highway earlier than the start of lap six.
From there, second-place starter Tristan McKee (No. 28 Spire/Gainbridge/SLR-M1 Chevrolet Camaro) took over the purpose place and remained unchallenged for the rest of the race. Sam Corry (No. 70 Nitro Motorsports Toyota Camry) had superior from his fourth-place beginning place to comply with McKee throughout the end line.
Remarkably, Gonzalez, who had dropped to the very again of the sector when he went to pit highway however remained on the lead lap, was capable of benefit from the late-race warning bunching the sector and picked his means by his rivals, finally rising to say the third podium spot. Julian DaCosta (No. 30 Nitro Motorsports Toyota Camry) crossed the end line fourth, and Gian Buffomante (No. 95 Nitro Motorsports Toyota Camry) completed fifth.
“It was a very good race,” mentioned McKee. “Clearly, the No. 10 had some points there, so it’s unlucky for them, however as soon as we obtained previous them, we managed the race and simply maintained. Everybody was sort of nervous about some tire points there all through the entire race, and all through follow, we knew some folks had some points, in order that was all a thought at the back of our minds. My TeamSLR guys introduced me a very quick Chevy, so props to them. They labored exhausting this weekend getting this automotive dialed in. Had a number of adjustments because the previous race, so it feels actually good to be simply as quick as we have been after the adjustments. Thanks to Gainbridge, HendrickCars.com, Franklin Highway Attire and everybody at Spire. They ready me rather well to return to this race, and I’m grateful to all of them.”
Hometown driver Roberto Sabato (No. 61 sixth Gear Storage Ford Mustang) led from flag to flag within the CUBE 3 Structure TA2 Sequence Professional/Am Problem, however he was not with out problem from Jared Odrick (No. 00 Black Underwear/CoolBoxx Chevrolet Camaro), who remained on his tail all through the race.
Odrick made a transfer within the ultimate nook of the ultimate lap, however it was not sufficient. Sabato captured his second-consecutive win of 2025, adopted by Odrick and Keith Prociuk (No. 9 HP Tuners/Cope Race Vehicles Ford Mustang).
“First, I’d prefer to thank CUBE 3, Trans Am, and Mosport for having us again,” mentioned Sabato. “My crew, guys, you have been unbelievable. Thanks. To my rivals, unbelievable. It is a humble win, as a result of if Barry [Boes] was right here, the rostrum may look just a little bit totally different. It was an incredible race, such a clear drive. It’s nice redemption from final yr, getting bumped within the third lap, to return again right here once more this yr and really be capable of end and win. Thanks.”
As the one competitor within the XGT class, James Beaton (No. 82 Playtime Sizzling Rods & Motorsports Chevrolet Corvette) stood atop the rostrum in immediately’s occasion. He recovered from a mid-race off by which he nosed into the wall, after which recovered from a late mechanical situation to nonetheless end the race, incomes his second-career Trans Am victory.
“Properly, it began off fairly good, after which we form of overheated the tires after about 10 laps,” mentioned Beaton. “From then, we simply tried to verify we didn’t mess with too many different folks’s races, and hopefully, I didn’t. So, after that, it was simply surviving to the tip. I’ve obtained to thank my spouse at residence; for 38 years, she has been letting me do that. Now we have two lovely children and two lovely grandkids. And naturally, because of the crew.”
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