Lawrence Loshak secured the first TA class victory of his career today in Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli competition at Pittsburgh International Race Complex, Round 6 of the 2018 season. The win came in dominant fashion for Loshak and the No. 2 Pennzoil/ ETE REMAN/ GoShare Chevrolet Camaro, with the Burtin Racing machine starting on pole and leading every lap of the contest.

After a one-off appearance at Circuit of The Americas at the close of the 2017 season, Loshak made the leap to TA class competition for 2018, departing TA2 class competition after 33 career starts, five podiums and a 2016 victory at Mid-Ohio.

Now with his first TA class victory in his fifth appearance secured, Loshak was ecstatic with the team’s performance following heartbreaking mechanicals at Road Atlanta and Indianapolis Motor Speedway while in contention and to finally add his name to the long list of Trans Am race winners.

“It’s incredible,” said Lawrence Loshak. “I remember just like it was yesterday watching Tommy Kendall going into Turn 5 at Road America. I watched all those guys, Boris, Pruett, the names just go on and on, and of course there are so many greats; but I’m just excited to get my first win here. To be a part of that piece of history is incredible; my goal is to win a championship and be up there with those guys.”

“The car has been so fast every weekend. We’ve just been having some bad luck with mechanical issues, freak failures. The team has been working around the clock, there’s no way to explain it, we just put our heads down and kept working hard. Finally, P1, it’s just incredible.”

The Burtin Racing machine would turn the fast lap of the race a 1:39.309 around the 2.73 mile, 19-turn “full track” course, a strong follow up on his pole setting 1:38.403 lap yesterday.

“The car has been phenomenal here,” said Loshak. “I’ve been doing everything I can to be prepared for this race. Pittsburgh International Race Complex has put on a great show; I love the track and the technical aspect of it. Burtin Racing has put together a great car that’s incredible on tires and that’s what wins races, and this win speaks volumes for this team.”

After a pursuit that spanned near the entirety of the race, Ernie Francis, Jr., in the No. 98 Frameless Shower Doors Ford Mustang, would capture second finishing position on the final lap of the race. With the No. 20 @PlaidCrafts Ford Mustang of Chris Dyson held up by lapped traffic, Francis would take advantage setting up the pass for position. Dyson, who had held second position since the only restart of the race, the commencement of lap 21 of the 36-lap contest, would finish third for his third podium of the year.

Amy Ruman, in the No. 23 McNichols Company Chevrolet Corvette, would also make a last-lap pass for position, overtaking David Pintaric, in the No. 57 Kryderacing Cadillac CTS-V, for fourth place, earning the COOLSHIRT Systems Cool Move of the Race. Pintaric would finish in fifth position.

Paul Fix, who spent most of the first half of the competition in second position chasing the No. 2 of Loshak, saw his No. 4 StopFlex/ The Car Coach/ Ave Racing Ford Mustang suffer a power steering failure on the restart. Fix would manage to muscle the No. 4 home through the final 16 laps to finish sixth.

The TA class race ran for a total of 36 laps, 100.8 miles, and underwent a single full-course caution, spanning laps 15 through 20.

Earlier in the day, Cindi Lux and Warren Dexter secured Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli wins in the TA3 and TA4 classes, the first-ever independent race for the two classes.

Cindi Lux, in the No. 45 Lux Performance Dodge Viper, would go flag-to-flag, leading the multi-class production field for the entirety of the 36-lap, 100.8 mile contest. Lux would also turn a 1:46.567 fast lap, showcasing the Lux Performance V10 machine on the tight and technical circuit for her third career Trans Am victory.

“It was all about ‘no mistakes,” said Lux. “This place you just have to get into a rhythm. When you try and speed things up or go fast, you get out of your rhythm per say. It’s one of those things that sometimes the cars align, and I’m shocked really that at such a tight track how well our Lux Performance Viper performed. Honestly, these guys build a great car and any nut behind the wheel could do the same. I’m just very blessed to have the opportunity. Alline is getting stronger and stronger, and I think we’re going to have some fun racing together in the future.”

Cipriani, in the No. 60 Ginetta Cars Ginetta G55, would pursue Lux from second position throughout the race but was never able to close the gap between the two cars, one that spanned 40 seconds come the end of the race. As compensation for her efforts Cipriani was awarded not just the second place finish but also the TA3 class points lead, overtaking the absent Mark Boden.

Finishing third in TA3 was Larry Bailey, in the No. 02 LSI/ Sam Pierce Chevy/ Fast Chevrolet Corvette, who started sixth on the grid.

In TA4 Rookie Warren Dexter, in the No. 61 Joe’s Hand Cleaner Ginetta G55, would also lead flag-to-flag for his second consecutive TA4 class win in his second Trans Am appearance. Dexter would turn a 1:48.089 for his, and the class’s, fast lap while eventually finishing third overall.

“The Ginetta just works,” said Dexter, “and this track is perfect for it: all the lefts and rights and ups and downs. I struggled a little bit with some traffic throughout the majority of the race; but with probably three to four laps to go, the belt just flew off the power steering and the track gave me a bit of a workout. We’re gunning for the TA4 championship; we’d like to add the title to our resume and hopefully help build the class going forward.”

Steven Davison, debuting his new No. 33 DaVinci Plastic Surgery Chevrolet Camaro, would finish second in the TA4 class and fifth overall for his second podium finish of the season.

The DWW Motorsports team of Brian Kleeman and Chris Outzen debuted in the TA3 class this weekend with the No. 09 and 07 FP350s Ford Mustangs; however, mechanical issues saw the day ended early for both machines. DWW Motorsports intends to compete in the TA3 class throughout the season and continue to develop their new Ford Performance machines.

Trans Am was joined at Pittsburgh International Race Complex for the Keystone Speedfest weekend by F3 Americas, the F4 US Championship, the Atlantic Championship Series, F2000 and F1600.

Fans can keep up with the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli throughout the event at http://www.gotransam.com, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/gotransam and on Twitter at @gotransam.

Trans Am’s TA2 class was absent on the weekend, set to rejoin the championship next round at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, August 9-11.