Reigning TA2 Muscle Car Series Champion Ashley Jarvis will head to the United States of America to race in the final round of the US Trans-Am Series at the Daytona International Speedway on November 14-16.

The Gold Coaster will race for leading American TA2 outfit Stevens-Miller Racing in what was an opportunity presented to him as a prize pool of winning the TA2 Muscle Car Series last year.

This continues the Australian TA2 series’ association with the Trans-Am Racing Company in the United States, which saw 2017 champion Russell Wright venture to the United States to race in the penultimate round of the series at the Circuit of the Americas.

The opportunity to go and race in America is part of a prize pool which sees the drive partially funded by the series to the winner of the series. Stevens Miller Racing are a professional arrive-and-drive outfit in the TA2 series, with lease arrangements available to race at America’s leading race tracks throughout the year.

The program for a TA2 event in America consists of practice, qualifying and one 70-minute race. The series will race on the Daytona road course, the layout which utilises all four corners of the tri-oval as well as an infield section, as used in the 24 Hours of Daytona sports car race.

Jarvis won the 2018 TA2 Muscle Car Series in the Lighthouse Electrical backed Chevrolet Camaro with 10 race victories and 22 podiums, and currently sits third in the 2019 standings behind Aaron Seton and George Miedecke following Round 3 at The Bend Motorsport Park in June.

Jarvis’ motorsport background consists of Midget Speedcars in Speedway, state-level Gemini and national Saloon Car racing, and is also this year contesting the Australian Production Car Series in a BMW M3 alongside his TA2 Muscle Car Series commitments.

The TA2 Muscle Car Series next heads to Winton Motor Raceway for Round 4 on August 16-18.

QUOTES

Ashley Jarvis, Driver #22 Lighthouse Electrical Chevrolet Camaro

“I was presented with the opportunity to choose to race at Indianapolis, Watkins Glen, and Daytona, but for me Daytona was a no-brainer after growing up as a kid playing the Daytona USA arcade games at the cinemas, the chance to go and race there in real life is incredible.”

“I’ll only have one 70 minute race compared to our four 20-minute sprint races we have in the Australian series, so that will require a different approach to the weekend.

“The whole idea is to go there, soak it up and and enjoy the experience of racing at one of the world’s greatest venues of racing, and if we can go there and be semi-competitive that would be an added bonus.

“I’ve been doing a lot of Production Car racing this year, so i feel that will hold me in good stead for for this race at Daytona.

“We’ve been planning this trip all year, the whole family are coming and we’re going to arrive a week early and check out some of the sights of Florida.”

The 2020 Superloop Adelaide 500 has finalised its strong racing schedule with the TA2 Muscle Car Series set to make its Australian street circuit debut at the iconic Adelaide Street Circuit in February next year.

In a deal struck between the TA2 Muscle Car Series, the Australian Racing Group and Events South Australia, 24 TA2 machines will compete in the category’s first-ever street race in Australia.

The large field of TA2 cars will be made up of Mustang, Camaro and Dodge Challenger muscle cars, featuring driving talent such as 20-year old third-generation racer Aaron Seton, former Super2 racer George Miedecke, 17-year-old Formula Ford state champion Nathan Herne, former TA2 series champions Ashley Jarvis and Russell Wright, three-time Australian Nascar Champion George Elliot and Adelaide sprint car driver Craig Vanderstelt.

The Superloop Adelaide 500 General Manager Alistair MacDonald believes the latest addition to the on track line-up further cements the event as Australia’s premier domestic motorsport event.

“We are delighted to host the TA2 Muscle Car Series at our event in 2020, more importantly as their first ever street circuit outing in Australia,” said MacDonald.

“The on track racing line-up is stronger than ever with a quality range of support categories, appealing to all motorsport enthusiasts and event goers.”

While TA2 Muscle Car Series Manager Craig Denyer is thrilled to have secured this agreement for the Superloop Adelaide 500 in 2020.

“This event is a major turning point for TA2 which has grown incredibly quickly in just two seasons as a national series," said Denyer.

"The Superloop Adelaide 500 is the benchmark when it comes to fan engagement and our teams and drivers can’t wait to perform on the national stage and show everyone just how great the TA2 Muscle Car Series really is.”

Australian Racing Group Director Matt Braid is pleased to have negotiated a place for the TA2 Muscle Car Series on the 2020 Superloop Adelaide 500 bill.

“This will be TA2’s biggest event that they have competed at, and the real winners are going to be the fans. They are modern, popular muscle cars that make all of the right sounds,” said Braid.

“The racing will be close too. There are a number of really great drivers who will line-up on the TA2 grid next year, and we know they are going to put on a great spectacle for the Adelaide race-goers.”

TA2 has competed in Australia for the past two years and is pitched as a low cost, modern muscle car series.

20-year old Aaron Seton won the 2019 TA2 Muscle Car Series in dramatic fashion at Queensland Raceway last weekend. After crashing out of Race 2 on Saturday, the Castrol Harris Racing team lead by two-time Australian Touring Car champion Glenn Seton repaired the car overnight for Aaron to finish the remaining races in second and score enough points to secure the title and the Performax Cup.

The class caters for modern V8-powered, rear-wheel drive muscle cars in a purpose-built Howe Racing Enterprises space frame chassis and a Howe Motorsport engine package developing 525 horsepower. All elements are controlled to ensure a level playing field across the board for great racing.

The announcement of TA2 completes the on-track line up for the 2020 event which will be headlined by the Virgin Australia Supercars Championship and supported by the ever-popular Dunlop Super2 Series, Porsche Carrera Cup, Touring Car Masters, and the return of the Stadium Super Trucks.

The 2020 Superloop Adelaide 500 will take place on February 20 - February 23, 2020. For more information and tickets visit www.superloopadl500.com.au

20-year old third-generation racer Aaron Seton has won the 2019 TA2 Muscle Car Series in dramatic fashion following a mammoth overnight repair job by the Castrol Harris Racing team led by two-time Australian Touring Car Champion Glenn Seton.

Following a green-to-chequered victory in Race 1, Seton’s Mustang was significantly damaged after he spun around exiting Turn 1 off the start in Race 2 in twilight conditions on Saturday evening and was collected by Andrew Miedecke’s Dodge Challenger who was unsighted in the cloud of dust.

The race was postponed by race officials due to fading light and restarted at 8:30am on Sunday.

The Castrol Harris Racing team worked until 2:00am this morning with the assistance of many other TA2 Muscle Car Series teams.

Starting first on the restart of Race 2, Seton dropped to second behind 17-year old former Formula Ford racer Nathan Herne, as the Gulf Western Oils Dodge driver fended off Seton to win the final three races of the weekend to score his first round victory of the season.

Seton only had to finish the final race of the weekend to secure his second national circuit racing title after he won Class B of the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge in 2015.

Remarkably, Seton took the chequered flag in the final race with a flat tyre.

Former GT, V8 Ute and Super2 Series racer George Miedecke finished the season 52 points behind Seton in second, with reigning champion Ashley Jarvis a further 86 points behind in third.

Entering the round in eighth position in the championship, Herne’s successful weekend catapulted him to fourth in the Performax Cup standings. He and Kubota Racing’s Hugh McAlister finished tied on points with Herne retaining the position by count back on race wins.

Queenslander Murray Kent finished sixth in the championship ahead of inaugural series champion Russell Wright, who scored his second consecutive victory in the Circo Master Class ahead of Bill Robinson and Mark Crutcher.

The final round of the 2019 TA2 Muscle Car Series will be broadcast on Fox Sports 506 on Monday the 18th of November at 2:45pm (AEDT), and also on Thursday the 21st of November at 6:30pm (AEDT). It will also be simulcast free on the Blend Line TV Facebook page.

QUOTES Aaron Seton, driver #88 Castrol Harris Racing Ford Mustang

“It feels so special to be crowned the 2019 TA2 Muscle Car Series champion and to be standing here holding up the Perfomax Cup,” said Aaron Seton.

“Yesterday was a crazy rollercoaster ride of emotions.

“It was pretty hard at the time but i’m very lucky to be supported by an incredible team behind me in Castrol Harris Racing and also the whole TA2 community for pitching in to repair the car overnight to get me back out on track today.

“I can’t thank Craig Harris and the Harris Family enough for the opportunity to drive their car this season.

“We’re a small family team and thanks to my Dad Glenn, Chris Topp, Don Dimitriadis, Mick Benton and everyone involved behind the scenes in making this championship come to fruition.”

TA2 Muscle Car Series leader Aaron Seton is under pressure to repair his car overnight following an incident involving three cars in Race 2 at Queensland Raceway this evening.

Earlier in the day, the 20-year old Castrol Harris Racing driver lowered the qualifying record around Queensland Raceway to a blistering 1:12.5815 to score his fifth PWR Pole Award from six rounds, and went on to take a convincing green-to-chequered win in Race 1 ahead of 17-year old former Formula Ford racer Nathan Herne in the Gulf Western Oils Dodge Challenger.

The race commenced under twilight conditions at 6:00pm at Queensland Raceway. Seton lead Herne through Turn 1 before he lost the rear of his Mustang and spun around. As the field rushed through the cloud of dust in avoidance he was collected by Andrew Miedecke’s Ram Trucks Port Macquarie Dodge Challenger with significant damage to both vehicles. TA2 Masters class racer Russell Wright also collected Seton’s car but escaped with only a flat tyre and a broken rim.

The 15-lap race twilight race was cancelled following the incident to retrieve the cars, before both Seton and Miedecke were cleared of any injury by the circuit medical centre. The race has been postponed and will be restarted as the first race on the schedule at 8:30am on Sunday morning.

Seton’s closest championship rival George Miedecke finished fourth in Race 1, with Seton (on 1122 points) holding a 46 point lead over the Lubrimaxx/Miedecke Motor Group racer (on 1076 points).

The Castrol Harris Racing team, lead by two-time Australian Touring Car Champion and Aaron’s father Glenn Seton has already retrieved the car and begun the process of repairing the chassis and the front end of the vehicle to ensure it returns for track action tomorrow.

QUOTES Aaron Seton, driver #88 Castrol Harris Racing Ford Mustang

“I made a mistake coming out of Turn 1 and unfortunately it has ended our race,” said Aaron Seton.

“Fortunately I have the best team in pit lane behind me in Castrol Harris Racing so hopefully we can get back out there tomorrow and fight for the championship.”

The TA2 Muscle Car Series heads back to its roots at Queensland Raceway for the final round of what has been a breakout year for the thrilling modern-muscle racing category.

The series has seen regular grids upwards of 25 cars all season, and a record 32-car field will line up for the season finale at Ipswich featuring a host of racing legends, rising stars and gentleman racers enjoying what the TA2 Muscle Car Series has to offer.

The final round of the six-round series will feature three-time Australian Drivers’ Champion Paul Stokell debuting a new car owned by regular TA2 racer Warren Wadley. Finishing second in the 1990 Formula Ford Driver to Europe Series behind Russell Ingall, Stokell boasts an impressive resume that also includes back-to-back Nations Cup Championships in 2003-2004, and success in the Australian Mini Challenge in 2009.

The grid also welcomes the debut of local racing star John McLaughlin in the #17 Ford Mustang. McLaughlin is a former champion in the local Track Attack Excel Cup Series, and this year stepped up to the one-make Toyota 86 Racing Series that supports the Virgin Australia Supercars Championship. McLaughlin will make his TA2 Muscle Car Series debut this weekend with a full-season campaign expected in 2020.

The final round will feature a battle between the two series protagonists in the hunt for the Performax Cup, young-gun third-generation racer Aaron Seton and the experienced, versatile second-generation racer George Miedecke.

Seton leads the Performax Cup standings by 40 points over Miedecke, and with 220 points available on the weekend, the top eight competitors are still within mathematical contention for the title. This includes 17-year old dual Formula Ford state champion Nathan Herne, who has made his mark with four race wins in his debut year in the category and one of only three race winners this season alongside Seton and Miedecke.

Ashley Jarvis sits third in the standings, but the reigning Performax Cup champion has his sights set further than a back-to-back title. The former Speedway racer will jet off to the United States shortly after the chequered flag falls at Ipswich to race in the final round of the American Trans-Am TA2 Series at the world-famous Daytona International Speedway on November 14-16. This forms as part of the Howe International Driver Exchange Program and a annual prize for the winner of the Australian TA2 Series, which drivers will be fighting for alongside the Performax Cup this weekend.

Australian racing legend Andrew Miedecke sits fourth in the standings, ahead of Gold Coaster Russell Wright who leads the Masters category for drivers over the age of 50 years of old.

Kubota Racing’s Hugh McAlister sits sixth ahead of local favourite Murray Kent, Gulf Western Oils Racing’s Nathan Herne, Gold Coaster and Kubota Racing team mate Matthew MacKelden and local Brisbane racer Michael Kulig complete the top ten.

The stage is set for a thrilling conclusion to the 2019 TA2 Muscle Car Series, join us trackside and in the pit lane between races to meet the teams, drivers and learn about this exciting new category taking the Australian motorsport landscape by storm.

Tickets are available at the gate for $20 on Saturday, $30 on Sunday or $40 for a weekend pass, with kids 12 and under free. A post-produced one hour highlights show from this weekend will follow on Fox Sports produced by Blend Line TV.

QUOTES

Paul Stokell, driver #9 Wadley Property Group Ford Mustang

“I have been doing some driver coaching with Warren [Wadley] lately and he got the second car and was kind enough to offer it to me to support the series more than anything,” said Paul Stokell.

“I’ve noticed the class before and i’ve suggested it to some customers of mine in the past as a potential move in the future, but as a driver myself it’s not something that i’ve thought about too much other than the opportunity to drive this weekend.

“There are some good drivers in this field and the car is brand new and hasn’t been sorted out yet, so i’m not expecting anything as far as results are concerned, but if we can develop the car and help Warren along the weekend then we’ll see what happens.”

Aaron Seton, driver #88 Castrol Harris Racing Ford Mustang

“The main goal is to have the cleanest weekend as possible, it’s been a year since we have last raced the TA2 at Queensland Raceway so i’m looking forward to getting back there and continuing the battle with myself and George Miedecke,” said Aaron Seton.

“It’s pretty exciting going into the final round with a chance at the title and i’m feeling good going into the weekend.

“We’ll see how we go and if we have a good weekend and are able to come away with the championship then the opportunities that come from that are really exciting, including the chance to drive in America.

“The series has grown in leaps and bounds with 29 cars at our last round in Sydney and to have 32 cars this weekend shows how every round is getting bigger and better.

“It’s a pretty exciting time for the series and it will be interesting to see where the series will go next year when the calendar is announced and i’m looking forward to seeing it grow further in the future.

“I couldn’t do this without the team behind me from Castrol Harris Racing including my Dad Glenn, Craig Harris, Chris Topp, Don Dimitriadis, Mick Benton and all my other supporters for getting me on the grid and providing me with a great car to fight at the front.”

ENTRY LIST - 2019 TA2 Muscle Car Series Round 6/6 - Queensland Raceway (November 2/3)

#2 - Don Dimitriadis (NSW), Ford Mustang - Thunder Road Racing Team Australia#3 - Craig Vanderstelt (SA), Ford Mustang - Zenith Custom Solutions #4 - Mark Crutcher (NSW), Dodge Challenger - Crutcher Developments #5 - Matthew Mackelden (NSW), Ford Mustang - Kubota Racing #6 - Hugh McAlister (NSW), Ford Mustang - Kubota Racing #7 - Michael Kulig (QLD), Chevrolet Camaro - Kulig Engineering #9 - Paul Stokell (QLD), Ford Mustang - Wadley Property Group #10 - Peter Robinson (QLD), Dodge Challenger - Morgans Investment Consultants #11 - Michael Coulter (NSW), Ford Mustang - Kobelco/Sydney Truck and Machinery #12 - Tim Shaw (TAS), Dodge Challenger - Shaw Developments #14 - Cameron Sendall (QLD), Chevrolet Camaro - Caddy Storage #15 - David Falvey (QLD), Chevrolet Camaro - Thunder Road Racing Team Australia #17 - John McLaughlin (QLD), Ford Mustang - MyRaceProfile.com #18 - Shaun Richardson (QLD), Ford Mustang - RTC Group/Road Rage Industries #20 - Darren Berry (QLD), Chevrolet Camaro - Tooth Booth Dentists #22 - Ashley Jarvis (QLD), Chevrolet Camaro - Lighthouse Electrical #24 - Jack Childs (QLD), Ford Mustang - Think Investment Realty #28 - Tim Tritton (QLD), Ford Mustang - Everyday Finance Solutions #29 - Nathan Herne (NSW), Dodge Challenger - Gulf Western Oils #35 - George Miedecke (NSW), Ford Mustang - Miedecke Motorsport #44 - Greg Willis (QLD), Chevrolet Camaro - Cross Torque Racing #49 - Chris Formosa (NSW), Dodge Challenger - Ranger Racing/Allgate Auto Doors #50 - Paul Hadley (NSW), Chevrolet Camaro - Illawarra Engineering Services #55 - Russell Wright (QLD), Ford Mustang - RoadBees Transport #69 - Anthony Tenkate (QLD), Ford Mustang - Tenkate Plant Hire #74 - Murray Kent (QLD), Chevrolet Camaro - Underground Civil Supplies #77 - Bill Robinson (NSW), Ford Mustang - Elite Smash Repairs Erina #88 - Aaron Seton (QLD), Ford Mustang - Castrol Harris Racing #95 - Andrew Miedecke (NSW), Dodge Challenger - Ram Trucks Port Macquarie #555 - George Elliot (VIC), Chevrolet Camaro - Dream Racing Australia #777 - Craig Scutella (VIC), Chevrolet Camaro - Dream Racing Australia #888 - Warren Wadley (QLD), Ford Mustang - Wadley Motorsport