Gallery: A look at the Trans Am 2022 opener from Laguna Seca

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Jim Fonseca was on location at Weathertech Raceway Laguna Seca as their season kicked off with the Trans Am Championship. Take a look at this awesome gallery.

But first, the races

Race 1

Chris Dyson got the finish he was denied in 2021 at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, this time winning Round 4 of the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli season from the pole by an impressive margin. After late-race contact took him out of contention for the win last season, the 2021 TA champion entered the weekend looking for redemption, and he got it in spades by leading the field to the checkered flag in today’s race.

Dyson’s No. 20 ALTWELL Ford Mustang started the race from the pole after recording a new track record in yesterday’s qualifying session. However, it was Tomy Drissi in the No. 8 Lucas Oil Ford Mustang, who was fastest in practice, that jumped into the lead at the drop of the green flag. Drissi and Dyson ran nose to tail for the first 10 laps of the race, but as the pair began to encounter lapped traffic, Dyson was able to capitalize and make the pass for the lead. The remainder of the race was smooth sailing for Dyson, who was able to defend his lead until the checkered flag waved.

Race 2

After leading practice and earning his first Motul pole award of 2022, Mike Skeen was the car to beat in the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli’s TA2 showdown at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. His race was not without challenges, as the final 15 laps were a back-and-forth battle with teammate Rafa Matos, but Skeen was ultimately victorious, earning his second-consecutive win.

At the drop of the green flag, Skeen’s No. 89 3Dimensional Services Group Ford Mustang engaged in a side-by-side battle with second-place Connor Mosack in the No. 28 High Point University Camaro, but after a few corners, Skeen secured the point position and began his dominant run. Mosack then fought Matos’ No. 88 3Dimensional Services Group machine, but after 10 laps Matos prevailed, and ran second to his teammate until a caution on lap 26 set the field up for a restart.

When green-flag racing resumed, Matos passed Skeen on the restart to lead the field for the next 11 laps, but hard racing between the teammates resulted in a drag race, with Skeen regaining his lead on lap 40. Once Skeen’s Mustang pulled ahead, he maintained the lead until the checkered flag, with Matos crossing the finish line just behind him in second. Brett Crews, who started the race fifth in his No. 70 Nitro Motorsports Mustang, elbowed his way into the third position to lead Young Guns Mosack and Connor Zilisch in the No. 57 Silver Hare Racing Camaro to the checkered flag, rounding out the top five.

The RacerViews info

By Jim Fonseca. Words from PR sources

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