PORTLAND, Ore. — The Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli’s Western Championship Race 1 at Portland Int’l Raceway was a competitive one throughout the classes, but no performance was more impressive than that of Barry Boes.
The driver of the No. 32 Accio Data/TRB Autosport Ford Mustang drove from last place to first after issues in qualifying led to him starting at the rear of the field. Boes skillfully navigated through his competitors without the assistance of full-course cautions to earn his first-career Western Championship CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series win.
Tim Barber led the TA2 Series competitors to the green flag in his No. 33 DIG Motorsports Ford Mustang, and for the first 16 laps, he was followed closely by Tim Carroll (No. 46 CRDMFG.com Chevrolet Camaro), local driver Ken Sutherland (No. 68 Kallberg Racing/Wyatt Fire Chevrolet Camaro) and Michael LaPaglia (No. 31 Papini’s Garage/F.A.S.T. Auto/Howe Ford Mustang).
On lap 17, Carroll dropped back to fourth, allowing Sutherland to take over the runner-up spot. Meanwhile, Boes had started last due to issues in qualifying, which led to him changing four tires before the start of the race. Boes had incredible speed, working his way up from 21st and into the top 10 by lap six, and by lap 17, he was sixth.
As the race reached its halfway point, the top-four drivers were still nose to tail, battling hard for position. On lap 25, Carroll was able to get back past LaPaglia, but on lap 31, he and LaPaglia made side-by-side contact, and Carroll dropped back out of the top 10.
Boes, who had been running in fifth, took over the third position on lap 33, while Sutherland was stalking Barber, running within two tenths of him and looking poised to make a pass for the lead. Unfortunately, Sutherland made contact with Barber on lap 40, and the two both lost positions, with Sutherland dropping to fourth and Barber falling to seventh. Boes took over the lead, with LaPaglia and Shrader in his wake. Unfortunately, three laps later, the double yellow was waved for a full-course caution due to a competitor going deep into a tire barrier.
The cleanup was extensive, and the laps ran out before its completion, forcing the race to end under yellow conditions. Boes led LaPaglia, Shrader, Sutherland and Moore across the finish line.
After the race, Sutherland was cited for avoidable contact with Barber and given a 32-second post-race penalty, putting him 11th and giving Barber the final spot in the top five.
“We had some trouble in qualifying and put the car in the wall,” Boes said. “The guys got it back together again, and we went out there. We had to start from the back, we had to take four tires, and I said, ‘You know, if we get a couple of cautions, maybe I could get close to the podium. Maybe.’ And I don’t know how I did it. The car was fantastic, and somehow or another, I ran down the whole field.
“I have so much respect for these guys. When I came out to the West Coast, there’s guys like Ken [Sutherland] and Tim Barber and Michael LaPaglia, and I have a lot of respect for them. I showed up at Laguna Seca to race these guys, and I’m taking a selfie, and LaPaglia is back there behind me on a billboard. And I’m racing this guy! I’ve got to thank my sponsors: Accio Data, M1 Racecars, TRB Autosport, and Troy Thomas for giving me a fantastic car. I couldn’t do it without Scott Adams Driver Development. And you know, everyone here knows Megan more than they know me, and without her, I wouldn’t be here either.”