Trans Am NOLA Post Race Report
Image by Christopher Clark
Rafa Matos Wins at NOLA to Become Winningest CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series Driver in History
Drew Finishes Second, Merrill Third After Maier Experiences Last-Lap Heartbreak
AVONDALE, La. (April 14, 2024) – Two-time champion Rafa Matos took the checkered flag for the 21st time in the CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series at NOLA Motorsports Park, making him the winningest driver in the history of the class. Matos earned his first pole of the year and dominated the final 27 laps in Round 3 of the 2024 Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli season, securing his place in the record books and putting him on a trajectory to capture his third TA2 title.
Photographed: Rafa Matos #60 being interviewed Image by Christopher Clark
After securing the Pole Award in yesterday’s qualifying session, Matos took the green flag in his No. 60 Concord American Flagpole/Nitro Motorsports Ford Mustang next to Connor Mosack in the No. 77 Silver Hare Racing/PRG Chevrolet Camaro. The field fanned out at the start, and third-place starter Jake Drew (No. 7 Silver Hare Racing Chevrolet Camaro) took the front row three wide in a daring move that paid off with the race lead after exiting Turn 1. Before the conclusion of lap one, points leader and fourth-place starter Tyler Gonzalez in the No. 40 Nitro Motorsports Ford Mustang received damage which required a visit to pit road, and tenth-place starter Thomas Merrill in the No. 26 HP Tuners/Cope Race Cars Ford Mustang shot up to the sixth position.
Drew maintained the point position by a marginal gap for the first 10 laps while the first 12 cars ran nose to tail, but Matos was able to clear Drew for the lead on lap 11. Once Matos had clean air in front of him, he was able to pull away from his competitors, putting more and more space between him and second place. Without a full-course caution to reset the field, Matos cruised to the victory, followed by Drew. The action didn’t stop behind Matos and Drew, as Ben Maier in the No. 80 BOE Marine/Nitro Motorsports Ford Mustang fought up to third after starting fifth and maintained the position until the final laps despite Merrill, now fourth, constantly challenging him. Unfortunately for Maier, a transmission problem on the final lap brought him to a stop before the checkered flag waved, relegating him back to 12th. Merrill inherited the final podium slot, and Thomas Annunziata (No. 90 Nitro Motorsports Ford Mustang) finished fourth, followed by Caleb Bacon (No. 18 CB Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro), who had fought his way up from 13th to round out the top five.
The Pro/Am race was wild from start to finish, with two-time winner Barry Boes (No. 27 Team SLR-M1 Racecars Ford Mustang) and Tom Sheehan (No. 97 Vixen Motorcycle/LTK Insulation Ford Mustang) experiencing early issues which took them out of contention. Keith Prociuk (No. 9 HP Tuners/Cope Race Cars Ford Mustang) drove to his first Pro/Am win of 2024 in his 101st Trans Am start, followed by Jim Gallaugher (No. 16 Regulator by Waypointe Ford Mustang) in second and former NFL player Jared Odrick (No. 81 CB Motorsports Ford Mustang) finishing third for his first-career Trans Am podium.
"The race went pretty well,” said Matos from the podium. “We felt we had a very fast racecar since the beginning of the weekend, and hats off to the Nitro Motorsports team. I think [team owner] Nick Tucker does a fantastic job assembling a fantastic team. There's a lot of talent on the team, not only the drivers, but the mechanics and the crew chiefs. The race went well. I had the pole position, but got passed in the beginning and waited until I burned some fuel in the car and gained some balance. I went to overtake Jake [Drew] and built up a gap and just managed that gap throughout the race. Just a really good day. I’m proud of the team, proud of Concord American Flagpole Company for allowing us to compete at the highest level. And my 21st win, baby! I was waiting for that one for a long time; it's been a minute. Hopefully it will be the first of many this season and we'll pave our way to our third championship."
Notes of Interest:
This was Rafa Matos’ 21st-career victory in 77-career starts, making him the winningest driver in CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series history. He surpassed Cameron Lawrence, with whom he was previously tied with 20 victories.
Matos scored his second podium of the season after finishing third at Sebring International Raceway.
Matos’ last win came at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course last June. This is his first victory with Nitro Motorsports.
Jake Drew captured a second-place podium finish in just his second Trans Am event. He finished fourth in his series debut at Road Atlanta.
Three races in, the TA2 Series has not had a repeat winner in its Pro Championship.
Former NFL player Jared Odrick earned his first-career Trans Am Pro/Am podium finish in just his third start in the series.
All three drivers on the Pro/Am podium were driving a Mike Cope Racing chassis, as were two of the three drivers on the Pro Championship podium.
This was the final race for outgoing Trans Am President John Clagett, who has worked for Trans Am for more than 31 years.
Photographed from Left to Right: Jake Drew #7, Rafa Matos #60, and Thomas Merrill #26 Image by Christopher Clark
CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series Top 10:
1. Rafa Matos, No. 60 Concord American Flagpole/Nitro Motorsports Ford Mustang
2. Jake Drew, No. 7 Silver Hare Racing Chevrolet Camaro
3. Thomas Merrill, No. 26 HP Tuners/Cope Race Cars Ford Mustang
4. Thomas Annunziata, No. 90 Nitro Motorsports Ford Mustang
5. Caleb Bacon, No. 18 CB Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro
6. Josh Hurley, No. 20 Greenlight Simulation/BCR Ford Mustang
7. Gavan Boschele, No. 28 Team SLR-M1 Racecars Chevrolet Camaro
8. Connor Mosack, No. 77 Silver Hare Racing/PRG Chevrolet Camaro
9. Keith Prociuk, No. 9 HP Tuners/Cope Race Cars Ford Mustang
10. Eric Cayton, No. 71 Ray Skillman Auto Group Ford Mustang
Photographed Left to Right: Jim Gallaugher #16, Keith Procuik #9, and Jared Odrick #81 Image by Christopher Clark
TA2 Pro/Am Podium:
1. Keith Prociuk, No. 9 HP Tuners/Cope Race Cars Ford Mustang
2. Jim Gallaugher, No. 16 Regulator by Waypointe Ford Mustang
3. Jared Odrick, No. 81 CB Motorsports Ford Mustang
Photographed: Ben Maier #80 Image by Christopher Clark
Omologato Watches Fastest Lap of the Race:
Ben Maier, No. 80 BOE Marine/Nitro Motorsports Ford Mustang
Photographed: Caleb Bacon #18 Image by Christopher Clark
Bassett Hard Charger:
Caleb Bacon, No. 18 CB Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro
Full race results can be found here.
Image by Christopher Clark
The CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series next hit the track at World Wide Technology Raceway for the WWTR SpeedTour, May 10-11.
