Chris Dyson grabs TA-class Trans Am Series win at Indianapolis

Chris Dyson takes the checkered flag at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Saturday.

Chris Dyson in the No. 40 Plaid Ford Mustang had little trouble covering the TA field in the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Saturday, winning the 42-lap dash by more than 23 seconds over runner-up and pole sitter Ernie Francis Jr. and third-place Adam Andretti.

The race featured TA, SuperGT and GT classes.

The win was Dyson’s second consecutive victory in the TA class after he won at Lime Rock in May.

After suffering engine problems and a transmission failure, Dyson’s No. 40 Plaid Ford Mustang overcame any issues that slowed him earlier in the weekend.  

“Any time you can come away with a win in Indy is special, this place is bigger than all of us,” said Dyson. “I think about all the history here, it’s a special day for us. I couldn’t be happier for the guys. We were beneficiary of good fortune and we just motored along. The Pirelli tires stayed under me and the EMCO gearbox was great. The crew was head and shoulders above the rest this weekend. This win is for them.”

Fast all weekend in practice and qualifying, Francis Jr. started from pole position in the No. 98 Frameless Shower Doors Ford Mustang with Dyson’s Mustang starting in second.

“It was a great race at the beginning battling with Chris up front,” said Francis Jr. “It looked like it was going to be a lot of fun, then I blew a cylinder. We had the pace. The Breathless Racing guys gave me a fast car and I am so appreciative for that. We will come back strong for Mid-Ohio and it should be a great championship battle between Chris and I.”

With a last name synonymous with racing in Indianapolis, Andretti started the race from row 2 in third. Returning to Trans Am after a two-year hiatus, Andretti finished third in the ACC Motorsports Chevrolet Corvette .

The SGT class race saw Tim Kezman go from flag to flag to claim the checkered flag with the No. 44 Lemons of Love Porsche 991 GT3 Cup car.  In his Trans Am SGT debut, Ken Thwaits drove the No. 35 Showtime Motorsports Audi R8 to a second-place finish while Mark Boden wheeled his No. 46 Beverage Flavors International  Porsche 991 GT3 Cup from a last-place start to finish on the podium in third. 

“The race was good and it was good to be back racing with Trans Am,” said Kezman “It’s two in a row for us here in Indy. I love this place! It was tough conditions, but my team gave me the keys to unleash it here.”

Two drivers represented the GT class on the podium with Steven Davison taking first in the No. 22 Davinci Plastic Surgery Aston Martin Vantage and Joe Bogetich in the No. 65 Westover Controls Chevrolet Camaro SS in second.

Chris Dyson pulls away from Ernie Francis Jr. at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

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