Crews returns to Victory Lane in the TA2 Series at Mid-Ohio

LEXINGTON – 2023 CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series champion Brent Crews earned his first win of the 2024 season at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.

After finishing second in last night’s ARCA Menards Series race at this track, Crews found his way into the GYM WEED Winners Circle in just his second start of the season.

Current points leader and two-time TA2 champion Rafa Matos took second place, continuing his dominance in the class as he battles for his third title.

Austin Green (No. 89 3-Dimensional Services Group Ford Mustang) took the green flag from the points position after setting a new track record in qualifying last night, but it only took a few turns for Nathan Herne (No. 15 Howe Racing/FAST Auto Racing Chevrolet Camaro) to take the lead.

However, the battle for P1 was far from over as Green was determined to get back to the top.

After seven hard-fought laps, Green finally managed to overtake Herne. His teammate Adrian Wlostowski (CMI/Spot-On Services Ford Mustang No. 3) also had to overtake him, dropping him to third place. On lap 10, Herne regained second place.

One lap later, Wlostowski spun and fell back to 12th place.

A full-course caution was issued on lap 14 when two competitors went off the track. However, when racing resumed on lap 19, Green and Herne continued their tussle.

Herne attempted to overtake Green, but a collision occurred between the two, causing severe damage to Green’s nose and bonnet and forcing him to retire.

Herne was now in control of the race, followed by fourth-place finisher Brent Crews (No. 70 Nitro Motorsports Ford Mustang), who was pushed back to eighth on the first lap of the race but worked his way back into second place.

Herne maintained his lead until lap 27, when he and Crews collided. Crews took the lead first, while Herne spun and fell back in the race.

Once Crews took control, he didn’t let up and led the next 18 laps. Behind him, Rafa Matos (No. 60 Concord American Flagpole/Nitro Motorsports Ford Mustang) and Jake Drew (No. 7 Silver Hare Racing Chevrolet Camaro) traded for second, with Matos finally moving into second with three laps to go.

Drew took the third and final podium spot, while Adam Andretti (No. 41 Ultimate Headers Racing Chevrolet Camaro) crossed the finish line in fourth and Connor Mosack (No. 57 Silver Hare Racing/PRG Chevrolet Camaro), who started 12th, finished the race in fifth place.

“I just want to thank the good Lord above,” Crews said. “I want to thank everyone on the entire No. 70 Nitro Motorsports team, Nick Tucker. Congratulations to Joe Claridge on his first win as a crew chief.”

“It was a good win. I won by a big margin and had a really good race car the whole time. My fastest lap was on the last lap. I want to thank everyone at Franklin Road Apparel, for example Ken Thwaits. We couldn’t have done it without him.

“This Nitro No. 70, my goodness, the weekend was good. Congratulations to Rafa (Matos). The whole Nitro team did a great job. I want to thank Mike Cope, everyone involved in this deal and the whole Nitro Motorsports team. I’m looking forward to Road America.”

Menard secures second pole in a row

Training and qualifying for the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course have been completed.

Paul Menard secured his second consecutive pole position in the No. 3 Menards/Masterforce Tools Ford Mustang with a time of 1:19.747 and a new track record on the recently repaved track.

This is Menard’s third pole of the 2024 season. Menard was the fastest qualifier in TA’s last appearance at Pittsburgh International Race Complex two weeks ago and also earned a pole at NOLA Motorsports Park earlier this season.

“I’ve seen a hundred races here on TV, but I’ve never been to the facility,” Menard said. “I drove here yesterday morning with my wife and kids and had no idea where to park or anything.”

“This is one of those tracks where you think of sports car racing or any type of racing in North America, and Mid-Ohio is way up there.

“To get pole here is incredible. Thanks to 3GT: Paul, Tony and John Gentilozzi, all the guys in the team.

“It’s a great Ford Mustang. At most of these tracks, we come by, they give me a lesson so I can learn the track, and then we get to work on the car. Luckily, we don’t have to work too hard because it’s pretty fast.”

The TA/XGT/SGT/GT race will take place on Sunday at 12:40 p.m. The race will be broadcast LIVE on MAVTV and streamed live here. The race recap will be broadcast on MAVTV on Thursday, June 27th at 1:00 p.m.