Mosack Wins, Wood 13th in 10th Points-Paying Race of 2021

Overview:

Date:  Sept. 12, 2021

Event:  Watkins Glen Speed Tour (Round 10 of 12)

Series:  Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli (TA2)

Location:  Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International

Layout:  3.4-mile, 11-turn road course

Format:  30 laps or 75 minutes

Race Winner:  Connor Mosack of TeamSLR

TeamSLR:         

• Connor Mosack – Started 2nd, Finished 1st (Running, completed 30/30 laps)

• Jack Wood – Started 8th, Finished 13th (Accident, completed 22/30 laps)

Connor Mosack, Driver No. 28, TeamSLR:

“We started on the outside pole and we were able to clear Rafa (Matos, polesitter) into turn two on the first lap and really never looked back. Led every lap. Our car was definitely more a long-run car. It usually took us a couple of laps to pull away from the field. I wasn’t driving too hard, just kind of trying to take care of our equipment and keep somewhat of a gap to the guys behind us. We kept having yellows and eventually a red flag when that big crash happened, but we were able to hold them off every restart and drive away. And, there at the end, they were battling hard for second so we were able to drive away and go get the win. After yesterday, we knew we could do it, just needed to get up front. This is a tough place to pass, so we got up front and held them off. It’s great to win with TeamSLR. We’ve been close all year, just had bad luck here and there. We put it all together today, finally, and really just feel a big sense of relief. It’s been a while since we’ve won and it’s a nice reminder that you can still do it. I’m definitely super happy and I’m ready for another one. We were fourth in points coming into this weekend. Where we finished yesterday (fourth) and today moves us up into third place, and that kind of was my goal at the beginning of the year – to finish third in points. So, hopefully, we can have two strong runs at VIR and COTA, maybe a win, or two.”

Jack Wood, Driver No. 96, TeamSLR:

“We had kind of the same tight condition that we had yesterday but we were making the best of it, racing around some faster cars. I was around (Adam) Andretti quite a bit and was able to learn some from him. A couple of cautions came out, and then that last restart – the way they do the restarts with all the classes on the track together, there were a couple of slower cars out ahead of us and they ended up bottlenecking everyone up and wrecking each other at the top of the esses. I was side-by-side with Andretti at the time, pinched up against the fence with nowhere else to go, and just got caught up in it. Not the best, but also not the worst race we could’ve had. I think up until that wreck, it was pretty good for us. As the whole race goes, we were doing the best with what we had and, looking at the big picture, it’s kind of good to have a car that’s not perfect because, one day or another, you’re going to have to learn how to drive those things. I definitely leave a better road-course racer than when I showed up. It was my fifth or sixth road-course race, ever. Still a lot to learn, but I feel like we’re doing a really good job and I’m really happy to work with a good group of guys like the Lagasses here at TeamSLR. It’s been a good journey and I’m looking forward to hopefully doing a lot more races. These cars are a blast to drive. That’s about the most fun I’ve ever had in a racecar.”

Next Up:

The Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli heads to Virginia International Raceway (VIR) in Alton for the penultimate event of the season Sept. 24-26. Practice on the 3.27-mile, 17-turn circuit begins Sept. 24 with qualifying set for Sept. 25 and the race taking place Sept. 26. Coverage will be livestreamed via the Trans Am by Pirelli Racing App, which can be downloaded on Apple iOS and Android Google Play. The app features high-definition onboard footage and real-time data, including live timing and scoring. A week pass can be purchased for $9.99, or an annual pass for $59.99. (NOTE: Downloading the app is free and free content is available, but a subscription is needed to watch live, on-track action.)