LEXINGTON, Ohio — 2023 CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series champion Brent Crews earned his first victory of the 2024 season at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. After finishing second in the ARCA Menards Series race at the track last night, Crews found his way to GYM WEED Winners Circle in just his second start of the season. Current points leader and two-time TA2 champion Rafa Matos earned a second-place finish, continuing his domination in the class as he challenges for his third title.
Austin Green (No. 89 3-Dimensional Services Group Ford Mustang) took the green flag from the point position after setting a new track record in qualifying last night, but it only took a few turns before Nathan Herne (No. 15 Howe Racing/F.A.S.T. Auto Racing Chevrolet Camaro) took over the lead. The battle for P1 was far from over though as Green was determined to get back to the front.
After seven contentious laps, Green finally was able to make the pass on Herne, who was also passed by his teammate, Adrian Wlostowski (No. 3 CMI/Spot-On Services Ford Mustang), as he dropped back to third. Herne reclaimed the second position on lap 10. One lap later, Wlostowski spun and was relegated back to 12th.
The action fell under a full-course caution on lap 14 as two competitors went off course, but when racing resumed on lap 19, Green and Herne continued their scuffle. Herne made his away around Green, but contact was made between the two, causing severe damage to Green’s nose and hood and forcing him to retire. Herne was now in control of the race, followed by fourth-place starter Brent Crews (No. 70 Nitro Motorsports Ford Mustang), who got shuffled to eighth on the first lap of the race, but worked his way back into the runner-up position.
Herne maintained his lead until lap 27, when he and Crews made contact. Crews took over first while Herne spun and fell in the running order.
Once Crews took control, he never looked back, leading the next 18 laps. Behind him, Rafa Matos (No. 60 Concord American Flagpole/Nitro Motorsports Ford Mustang) and Jake Drew (No. 7 Silver Hare Racing Chevrolet Camaro) swapped back and forth for the second position, with Matos ultimately taking the runner-up spot with three laps remaining. Drew took the third and final podium position, while Adam Andretti (No. 41 Ultimate Headers Racing Chevrolet Camaro) crossed the finish line fourth and Connor Mosack (No. 57 Silver Hare Racing/PRG Chevrolet Camaro), who started 12th, ended the race in the fifth position.
“I just want to thank the good Lord above,” said Crews. “I want to thank everybody on this whole Nitro Motorsports No. 70 team, Nick Tucker. Congratulations to Joe Claridge on his first win as a crew chief. That was a good one to win; I won by a lot and had a badass racecar the whole time. I made my fastest lap on the last lap.
“I want to thank everybody at Franklin Road Apparel, like Ken Thwaits; we wouldn’t be able to do it without him. This Nitro No. 70, holy smokes, it was good this weekend. Congrats to Rafa [Matos]. The whole Nitro team did a great job. I want to thank Mike Cope, everybody who is part of this deal, and the whole Nitro Motorsports team. I’m looking forward to Road America.”