POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (March 22, 2021) – This was supposed to be an off weekend for Chris Dyson and his CD Racing teammate, Humaid Masaood. The third round of the 2021 Trans Am by Pirelli Championship isn’t until the following weekend (April 30 – May 2) at WeatherTech Laguna Seca in Monterey, CA. But instead the pair will be racing their Mustangs this weekend 150 miles north of the Monterey Peninsula at Sonoma Raceway in the season opening event on the West Coast Trans Am calendar.
“We aren’t contesting the West Coast series championship,” Dyson said, “but Humaid and I are racers. This is what we do.”
Dyson noted that the transporter carrying his #20 Ford Mustang and Masaood’s #21 Amamos La Vida Tequila Mustang would be traveling 3,000 miles from the team’s Poughkeepsie, NY headquarters to Monterey in any case, and by sending the truck and crew a week earlier they could fit the Sonoma race into the schedule comfortably.
“Sonoma Raceway is one of my favorite circuits in the world,” Dyson said. “And it has been very good to us over the years. Our family team raced there in IMSA GTP 1985 to 1990, then 1995 to 1997 with IMSA WSC, in 1999 and then 2002 through 2005 with the American Le Mans Series. We have won there overall four times and been on the podium more times than I can count offhand. We last raced there in 2014 and 2015 with Bentley in the Pirelli World Challenge. Any time I have a chance to race at Sonoma I’m going to. And our Trans Am Mustang is such a terrific car that it makes this challenging circuit that much more enjoyable.”
Masaood Up for Sonoma Challenge Following Strong Road Atlanta Performance
While Masaood has raced successfully with the Dyson team on the West Coast, scoring a podium at Monterey in 2011, this will be his first-ever race appearance at Sonoma. After missing the 2021 season-opening race at Sebring due to pandemic-related travel issues overseas, Masaood ran a heady race at Road Atlanta. He started 11th and improved three spots to finish eighth.
“I’m looking forward to racing at Sonoma in part because it’s such an iconic circuit and I think every driver should compete there at least once,” Masaood said. “But also just because it’s another opportunity to get some vital race experience and track time. I was sorry to miss Sebring and I felt like even at the end of the race at Road Atlanta I was still getting in the rhythm. Sonoma will be a good tune-up before Laguna Seca, which is a race where the points we score will be going toward our season’s championship.”
Dyson’s Special West Coast Livery Unveiling
For the upcoming pair of West Coast races the #20 Ford Mustang will feature a new livery, which will be unveiled at Friday’s practice session. “This will be a fresh look for my car,” Dyson said. “It’s in conjunction with our branding partner and for now, it’s just for these two races. But it’s visually distinctive and I think everyone will enjoy the look of the car.”
Qualifying for this weekend’s race takes place on Saturday, April 24 from 4:35 to 4:55 pm PT (7:35-7:55 ET). The 40-lap (100-mile) race takes the green flag Sunday, April 25 at 1:00 pm PT (4:00 pm ET). Live timing for the event will be available on the Trans Am by Pirelli official App and also on Race Monitor.
Plaid
Headquartered in Atlanta, Plaid Enterprises, Inc. is one of the world’s largest, most diverse manufacturers of creative do-it-yourself products. Plaid’s product innovation and dedication to the ever-changing needs of consumers have made the Plaid family of products among the most recognized and desired brands worldwide.
Founded in 1976, Plaid began as a publisher of how-to craft books. The company soon expanded into manufacturing, with paint becoming the primary focus. Today, Plaid is the industry’s leading small batch paint manufacturer, proudly producing paint in its facilities located outside of Atlanta, GA.
Notable brands in Plaid’s portfolio include FolkArt, Apple Barrel, Delta, Bucilla, Martha Stewart Crafts, and one of the industry’s best known, Mod Podge, a favorite since 1967.
Amamos La Vida Tequila
Amamos La Vida, We Love Life! Produced by one of the most awarded tequila distilleries in Mexico, this international-award-winning tequila is being introduced to the US market in 2020.
All varieties of Amamos La Vida Tequila are created using traditional methods of manufacturing, acquiring the best agaves from the region of Tequila and the highlands and lowlands of Jalisco, and then combining the baking processes of both traditional ovens covered in stone masonry and autoclaves. The Distillery’s combined experience of 72 years means La Vida’s ultra-smooth taste will impress both new and experienced tequila drinkers.
Leaving you with only one thing to say, We Love Life!!!