POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (Sept 5, 2023) – After a two-month layoff the Trans Am by Pirelli series’ headline TA class resumes this weekend at Central New York’s Watkins Glen International circuit. Defending two-time Trans Am champion and current season point leader Chris Dyson and his team have used the downtime productively as they prepare for the final four races that will determine the championship.
“The Glen is a really special place,” Dyson said, “both for the sport overall, for my family and for me personally. It’s where my dad (Rob) did his SCCA drivers school. Dyson Racing has a enjoyed a great record and I’ve won my share of races. The town and the track are such an important part of the history of road racing in America and it’s always special for me to be racing there.”
Dyson Strength At The Glen
Dyson finished second to Justin Marks and set the fastest race lap at Watkins Glen last year, but won both ends of a double-header there in 2021.
“Justin has been running strong this season,” Dyson noted. “He missed a couple of races and that’s cost him in the points, but I expect him to be fast this weekend. But we tested for a couple of days last week at the Glen and I’m confident the car is stronger than it’s ever been. I expect the fans will see a great race.”
Winners Circle Project
For the third consecutive year the Watkins Glen Trans Am race coincides with final judging for the Winners Circle Project (https://winners-circle.org/ ), an annual, academic-year-long program that engages student teams from select high schools (five this year) in STEAM-related activities through the construction of a Factory Five Mk4 Roadster street and track kit car. (Factory Five https://www.factoryfive.com/ is a supporter of the program.) Dyson participates in the judging by track-testing each student team’s completed car.
“The Winners Circle Project is dear to my heart,” Dyson said. “Pius (Kayiira, the organization’s founder and executive director) and I have been close friends since we were in summer camp together when we were kids. It’s been amazing to watch the program grow over the past several years, and my family has been very supportive of the vision. Its mission – inspiring students to get involved in STEAM learning activities is an important one. I’m looking forward to evaluating this year’s batch of cars.”