SCCA®, Heartland Park Topeka Agree On Trans-Am® Licensing For 2006;
Two Races Planned
 TOPEKA,
Kan. (August 2, 2006) – Sports Car Club of America, Inc. announced
today that it has entered into an agreement with Heartland Park Topeka that will
allow the track to conduct two Trans-Am® races in 2006, thus allowing the
longest continuously-running road race series in the United States to continue
on with that distinction.
Plans are already ongoing in order for Heartland Park Topeka to host the events
in 2006, the 40th Anniversary of the Trans-Am series. The first event, billed
as “Trans-Am Thunder in the Heartland”, will be run Labor Day, Sept.
4, following the final SCCA National Event weekend of the year and will also include
the Spec Racer Ford and Spec Miata SCCA classes. The second, and final, event
of the series is scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 8 and will be a Trans-Am only race
leading into the 2006 SCCA National Championship Runoffs® week.
“Obviously, the Trans-Am series is currently in a state of flux,”
SCCA President and CEO Jim Julow said. “Trans-Am is a very important series
not only in SCCA history, but motorsports history as well. We are excited that
Heartland Park’s Raymond Irwin has stepped in so that we may continue the
tradition of the longest continuously-running road racing series in North America
in 2006.”
Most recently operated in conjunction with the Champ Car World Series, Trans-Am
ceased operations following the 2005 campaign. The 2006 Trans-Am Series will be
the first appearance at Heartland Park Topeka for Trans-Am since the inaugural
season of the facility in 1989. That first SCCA Trans-Am event at Heartland Park
was claimed by former two-time IMSA champion and Kansas native Max Jones.
“Trans-Am has been the longest running road racing series in the United
States and to see that legacy lost would be a great shame. By reaching out to
grassroots racers, GT-1 racers and the professional drivers with those cars still
in their garages, we believe that the Trans-Am legacy can be continued for the
2006 season,” Heartland Park Topeka owner Raymond Irwin said.
“The Trans Am Series has been through many transitions but each time
the competitors, fans, and sponsors have shown their enjoyment and support for
the series by carrying the brand forward again. Heartland Park Topeka is proud
to add to that support by hosting two 2006 Trans Am series races.”
“With the current resurgence of the Ford Mustang and expectations of
the new Chevrolet Camaro and Dodge Charger rejoining this popular segment of the
United States marketplace, the Trans-Am series is just a step away from being
back on the track,” Irwin said. “SCCA and Heartland Park Topeka are
working together to carry the series forward through 2006 in order to keep the
series name and recognition alive”
Created by SCCA in 1966 as the Trans-American Sedan Championship, the Trans-Am
series originated with cars in SCCA’s “A” Production class,
but eventually included purpose-built tube-frame race cars competing on road courses.
Trans-Am was known through the late 1960s and early 1970s as a series for muscle
cars like the Ford Mustang, Chevy Camaro, Plymouth Barracuda and Dodge Challenger.
Another domestic muscle car, the Pontiac Trans Am, was named after the series.
The 2006 race series marks the 41st consecutive season of competition for the
venerable road racing series. Events will be promoted by Heartland Park Topeka
and sanctioned by SCCA Pro Racing. Additional information, including purse payout,
vehicle and driver eligibility and event partners will be announced shortly.
For more information, please visit www.hpt.com.
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